Help our legal defense fund - Country star Lucky White 1946

The music of Lucky White's Dude Ranch Playboys and his bands.

Hawdy ya'll,

Update October 10, 2025: We are currently dealing with a legal issue

involving Youtube, Collector Records in the Netherlands Holland, and The Orchard who for some unknown reason is asserting distribution rights on behalf of Collector Records for two of Lucky White's sound recordings: Yo Yo Heart and One of Your Lies. Both music sound recordings released on the 4-Star Record label in 1953 by Lucky White and His Band (the Dude Ranch Playboys).

Here is the unauthorized release by Collector Records of Lucky White's ONE OF YOUR LIES (1953). The label hid Lucky White's classic within the Miller Brothers CD release from 2012.

Here is the unauthorized release by Collector Records of Lucky White's Yo Yo Heart (1953). The label hid Lucky White's classic within the Miller Brothers release on vinyl from 1990.

These sound recordings were arranged, produced, recorded and engineered by Lucky White at Les Paul's Studio in Southern, California.

Here is the original release of ONE OF YOUR LIES (1953) on the 4-Star Record Label by Lucky White and His Band (The Dude Ranch Playboys)

Here is the original release of Yo Yo Heart (1953) on the 4-Star Record Label by Lucky White and His Band (The Dude Ranch Playboys)

The Orchard is asserting distribution rights on behalf of the Dutch Record label who nefariously released Lucky's sound recordings (intellectual property rights) as Miller Brother's sound recordings when they are clearly sound recordings by Lucky White and His Band.

It appears that the Miller Brothers, Collector Records, have falsely credited Lucky White's sound recordings as their own original sound recordings. We are 100% certain that this would constitute copyright infringement, which is a form of intellectual property theft.

Additionally, the false attribution of authorship we believe will qualify as fraud under certain legal theories, such as false endorsement, unjust enrichment or misrepresentation in commerce.

The Orchard cannot legally license Lucky White's sound recordings by his band on behalf Collector Records as Miller Brother's releases' because they are recordings by Lucky White and His Band from his 4-Star releases in 1953. Furthermore The Orchard would have to acquire those distribution rights from us and Lucky White's estate. They have not.

In July of 2025 we disputed both of these stolen sound recordings by the Miller Brothers and Collector Records of Yo Yo Heart and One Of Your Lies as copyright violations with Youtube. We won with a removal.

A few hours later the removal was reversed and Youtube notified us that the label, Collector Records and The Orchard (a Division of Sony) is asserting their distributions rights. Distribution rights that they do not legally have and need to acquire from us (Lucky White's Estate).

We disputed these actions by these entities and were told we need to seek legal counsel by a Youtube official.

We contacted our Estates Agent over at Sony/Acuff-Rose music publishing he said: "If you believe these actions are fraudulent and have had no success in trying to remedy this with Orchard, seeking legal counsel would be the next step."

Because of these nefarious stolen releases' of Lucky White's musical sound recordings by Collector Records, which they hid as Miller Brother's sound recordings, and distributed them without authorization from Lucky White's estate, using the Orchard as their distributor, it appears like this is the path we are being guided down.

With great sadness at this impasse it appears we now need to take legal action for damages, injunctions to stop distribution, and potentially statutory penalties.

For the last four years since June of 2021, we have given these folks every opportunity to resolves these legal issues and they have brazenly refused. We now have to focus all our efforts with legal action

WHAT WOULD YOU DO IF YOUR SOUND RECORDINGS WERE STOLEN LIKE THIS?

PLEASE HELP SHARE OUR STORY

Our legal representation will be all inclusive going forward with the following issues.

We also have several other legal issues between BMI-ASCAP and Lucky White's posthumous filing. It has taken over four years with countless emails and phone calls to our Estates Agent at Sony Music Publishing and BMI's legal dept. Lucky's BMI account was canceled, ghosted and possibly hi-Jacked we believe, back in 1953.

His IPI (Interested Parties Information) account number is N/A (non active). Several of his copywritten songs registered with the U.S. Copyright Office and his publisher Sony/Acuff-Rose appear to have been altered within the BMI-ASCAP Network to benefit an imposter named Ralph Hollander. Who is Ralph Hollander? Ralph Hollander is a wrongful payee on Lucky White's secured compositions. It appears that Lucky's BMI-IPI being canceled enabled a fraud? We may have to consult with a copyright attorney in the immediate future.

WE NEED YOUR HELP in sharing our story WORLDWIDE. Donations will be used to fund our legal issues as we save the music catalog of country recording star Lucky White of the 1940s, 50s and 60s.

We will continue the process of all other endeavors regarding this music catalog which require financial aid as well.

If you're unable to donate sharing is just as valuable. Thank you for your time. Please read on and enjoy.

My name is LucKy III from Bullhead City, Arizona. I'm the founder of a musical project entitled: Lucky III's Outlaw Country Western Revival™ . I currently play bass guitar and percussion pedals in Doc Paul's Dirty Doc Duo up in Oatman, Arizona.

LucKy III's DUDE RANCH OUTLAWS Saving the music

of Lucky White and his DUDE RANCH PLAYBOYS

Lucky White's band logo from 1946.

Photo: J. Allen Hawkins

...I'm helping my Grandmother, Aunt and Uncle save the music legacy of Lucky White and his music. It has been bestowed upon me to carry the torch for my grandfathers' music legacy by re-creating, performing, re-recording and retrieving his music catalog with his publisher Sony/ATV/Acuff-Rose and licensing with the Harry Fox Agency.

Why some might ask? In 1968 Lucky White wrote his Swan Song entitled: "I'm Agonna Hang It Up". Soon thereafter he lost everything in a studio house fire in South Lake Tahoe California. Everything from his master reel to reels, 78, 45, and 33-1/2 RPM inventory, recording and musical equipment. Including his touring and personnel documents, all of his band photos and films of his live performances. All we have is what we can recover from the Copyright Office and Sony Music Publishing. KTLA Channel 5 might have some films and photos in their archives out in Hollywood, California.

LucKy III Performs YO YO HEART (1953) with Doc Paul's Dirty Doc Duo in Oatman, Arizona (2025)

LucKy III at Judy's Saloon Oatman, Arizona 0n Route 66. With Doc Paul's Dirty Doc Duo Performing Lucky White's ONE OF YOUR LIES (1953)

LucKy III at Hooch's 95 Bar & Grill. Mohave Valley, Arizona. April 4, 2023.

From 1946 thru 1954 Lucky and his band was the only Country Western Band in the area of South-Western California in San Bernardino County. That's only 8 years if you were counting.

From the San Bernardino Sun October 2, 1954

During those same years, Lucky had his radio shows on KPMO Pomona and KWKW 1430 Pasadena, California. He helped build KPMO from the ground up when it was a mobile trailer in 1947. The stations were run by Mutual Broadcasting System.

The correct way to say Hawdy.

KWKW Radio 1430 AM Pasadena, California. (1946)

He promoted his band and many others live on the air and at the Foreman Phillips Ballroom in Baldwin Park, California.

Radio Life Magazine. September 22, 1946

During his career, he toured with some of the greatest Country Western Recording stars from the post-WWII era. Bob Wills, Cindy Walker, Buck Owens, Cliffie Stone, Hank Williams, Little Jimmy Dickens, Terry Fell, Leodie Jackson, T. Texas Tyler, the Sunshine Trio, Les Paul and Mary Ford. Lucky also recorded at Les Pauls Studio. On several of Lucky's recordings Les Paul laid down some of his classic guitar work: 1) FLOUR LARD COFFEE SUGAR. 2) ONE OF YOUR LIES. 3) YO YO HEART. 4) BROKEN-HEARTED GIRL.

Lucky was also a touring musician for Cliffie Stones' Hometown Jamboree. Unfortunately, Wikipedia does not have Lucky White listed in their credits.

In 1953 Lucky White started his own Independent Record label entitled: WHITE RECORDS. Manufactured by Four Star Sales. Published with BMI.

We’re currently in search of this 78 RPM and we’ve reached out to John Tefteller for his help wisdom and knowledge. He may actually have one. Including the original reel-to-reel masters.

This gem was released: on November 14, 1953. Source: Billboard Magazine

Lucky's Grandson covers his 1953 hit in 2023 with his

band: LucKy III's DUDE RANCH OUTLAWS

Lucky was born on May 16, 1923 in Telephone, Texas. He passed away on January 6, 1997, at 73 years old in San Bernardino, California. It was his dream to release his music catalog from a career that spanned 23 years from 1945 thru 1968. He passed from cancer before he could see it come to fruition. Along with Lucky's next of kin, we secured the licensing from our Estates Agent at Sony Music Publishing and their legal department in August of 2021. We released Lucky's entire music catalog on a posthumous digital album entitled: NO MUSIC NO BETTIES NO LUCKY with MVD Entertainment

For many country western fans, Lucky White and his music had never been heard before. However, he was touring with the greatest of all time as he sang about Heartbreak and Tragedies. < watch the film at the link.

August 4, 1948

Lucky White and his band performed for many benefits of all kinds.

He was a WWII Vet and US Marine. He played many benefits to help

others in need during his music career.

In the early 1960s, Lucky had one of the biggest traveling shows in the nation. He still didn't have a national record deal.

Friday, October 5, 1962.

Lucky and his band got a mention in the April 27, 1963 issue of Billboard Magazine.

By 1968 Lucky White recorded his last song at Capitol Records for the CONTACT RECORDS Label. Publisher: Central Songs. Lucky's long-time friend Cliffie Stone was his publisher.

We've launched this fundraiser to help bring attention to one of the most underrated Country Western Recording Stars in American Music History. Lucky's connection with Les Paul is remarkable as well. We're seeking funding to be able to pay for the legal challenges regarding the theft of Lucky's intellectual property..

UPDATE: Sony Music Publishing has recently informed us that Lucky White has four additional music compositions missing from their catalog. All they have are the song titles, three lyric sheets out of four of the song titles, and the copyright registration documents from the 1950s. The composition entitled: Hey, Mr. Bullfrog is completely missing. We only have the copyright registration number for that tune.

For the songs listed below, we need to contact and file a "pull notice" from the U.S. Copyright Office asking for the original sheet music that was submitted in the 1950s by his publishers Acuff-Rose.

1) Honey Take a Chance

2) Hey, Mr. Bullfrog

3) Oop Voop Dittem

4) Too Lazy to Work - Too Nervous to Steal

This endeavor can be very expensive. The U.S. Copyright Office informed us that this research and document reproduction starts at $400 minimum for the first two hours, with $200 per hour thereafter per song title. This fundraiser will help us in our process of "Saving the Music" and locating the original sheet music so we can reproduce it.

Getting this started by just doing the math to start this process is $1,600 for all four songs just for the first two hours. At the bare minimum and if we were lucky with two additional hours per song we'd be looking at an additional $800.

For a total minimum of $2,400 to retrieve the original elements that were submitted back in the 1950s.

In addition, with a portion of these funds, I will also be restoring this Courtney 78 RPM Disc recorded and released back in July of 1946 by my grandfather and his band the Dude Ranch Playboys. Some 77 years ago, if you were counting. Both of my covers of the DOWN AND OUT BLUES and THAT NAGGIN WIFE OF MINE can be viewed by clicking on the song title hyperlinks above.

I acquired this disc six months ago on eBay from a seller in Santa Barbara, California. My mission is to get this disc to one of two locations for the cleaning and restoration process. AUDIO MECHANICS or END POINT AUDIO both in Burbank, California.

LucKy III cover Lucky White's 1946 hit DOWN AND OUT BLUES with Patrick Muzingo of the band Junkyard on the drums.

In the late 1980s and early 1990s, I was fortunate to work with Paul Tollett, Gary Tovar, Bryan Meckelborg and Kevin Lyman of Goldenvoice Productions. Producing live concert footage for the Red Hot Chili Peppers, Jane's Addiction, No Doubt, Gwen Stefani, Bad Religion, Nine Inch Nails Epitaph Records, and Brett Gurewitz just to name a few.

The valuation on a project like this is rather unique. Document reproduction, retrieval from the U.S. Copyright Office, Recording engineers, the restoration process, and record manufacturers are very expensive.

I hope you've enjoyed this unique fundraiser. Please join us in "saving authentic outlaw country music" from the 1940s, 50s and 60s. Music You Feel. You can see my live music performances from Lucky's catalog, along with all my film work here at the World Rockumentary Channel on youtube.

You can discover, re-discover and romance the music of Lucky White by visiting his digital album entitled: NO MUSIC NO BETTIES NO LUCKY Released posthumously in August of 2021.

If you have any suggestions, and would like to help, feel free to contact me or Lucky's daughter Linda White DeVoll (beneficiary). If you're unable to donate, simply sharing this fundraiser is just as helpful. Please share and spread the word. The family of country recording star, Lucky White thanks you for your time and help in "Saving The Music".