Wilson Pickett

Wilson Pickett (March 18, 1941 – January 19, 2006) was an American R&B/Rock and Roll and soul singer. Known for his raw, raspy, passionate vocal delivery, he recorded some of the most incendiary soul music of the twentieth century. A major figure in the development of Southern soul music, his recordings between 1963 and 1973 left behind a legacy of some of the deepest, funkiest soul music ever to emerge from the South. The impact of his recordings also resulted in his 1991 induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. He was born in Prattville, Alabama, and grew up singing in Baptist church choirs. He eventually left to live with his father in Detroit in 1955. That same year he became part of a gospel music group called the Violinaires. Four years later Pickett, lured by the success of other gospel singers of the day, including Sam Cooke, Aretha Franklin, for the more lucrative secular music market, joined the Falcons in 1959. His biggest success with The Falcons came in 1962, when "I Found a Love," (co-authored by Pickett and featuring his lead vocals), peaked at #6 on the R&B charts, and at #75 on the pop charts. His first big success as a solo artist came with "It's Too Late," an original composition. Entering the charts on July 27, 1963, it eventually peaked at #7 on the R&B charts, and its success convinced Jerry Wexler at Atlantic Records to buy his contract from Double L Records in 1964, but his major breakthrough would come at Stax Records' recording studio in Memphis, Tennessee, where he recorded his third Atlantic single, "In the Midnight Hour" (1965), perhaps his best-remembered hit, peaking at #1 R&B, #21 pop {US}, and #12 hit {UK}. Other big hits from this period in his career included two other covers:"Mustang Sally," (#6 R&B, #23 pop), and "Funky Broadway," (another R&B #1 for Pickett, as well as a #8 pop hit.) He spent the twilight of his career playing dozens of concert dates a year until 2004, when he began suffering from health problems. While in the hospital, he told his sister that he wanted to record a gospel album when he recovered. But, sadly, he kept fading. He died of a heart attack January 19, 2006 in the hospital near his Ashburn, Virginia home and was buried next to his mother in Louisville, Kentucky, where he had spent many years after his mother moved there from Alabama. Pickett's long-time friend, Little Richard, gave the eulogy. His funeral procession was flanked by well wishers welcoming him home. Find more about his music and life at: www.alamhof.org/pickett.htm

Research info provided by: www.wikipedia.org

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