The artist behind one of the most recognizable dance music samples in history, used in Daft Punk‘s “One More Time,” has never received royalties from the French duo’s hit song.
Eddie Johns, who recorded “More Spell On You” in 1979, was tracked down by The Los Angeles Times, who found him living in a supportive housing facility after a decade-long struggle with homelessness. Ten years ago, a stroke rendered Johns unable to work.
Johns’ case manager, Alyssa Cash, found a video explaining that one of Johns’ songs was sampled in “One More Time.” “It was like a lightbulb went off,” she said. “That’s Eddie, this is his song.”
Though Daft Punk had indeed officially licensed the sample, and have been paying royalties to the owner of the original recording of “More Spell On You” twice a year, ownership was transferred to a French label and publisher called GM Musipro when the label acquired the rights in 1995.
“We have not heard from [Johns] since the day we acquired in 1995 a catalog from another label that featured this title,” GM Musipro founder George Mary said in an email. “We have tried to do research on him, but without any result.”
“For our part, we are going to study his file and do the accounts to his credit,” Mary continued. “We will get back to him immediately on this subject, at the same time as we will inform him of his rights.”
“I just hope I can get some credit, you know?” Johns told The Los Angeles Times. “I’d like to have something to give to my daughter.”
