Songs that he wrote have gone to the U.S. top ten 42 times but that wasn’t enough to keep Eddie Holland out of deep debt.
The Detroit News is reporting that Holland is currently $20 million in debt with the IRS aiming to seize his Social Security in repayment.
So, how does someone who has royalties coming in from that many hits possibly get into this much trouble? Well, he’s not getting those royalties anymore. The royalties were pledged as part of many business deals that the songwriter made over the years.
A lawyer reportedly filed a federal lawsuit on Wednesday in an attempt to protect the assets that Holland has left.
Holland, along with his brother Brian and Lamont Dozier, formed the most successful songwriting team to come out of the Motown hit factory. From the early-60’s until 1967, Holland-Dozier-Holland wrote dozens of major hits before getting into litigation with Berry Gordy over royalties. They went on to write music under the pseudonym “Edythe Wayne” while, for over a decade, the lawsuit wound its way through the court system.
The top ten hits of Eddie Holland:
(Love is Like a) Heatwave *
Mickey’s Monkey
Quicksand
Where Did Our Love Go? *
Baby Love
Come See About Me
How Sweet It Is (to Be Loved By You) *
Stop! In the Name of Love
Nowhere to Run
Back In My Arms Again
I Can’t Help Myself (Sugar Pie, Honey Bunch)
It’s the Same Old Song
1-2-3 (uncredited)
I Hear a Symphony
My World is Empty Without You
Love is Like An Itching In My Heart
You Can’t Hurry Love *
Beauty is Only Skin Deep
Reach Out, I’ll Be There
I’m Ready For Love
You Keep Me Hangin’ On *
(I Know) I’m Losing You *
Standing in the Shadows of Love
Love is Here and Now You’re Gone
Baby, I Need Your Loving
Jimmy Mack
Bernadette
The Happening
All I Need
Reflections
In and Out of Love
Give Me Just a Little More Time
Band of Gold
Roll With It
This Old Heart of Mine
* Songs that were top ten hits more than once
