Solomon Linda (on far left, pictured with his singing group, the Original Evening Birds), the writer of the frequently covered hit song “The Lion Sleeps Tonight,” signed over the copyright for his song for 10 shillings—the equivalent of 87 cents today—in 1952. After his death in 1962, with only $22 to his name, his family fought for the royalties Mr. Linda should have received, resulting in a successful financial settlement for the family in 2006.