MEMPHIS, Tenn. — Former President Donald Trump is facing backlash from Isaac Hayes’ family and musician David Porter after their song was used at this weekend’s NRA Convention.
Trump concluded his speech last Friday with “Hold On, I’m Coming” by Sam and Dave.
The 1966 song, produced by Stax Records in Memphis, was written by music legends Isaac Hayes and David Porter.
“Hell to the No!” Porter tweeted on Saturday. “I did not and would NOT approve of them using the song for any of his purposes!”
Porter went on to add that Hayes’ estate also wouldn’t approve of the song selection.
Veronica Hayes, one of Isaac Hayes’ eleven children, told WREG by phone her family didn’t approve either.
“We were not Trump supporters and the statement we put out it clearly states we were not notified and would not have allowed that to happen,” Veronica said.
The family later tweeted:
The estate and family of Isaac Hayes DID NOT approve and would NEVER approve the use of “Hold on I’m coming’” by Sam and Dave by Donald Trump at this weekend’s NRA convention.
The National Rifle Association Convention came just three days after the shooting in Uvalde, Texas, where 19 children and two adults were killed by an 18-year-old gunman using an AR-15.
“Our condolences go out to the victims and families of #Uvalde and mass shooting victims everywhere,” Hayes’ estate tweeted.
During the speech, Trump announced the names of the victims and called for more school security and a better approach to mental health while dismissing calls to disarm gun owners. The former president wrapped his speech up by dancing to the song.
“He had just read off all those children’s names and two teachers who were massacred at the school and then went immediately into the Sam and Dave song “Hold on I’m Comin” as if to say he was running for president again. It was distasteful and I was mortified when I watched it,” Veronica said.
The former president has a long history of using music at his rallies against the wishes of artists such as Aerosmith, the Rolling Stones, Tom Petty, and now Hayes and Porter.
“It’s one of the most classic songs in history. It’s been played all over the world a million times, way more than a million times. I just wish that his team would license that music and get permission,” said Tim Sampson, communications director for the Soulsville Foundation.
The Hayes’ estate said it will likely send a “cease and desist” to the former president to stop using the song.