Guy Sebastian has revealed some unknown details about one of his number one albums as he continues to testify at his former manager’s trial.
A celebrity agent, a Sony music boss and a woman who was mistakenly believed to be Guy Sebastian’s accountant have appeared in court to testify at the trial of the singer’s former manager.
Titus Day is accused of fraudulently embezzling about $ 900,000 in copyright, ambassador and performance payments allegedly owed to Mr. Sebastian.
On Wednesday, veteran talent reserve agent Tony “Grace” Guarrera stepped up to the booth, where he was asked who came up with the idea for The Memphis Album, which Mr. Sebastian launched in 2007.
“In 2006 I traveled to America and part of my trip was to Memphis … I was inspired by this idea of a tribute album,” Guarrera said.
“I originally mentioned the concept in the direction before Titus … it went nowhere.
“I asked him [Mr Sebastian] if the management at the time had mentioned anything to him … he said “no”; I hadn’t heard anything. “
After the idea came up with Mr Day when he started working more closely with Mr Sebastian, The Memphis Album was released in 2007.
It became one of the best-selling albums of the year.
Earlier in court, Mr Sebastian was asked if Mr Day had come up with the idea for The Memphis Album.
“It looks like Mr Day is being credited with Mr Grace’s idea because it was Mr Grace’s suggestion,” Mr Sebastian said on Tuesday.
Gordon Pitt, Sony Music’s vice president of business and legal affairs, was then called to testify and told the court that Sebastian signed three recording contracts with the company between 2003 and 2021.
The court heard that Mr. Sebastian sent Sony a $ 65,000 bill, which was related to an advance payment for the delivery of the TRUTH album, a leader in sales charts.
Pitt turned down a suggestion from defense attorney Dominic Toomey SC asking if Sony had erroneously made “error payments” to an account in the name of a Sydney recording studio owned by Mr. Sebastian, called Coopers Lane.
“Did you know that Sony made payments to this account in error?” asked Mr. Toomey.
“No, no,” said Mr. Pitt.
The last person to testify was Dorcas Kemp, the person in charge of managing Mr. Sebastian’s finances, whom the court heard earlier described as an accountant.
“I’m not,” she said when asked if she was a qualified accountant.
“He was paying his bills, personal and business bills. I would be in charge of personal matters as well as business managers. “
Ms. Kemp said she was a trained accountant and that Mr. Day, 6 Degrees, would approve bills that could be paid on behalf of Mr. Guytunes’ business. Sebastian.
The trial continues.