Woman Claims She Has James Brown’s Wishes for His Estate…In His Own Words
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Woman Claims She Has James Brown's Wishes for...
It was big news in the James Brown estate case, when the word
It was big news in the James Brown estate case, when the word “settlement” got passed around, last month. A proposal that was presented to the court suggested 50% of Brown’s estate go to his widow, Tommie Rae Hynie Brown, 25% to the trust Brown set up, and the other 25% be split up among Brown’s adult children. But, once again, things aren’t going smoothly. WJBF News Channel 6’s Joy Howe spoke with one woman who says she has James Brown on tape, saying exactly what he wants done with his money, and she says this proposed settlement…isn’t it.
Published: March 5, 2009
Updated: March 6, 2009
Aiken, SC—The estate of James Brown is still unsettled in the Aiken County courtroom, but to Jacque Hollander, it was settled 22 years ago.
Jacque Hollander, former Brown associate: “There it is right there, all the evidence.“
Hollander says she was a songwriter and producer for James Brown in the 80’s. During that time, she says Brown was raising money through benefit concerts for poor and needy children…she says this work prompted she and Brown to co-create the “I Feel Good Trust”, in 1987.
Hollander claims, the following year, she met with Brown and his attorney, and the ‘Godfather’ made his estate intentions clear:
Hollander: “And he said, what I want, if I die tomorrow, I want 100% of everything I own to go into this trust.“
Hollander has come to Aiken, from Illinois, lugging crates of what she says is evidence to support her claims, including these recordings, that she says tell James Brown’s wishes for the trust, in his own words:
James Brown alleged recording: “I was glad that I was a part of that, along with Albert Dallas, and Jacque Daughtry. We were trying to do one show, and came up with something even greater.“
Hollander claims that “something even greater” was the “I Feel Good Trust”... the place she says all his money was to go—for the poor and needy of South Carolina and Georgia, and nowhere else:
Hollander: “He said, I am not giving my children one dime, he said I have educated them, I’ve paid for them, I have sent them to school. He said they will always have my name to live with, but I will not give them one stepping stone into the future off of me.“
Hollander says she’s aware of the unraveling her claims could do to the case…but says she’s determined to carry out what she claims are brown’s wishes.
Hollander only let us here part of the alleged recording today, but she says she’ll play the entire tape in court. She claims James Brown’s words say it all.
And that settlement could be as much as $100 million…that’s what the court-appointed trustee values the estate of James Brown to be worth.
We’ll continue to follow Hollander’s case, and keep you posted.
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