Abby Ham | WBIR
Up in Tellico Village lives an attorney, but not just any attorney. This one has an interesting resume that rivals many hot shot Hollywood lawyers.
Many know the music and style of the band KISS. Most importantly you know their faces. Raymond E. Scott is more familiar with those faces than most. After all, he did trademark them.
“No one had ever registered the face of an entertainer before. As a matter of fact, the trademark office said you can’t do that,” said Scott.
However, the trademark office went through with it after Scott’s argument. He is an attorney, afterall.
“I actually had somebody sit in for Peter Criss, the drummer, and wear the same make-up and nobody knew,” explained Scott.
It wasn’t just the famous KISS make-up. Scott helped Gene Simmons and his bandmates make millions of dollars starting with their first album.
KISS’ manager called on Raymond to set up a recording of a live show.
“As an attorney who is more than willing to b.s. if necessary. Of course I know how to set up a recording. Well, I had no clue,” said Scott. “I had a friend in the business and he said, ‘Oh, you ought to talk to Bob Segar’s manager because he records in Detroit.’
And so KISS Live was born.
“The album went gold in three weeks. It went platinum in five. And that began KISS,” said Scott.
After this he became their attorney and took the band even further with trademarks of all kinds. T-shirts, more albums, the list goes on.
“They started out they were making less than $50,000. I said I can do better and that’s why I was hired. And my first year, I think we did $15 million,” explained Scott.