These Musicians Were Accused Of Plagiarism And It Wasn’t Pretty

When it comes to writing music, it isn’t always possible to be completely original. Music, for the most part, is always building off of something that somebody else has already created. Consequently, things can get messy. What one musician thinks is an original song, another may see it as a total rip-off of their own. While some accounts of plagiarism may be clear, others can be described as a stretch, or come down to an honest mistake. From blatant stealing to close calls, here are some musicians that were put on blast for supposedly plagiarising another’s music.

People copy Led Zeppelin, not the other way around, right?

Johnny Cash Pays Up For “Folsom Prison Blues”

Johnny Cash is a renowned country singer, songwriter, performer, and all-around music icon. He’s known for his originality, music, and his ability to blend genres together, making him a timeless artist. However, what most people don’t know is that Cash had to pay up big time for his major hit “Folsom Prison Blues.” While some may consider this to be his most well-known song, as it turns out, he was forced to pay composer Gordon Jenkins $75,000 for using the melody and lyrics from his 1953 track “Crescent City Blues.” Cash merely changed the theme of the song from a lonely woman to a prisoner telling his story of murder. The music, as well as the lyrics, were close enough to warrant a lawsuit, but it looks like Cash still won in the end.