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James Dexter Weatherly (born March 17, 1943) is an American singer-songwriter. Weatherly played quarterback at the University of Mississippi before choosing songwriting over a football career.

Songwriting Career

Weatherly has been writing songs for almost 50 years, and was inducted to the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2014. His most famous hit single for which he is best known is Midnight Train to Georgia" recorded by Gladys Knight & the Pips. Gladys and The Pips recorded 12 of his songs. Ray Price recorded 38 of Weatherly's songs. Bob Luman had a top 5 record with "Neither One of Us". Other artist who have recorded Weatherly songs are Glen Campbell, Kenny Rogers, Neil Diamond, Kenny Chesney, Garth Brooks.

Gladys Knight and the Pips also recorded hits such as "Neither One of Us (Wants to Be the First to Say Goodbye)", and "Best Thing That Ever Happened to Me". "Neither One of Us" recorded by Gladys Knight & The Pips became his very first number one pop record in Cashbox Magazine, Record World Magazine, and became a number one R&B record. It was followed by "Where Peaceful Waters Flow"," Midnight Train to Georgia", and "You're the Best Thing That Ever Happened to Me", all pop and R&B hits. . Weatherly's catalog includes songs that were performed by Ray Price, Lynn Anderson, Brenda Lee, Bob Luman, and Batdorf & Rodney.

Recording Career

Weatherly, who had previously appeared on recordings by his band, The Gordian Knot, released by Verve Records, and also later by RCA Records, was offered a solo recording contract with Buddah Records after the success of "Georgia", and he released a number of albums in the 1970s. As an artist, Weatherly had a pop and A/C hit with "The Need to Be" and a country hit with "I'll Still Love You".

TV and Movies

Weatherly's songs have been used in movies and TV shows such as Broadcast News, Modern Family, Chicago Hope, Ally McBeal and others.

Weatherly vs. Universal Music Publishing Group

Weatherly filed a lawsuit against Universal Music Publishing Group (UMPG) in October 2002, which is now considered a landmark case in the entertainment community. Weatherly claimed that he was underpaid royalties for years with regard to "Midnight Train to Georgia." Universal Music argued that Weatherly could not proceed on his action because the one-year contractual limitations frequently found in entertainment contracts, had passed or tolled. This became the issue that the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals decided, in a published decision which set new legal precedent. Most contracts allow an artist to look back for a maximum of one, two or three years retroactively. However, the court decided Weatherly vs. Universal Music Publishing Group that this one-year time limitation would not apply. "A defendant cannot hinder the plaintiff's discovery through misrepresentation and then fault the plaintiff for failing to investigate," the court wrote, referring to a Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals decision. Because the landmark decision was published by the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals, other artists could cite this landmark decision to support independent claims that they had also been underpaid royalties.

Discography

Albums

Singles

References

1. Thompson, Wright (February 2010). "Ghosts of Mississippi". Outside the Lines. ESPN. Retrieved November 3, 2012.
2. https://www.songhall.org/profile/jim_weatherly
3. https://www.songhall.org/profile/jim_weatherly
4. Biography, Allmusic.com
5. https://www.songhall.org/profile/jim_weatherly
6. https://www.songhall.org/profile/jim_weatherly
7. https://www.songhall.org/profile/jim_weatherly
8. http://www.billboard.com/biz/articles/news/1414719/case-summary-royalty-audits-and-tolling-contractual-limitations-periods
9. https://books.google.com/books?id=hKguqdfT3eMC&pg=PA664&lpg=PA664&dq=weatherly+universal&source=bl&ots=A4Uawa78v8&sig=UiFOVi-fawZL5R2oTqOHjVd--ag&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwiL2azx1NrVAhVCqFQKHXHEDgEQ6AEIVTAG#v=onepage&q=weatherly%20universal&f=false
10. Billboard, Allmusic.com
11. Billboard Singles. Allmusic.com.
12. Whitburn, Joel (2011). Top Pop Singles 1955–2010. Record Research, Inc. p. 959. ISBN 0-89820-188-8.

• 1943 births
• Living people
• People from Pontotoc, Mississippi
• American male singers
• American country singers
• American country singer-songwriters
• Singers from Mississippi
• Ole Miss Rebels football players
• Songwriters from Mississippi