(HOST) The Vermont Senate has sent a clear message to individuals who pretend to be famous musicians – stay out of Vermont!
Earlier this week, the Senate Judiciary committee took testimony from Jon Bauman, also known as Bowzer in the group Sha Na Na. He said that imposters are being booked across the country pretending to be a group from the ‘50s and ‘60s like the Platters, the Coasters and a number of Motown bands.
The legislation makes it illegal for anyone to perform using a band name unless they have the legal right to do so. Committee chairman Dick Sears says the issue is one of consumer fraud:
(Sears) "So I think that’s the kind of behavior we want to change and it’s kind of truth in advertising… I guess it’s only happened a few times in Vermont but I think one time is too many."
(HOST) A number of years ago Sears went to see the Temptations perform – he wonders if he saw the real group or imposters:
(Sears) "I paid good money to go see them and I’ll never be able to know for sure but maybe I didn’t see the Temptations maybe it was a completely different group."
(HOST) The measure will come up for final approval in the Senate on Friday – it will then be considered in the House.