Titus Day embezzlement trial hears from Sony boss, veteran booking agent

Guy Sebastian has revealed some unknown details about one of his number one albums as he continues to give evidence in the trial of his former manager.

A celebrity agent, a Sony music boss and a woman who was mistakenly believed to be Guy Sebastian’s accountant have fronted court to give evidence in the trial of the singer’s former manager.

Titus Day stands accused of fraudulently embezzling about $900,000 in royalty, ambassador and performance payments which were allegedly owed to Mr Sebastian.

Guy Sebastian’s The Memphis Album.

On Wednesday, veteran talent booking agent Tony “Grace” Guarrera took to the stand, where he was asked about who came up with the idea for The Memphis Album, which Mr Sebastian released in 2007.

“In 2006, I travelled to America and part of my journey was in Memphis … I was inspired with this idea of a tribute album,” Mr Guarrera said.

“I originally mentioned the concept to the management prior to Titus … it went nowhere.

“I asked him [Mr Sebastian] if the then-management had mentioned anything to him … he said ‘no’; he hadn’t heard anything.”

After the idea was raised with Mr Day when he started working more closely with Mr Sebastian, The Memphis Album was released in 2007.

It went on to become one of the highest selling albums of the year.

In court previously, Mr Sebastian was asked if Mr Day came up with The Memphis Album idea.

“It sounds like Mr Day is taking credit for Mr Grace’s idea because it was Mr Grace’s suggestion,” Mr Sebastian said on Tuesday.

Gordon Pitt, Sony Music’s vice president of business affairs and legal, was next called to give evidence and he told the court Mr Sebastian signed three recording contracts with the company between 2003 to 2021.

Titus Day has claimed he is the person owed money. Picture: NCA Newswire / Gaye Gerard

Guy Sebastian has not been charged with any wrongdoing. Picture: NCA Newswire / Gaye Gerard

The court heard Mr Sebastian sent Sony an invoice for $65,000, which related to an advanced payment for delivery of the chart-topping T.R.U.T.H album.

Mr Pitt rejected a suggestion from defence barrister Dominic Toomey SC who asked if Sony had wrongly made “payments in error” to an account in the name of a Sydney recording studio owned by Mr Sebastian, called Coopers Lane.

“Are you aware that payments were made into that account by Sony in error?” Mr Toomey asked.

“No, no,” Mr Pitt said.

The last person to give evidence was Dorcas Kemp, the person responsible for managing Mr Sebastian’s finances, who the court heard previously described as an accountant.

“I am not,” she said when asked if she was a qualified accountant.

“I was paying his invoices, personal and business invoices. I would be handling personal affairs as well as business managers.”

Ms Kemp said she was a trained book keeper and Mr Day’s company, 6 Degrees, would approve invoices that could be paid on Mr Sebastian’s Guytunes business’ behalf.

The trial continues.