Was chuck berry cheated out of royalties?

Answer 1

There are differing opinions on this. Chuck seems to have been very shrewed at keeping his publishing rights, apparently having a $17 million net worth. He has been covered by everyone including the Betles and the Stones. What might be at issue is how much did he recieve? If it was a percentage I am guesing it was very low and hence he's still out there playing. What is interesting to note is that he actually recieves royalties to this day for Surfing USA by The Beach Boys from a deal that Brian Wilson's father (who managed them and also sold off their ctatalogue) brokered after Chuck Berry claimed (rightly so) that it was almost a complete rip off of Sweet Little Sixteen. The Beach Boys didn't find this out till many years later. Chuck was recently sued himself by Jonnie Johnson who claimed to have helped write 30 of Chuck's songs. A judge dismissed the case.