January 25, 2006
In The Midnight Hour
Wilson “Wicked” Pickett died of a heart attack on January 19, 2006. Pickett was born and reared in Prattville, Alabama, the youngest of 11 children. He later formed a gospel music group called the Violinaires, which participated in gospel music tours across the country with, among others, Sam Cooke. He joined The Falcons, which already included Eddie Floyd and Sir Mack Rice, in 1959. “I Found a Love” with Pickett on lead vocals, was a hit for The Falcons in the early ‘60s. Pickett then recorded for Atlantic Records (where Solomon Burke made a hit of Pickett’s “If You Need Me”). Pickett later went to Stax Records in Memphis and there recorded his famous “In the Midnight Hour.” In the same recording session that turned out “In the Midnight Hour,” Pickett also recorded “Don’t Fight It,” “634-5789” and “Ninety-nine and One-Half (Won’t Do).” These songs were recorded with the Stax house band, Booker T. and the M.G.’s, including guitarist Steve Cropper.
From Memphis, Pickett moved on to Muscle Shoals, Alabama where he recorded “Mustang Sally,” “I Found a Love,” and “Funky Broadway.” Young Duane Allman was a session guitarist on some of these songs. Pickett also scored hits with covers as diverse as The Beatles’ “Hey Jude” and The Archies’ “Sugar Sugar.” In the early ‘70’s, Pickett worked with famed “Philadelphia Sound” producers Kenny Gamble and Leon Huff.
Many popular artists have recorded Pickett’s songs, including The Rolling Stones, The Grateful Dead, Roxy Music, Los Lobos and others. Pickett was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame (which yr crrspdt recently visited) in 1991. RIP Wilson.