Robert Yount

Robert Yount
Birth name	Robert Gene Yount
Born	(1929-10-20)October 20, 1929 Oklahoma City,Oklahoma, U.S.
Died	June 30, 2005(2005-06-30)(aged 75) Oroville, California,U.S.
Genres	Country
Occupation	Singer-songwriter
Instrument(s)	Vocals, guitarist

Robert Gene Yount(October 20, 1929 – June 30, 2005) was an American musician, singer and songwriter in thecountry musicgenre.

He was born inOklahoma City, Oklahoma.Between 1949 and 1954 Yount worked as a guitarist and songwriter forEddie Miller.Together with Miller, he wrote the song "Release Me"for which he is best known. The song reached number 1 in the UK in a cover byEngelbert Humperdinck.Yount sometimes used the stage name, Bobby Gene.As they were working with Dub Williams, (a pseudonym for James Pebworth), Miller and Yount gave him one-third of the song.

In 1958, Yount signed away hisroyalty rightsto W.S. Stevenson, better known as William McCall ofFour Star Records.After the bankruptcy of Four Star's successor in interest, the copyright was acquired by Acuff-Ross Music. When the initial term of copyright ended in 1983, it was renewed for a second term. Between 1983 and 1985 Acuff-Rose paid royalties to Yount, until they were notified by the family of the deceased William McCall of the 1958 assignment. Acuff-Rose then suspended payments until the dispute between the claimants was resolved. On December 24, 1996 theUnited States courts of appeals,Ninth Circuit, upheld the claim of the McCalls.

Robert Yount died inOroville, Californiaat the age of 75.