3 weeks ago
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Family members of late reggae star Sugar Minott have edged ever closer to a solution to a prolonged intestacy battle. His widow Maxine Stowe confirmed that a hearing with the Administrator General to finalise his estate affairs is set for December.
“So what we now have is a date for the valuations to be submitted by December 8 and we remain in negotiations with the Administrator General and the beneficiaries as to the process which includes a Trust for Sale,” Stowe told The Gleaner.
Stowe had been feuding with several of Minott’s children for years over matters concerning his estate and his life celebration event. Minott died in 2010 at age 54.
Sugar Minott married music executive Maxine Stowe, niece of Clement ‘Coxsone’ Dodd, in 1993. At the time, she was working at Columbia Records. The couple had met at Coxsone’s Music City in Brooklyn, New York, in 1978, where they collaborated and produced the album Roots Lovers. They remained married until his death.
The matter had been mired in court because Sugar Minott died without a will. Years of public feuding between family members had made it seem that there was no rapprochement in sight. However, recent developments have given the parties a path to a final solution.
“As of recent developments, I, Maxine Stowe, have been officially verified as the legal wife. This confirmation resolves a long-standing issue that, despite my submission of a verified marriage certificate shortly after his passing, remained unresolved for over 14 years. The delay in verification by the Administrator General’s Department caused significant emotional and professional distress to myself and our family, and is now the subject of further review,” Stowe said.
Legal verification was obtained from the jurisdiction in which the marriage occurred, which led to a shift in the administration of the estate, in accordance with the provisions of the Intestacy Act.
“The process now includes a comprehensive valuation of both real estate and intellectual property assets, along with an audit of the past 15 years of estate management,” Stowe said.
The news comes in the wake of the celebrations around the Sugar Minott Earthstrong which was held at the singer’s Robert Crescent compound in Kingston on May 25. Fifteen years after his death, the administration of the music part of his estate has not been effectively managed.
Control of his vast catalogue is largely unresolved, which may have damaged the overall value of his intellectual property and his music.
“This is not a straightforward matter. The process has been hampered by years of obstruction, misinformation, and defamation that negatively impacted not only the estate but also the shared music industry business we built together and individually,” Stowe said.
The Sugar Minott music estate is potentially one of the most lucrative catalogues in the music industry.
The singer, whose real name is Lincoln Barrington Minott, launched his career in the late 1960s as part of reggae trio The African Brothers.
He had a number four hit in the UK in March 1981 with Good Thing Going, a cover of a Michael Jackson song, which is arguably his biggest hit. Other standout songs on the international market include Babylon, with 2.31 million spins on Spotify, Hard Time Pressure, with 1.47 million; My Love is True, with 817,375 streams, and Exit Music (For a Film), with 1.16 million streams.
Minott launched a solo career in the 1970s and recorded for the famed Studio One label.
He built a following in the dancehalls of Jamaica and recorded songs including Vanity, Mr DC, Herbman Hustling and House is not a Home. He went on to nurture new talent with his own Black Roots and Youth Promotion labels.
Stowe believes, now that there can be a final resolution to a long-standing public feud between family members, the estate’s value will only skyrocket.
“Now that the truth of my legal status has been established, and the perceived feud that was often used to fuel division is no longer sustainable, the estate must proceed with the appropriate legal and administrative adjustments. We remain committed to ensuring that the estate is administered fairly, transparently, and in accordance with the law,” Stowe said.
English (US) ·