Wilson Pickett facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Wilson Pickett |
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Pickett in 1969
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| Background information | |
| Also known as | Wicked Pickett |
| Born | March 18, 1941 Prattville, Alabama, U.S. |
| Origin | Detroit, Michigan, U.S. |
| Died | January 19, 2006 (aged 64) Reston, Virginia, U.S. |
| Genres | |
| Occupation(s) |
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| Instruments | Vocals |
| Years active | 1955–2006 |
| Labels | |
| Associated acts | The Falcons |
Wilson Pickett (born March 18, 1941 – died January 19, 2006) was a famous American singer and songwriter. He was a very important person in creating soul music.
Pickett recorded over 50 songs that became hits on the US R&B charts. Many of these songs also became popular on the main Billboard music chart. Some of his most well-known songs include "In the Midnight Hour", "Land of 1,000 Dances", "Mustang Sally", and "Funky Broadway".
In 1991, Wilson Pickett was added to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. This honored his big influence on music and songwriting.
Wilson Pickett's Life Story
Early Years and Music Beginnings
Wilson Pickett was born on March 18, 1941, in Prattville, Alabama. As a child, he sang in Baptist church choirs. He was one of 11 children.
In 1955, when he was 14, Pickett moved to Detroit to live with his father. There, he developed his strong and emotional singing style. He was inspired by singers like Little Richard, who he called "the architect of rock and roll."
In 1955, Pickett joined a gospel group called the Violinaires. He sang with them for four years. Many gospel singers were moving into popular music, so Pickett decided to join the Falcons in 1959.
The Falcons were a group that mixed gospel music with popular sounds. This helped create soul music. Other famous singers like Eddie Floyd and Sir Mack Rice were also in the group. Pickett's biggest hit with the Falcons was "I Found a Love." He helped write this song and sang the main vocals. This success helped him start his solo career.
Starting a Solo Career
After leaving the Falcons, Pickett recorded his first solo songs. One song he co-wrote was "If You Need Me." He sent a demo of this song to Jerry Wexler, a producer at Atlantic Records. Wexler gave the song to Solomon Burke, who was a big star at Atlantic. Burke's version of "If You Need Me" became a huge hit.
Pickett was disappointed that his song was given away. However, his own version of "If You Need Me" was released as his first solo single. It became a moderate hit, reaching No. 30 on the R&B chart.
His first major solo success was with his song "It's Too Late" in 1963. It reached No. 7 on the R&B chart. This song's success led Atlantic Records to sign Pickett in 1964.
Rise to Stardom: "In the Midnight Hour"
Wilson Pickett's career at Atlantic Records really took off with his song "In the Midnight Hour" in 1965. He recorded this song at Stax Records in Memphis, Tennessee. It became his first huge hit, reaching No. 1 on the R&B chart and No. 21 on the pop chart.
"In the Midnight Hour" sold over one million copies. It also earned Pickett his first Grammy nomination. The song's unique rhythm was created by producer Jerry Wexler and the Stax studio musicians.
Hits from Stax and Fame Studios
Pickett recorded more hits at Stax in 1965. These included "Don't Fight It," "634-5789 (Soulsville, U.S.A.)", and "Ninety-Nine and a Half (Won't Do)." He often co-wrote these songs.
Later, Pickett moved to Fame Studios in Muscle Shoals, Alabama. Here, he recorded some of his biggest songs. These included "Land of 1,000 Dances", which was his third R&B No. 1 hit and his biggest pop hit, reaching No. 6. This song also sold over a million copies.
Other famous songs from this time were his versions of "Mustang Sally" and "Funky Broadway". Both of these songs also sold over a million copies.
Later Atlantic Records Career
In late 1967, Pickett started recording with producers Tom Dowd and Tommy Cogbill in Memphis. He recorded songs written by Bobby Womack, such as "I'm in Love" and "I'm a Midnight Mover."
Pickett returned to Fame Studios in 1968 and 1969. During these sessions, he recorded a hit version of The Beatles' song "Hey Jude". He also recorded "Mini-Skirt Minnie" and "Hey Joe".
In 1970, Pickett worked with producers Gamble and Huff in Philadelphia. This led to his album Wilson Pickett in Philadelphia. It included the hit singles "Engine No. 9" and "Don't Let the Green Grass Fool You." The latter sold one million copies.
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He then returned to Muscle Shoals and recorded his fifth and final R&B No. 1 hit, "Don't Knock My Love, Pt. 1." This song also sold over a million copies. More hits followed in 1971, like "Call My Name, I'll Be There" and "Fire and Water."
In 1971, Pickett performed at the Soul To Soul concert in Accra, Ghana. This concert celebrated Ghana's Independence Day.
In 1972, Pickett left Atlantic Records and signed with RCA Records. His final Atlantic single was "Funk Factory."
After Atlantic Records
Pickett continued to have success on the R&B charts with RCA in 1973 and 1974. However, his songs did not become big pop hits anymore. In 1975, RCA dropped him from their label. He then started his own small record label called Wicked, releasing one album.
Pickett was also a popular songwriter. Many artists recorded his songs, including Van Halen, the Rolling Stones, Aerosmith, and Bruce Springsteen.
Even though he faced personal challenges, Pickett was honored many times for his music in the 1980s and 1990s. He performed at Atlantic Records' 40th Anniversary concert in 1988. His music was also featured in the 1991 film The Commitments.
In the late 1990s, Pickett released a new album called It's Harder Now. This album earned him a Grammy Award nomination. He was also named Soul/Blues Male Artist of the Year by the Blues Foundation.
Pickett appeared in the 1998 film Blues Brothers 2000, singing "634-5789." He also co-starred in the 2002 documentary Only the Strong Survive.
Pickett continued to perform many concerts each year until 2004. He stopped touring due to health problems.
Personal Life
Wilson Pickett had four children. At the time of his death, he was engaged to be married.
Death
Wilson Pickett passed away on January 19, 2006, at the age of 64. He had been sick for about a year. He died in a hospital in Reston, Virginia, after having a heart attack.
Pickett was buried in a mausoleum at Evergreen Cemetery in Louisville, Kentucky. His funeral was attended by many, including his long-time friend Little Richard, who gave a speech.
On March 20, 2006, a special event was held in New York to remember Pickett. Many musicians performed, including members of his old band, the Midnight Movers.
Awards and Honors
Wilson Pickett received many awards for his music:
- In 1991, he was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
- In 1993, he received a Pioneer Award from the Rhythm and Blues Foundation.
- In 2005, he was voted into the Michigan Rock and Roll Legends Hall of Fame.
- In 2015, Wilson Pickett was inducted into the National Rhythm & Blues Hall of Fame.
Grammy Award Nominations
Wilson Pickett was nominated for five Grammy Awards during his career.
| Year | Nominee / work | Award | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1965 | "In the Midnight Hour" | Best R&B Performance | Nominated |
| 1967 | "Funky Broadway" | Best Male R&B Vocal Performance | Nominated |
| 1970 | "Engine #9" | Best Male R&B Vocal Performance | Nominated |
| 1987 | "In the Midnight Hour" (re-recording) | Best Male R&B Vocal Performance | Nominated |
| 1999 | It's Harder Now | Best Traditional R&B Performance | Nominated |
Music Albums
Studio Albums
| Year | Album | Chart positions | Label | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| US Pop |
US R&B |
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| 1963 | It's Too Late | – | – | Double L Records DL-2300/SDL-8300 | |
| 1965 | In the Midnight Hour | 107 | 3 | Atlantic SD-8114 | |
| 1966 | The Exciting Wilson Pickett | 21 | 3 | Atlantic SD-8129 | |
| 1967 | The Wicked Pickett | 42 | 5 | Atlantic SD-8138 | |
| The Sound of Wilson Pickett | 54 | 7 | Atlantic SD-8145 | ||
| 1968 | I'm in Love | 70 | 9 | Atlantic SD-8175 | |
| The Midnight Mover | 91 | 10 | Atlantic SD-8183 | ||
| 1969 | Hey Jude | 97 | 15 | Atlantic SD-8215 | |
| 1970 | Right On | 197 | 36 | Atlantic SD-8250 | |
| Wilson Pickett in Philadelphia | 64 | 12 | Atlantic SD-8270 | ||
| 1971 | Don't Knock My Love | 132 | 23 | Atlantic SD-8300 | |
| 1973 | Mr. Magic Man | 187 | 30 | RCA Victor LSP-4858 | |
| Miz Lena's Boy | – | 34 | RCA Victor APL1-0312 | ||
| 1974 | Pickett in the Pocket | – | – | RCA Victor APL1-0495 | |
| 1975 | Join Me and Let's Be Free | – | – | RCA Victor APL1-0856 | |
| 1976 | Chocolate Mountain | – | – | Wicked Records 9001 | |
| 1978 | Funky Situation | – | – | Big Tree/Atlantic BT-76011 | |
| 1979 | I Want You | – | 69 | EMI America SW-17019 | |
| 1981 | Right Track | – | – | EMI America SW-17043 | |
| 1987 | American Soul Man | – | 75 | Motown 6244-ML | |
| 1989 | It's Harder Now | – | – | Bullseye Blues/Rounder BB-9625 | |
| "–" means the album did not appear on the charts. | |||||
Live Albums
- Live in Japan (1974)
- Live and Burnin' – Stockholm '69 (2009)
- Wilson Pickett Show: Live in Germany 1968 (2009)
Compilation Albums
| Year | Album | Chart positions | Label | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| US Pop |
US R&B |
||||
| 1967 | The Best of Wilson Pickett | 35 | 9 | Atlantic SD-8151 | |
| 1971 | The Best of Wilson Pickett, Vol. II | 73 | 8 | Atlantic SD-8290 | |
| 1973 | Wilson Pickett's Greatest Hits | 178 | 33 | Atlantic SD2-501 [2LP] | |
| 1992 | A Man and A Half: The Best of Wilson Pickett | – | – | Rhino R2-70287 | |
| 1993 | The Very Best of Wilson Pickett | – | – | Rhino R2-71212 | |
| 1998 | Take Your Pleasure Where You Find It: Best of the RCA Years | – | – | Camden 58814 | |
| 2006 | The Definitive Collection | – | – | Rhino R2-77614 | |
| 2010 | Funky Midnight Mover: The Atlantic Studio Recordings (1962–1978) | – | – | Rhino Handmade RHM2-07753 | |
| 2015 | Mr. Magic Man: The Complete RCA Studio Recordings | – | – | Real Gone Music RGM-0384 | |
| The Midnight Mover: Wilson Pickett & the Falcons (The Early Years 1957–1962) | – | – | Jasmine JASCD-936 | ||
| "–" means the album did not appear on the charts. | |||||
Singles
| Year | Song Titles (A-side, B-side) Both sides from same album unless noted |
Chart positions | Album | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| US |
US R&B |
UK |
AUS |
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| 1963 | "If You Need Me" b/w "Baby, Call on Me" |
64 | 30 | – | – | It's Too Late |
| "It's Too Late" b/w "I'm Gonna Love You" |
49 | 7 | – | – | ||
| "I'm Down to My Last Heartbreak" b/w "I Can't Stop" |
95 | 27 | – | – | ||
| "My Heart Belongs to You" b/w "Let Me Be Your Boy" Reissue charted in 1965 |
109 | – | – | – | Non-album tracks | |
| 1964 | "I'm Gonna Cry" b/w "For Better or Worse" |
124 | – | – | – | In the Midnight Hour |
| "Come Home Baby" b/w "Take a Little Love" |
– | – | – | – | ||
| 1965 | "In the Midnight Hour" b/w "I'm Not Tired" |
21 | 1 | 12 | – | |
| "Don't Fight It" b/w "It's All Over" (from The Exciting Wilson Pickett) |
53 | 4 | 29 | – | ||
| 1966 | "634-5789 (Soulsville, U.S.A.)" b/w "That's a Man's Way" (from In the Midnight Hour) |
13 | 1 | 36 | – | The Exciting Wilson Pickett |
| "Ninety Nine and a Half (Won't Do)" b/w "Danger Zone" |
53 | 13 | – | – | ||
| "Land of 1,000 Dances" b/w "You're So Fine" |
6 | 1 | 22 | 22 | ||
| "Mustang Sally" b/w "Three Time Loser" |
23 | 6 | 28 | 40 | The Wicked Pickett | |
| 1967 | "Everybody Needs Somebody to Love" b/w "Nothing You Can Do" |
29 | 19 | – | 57 | |
| "I Found a Love – Part I" b/w "I Found a Love – Part II" |
32 | 6 | – | – | The Sound of Wilson Pickett | |
| "You Can't Stand Alone" | 70 | 26 | – | – | ||
| "Soul Dance Number Three" | 55 | 10 | – | – | ||
| "Funky Broadway" b/w "I'm Sorry About That" |
8 | 1 | 43 | – | ||
| "I'm in Love" | 45 | 4 | – | – | I'm in Love | |
| "Stagger Lee" | 22 | 13 | – | – | ||
| 1968 | "Jealous Love" | 50 | 18 | – | – | |
| "I've Come a Long Way" | 101 | 46 | – | – | ||
| "She's Lookin' Good" b/w "We've Got to Have Love" |
15 | 7 | – | – | ||
| "I'm a Midnight Mover" b/w "Deborah" |
24 | 6 | 38 | – | The Midnight Mover | |
| "I Found a True Love" b/w "For Better or Worse" |
42 | 11 | – | – | ||
| "A Man and a Half" b/w "People Make the World (What It Is)" |
42 | 20 | – | – | Hey Jude | |
| "Hey Jude" b/w "Search Your Heart" |
23 | 13 | 16 | 61 | ||
| 1969 | "Mini-skirt Minnie" b/w "Back in Your Arms" (from Hey Jude) |
50 | 19 | – | – | Non-album track |
| "Born to Be Wild" b/w "Toe Hold" |
64 | 41 | – | – | Hey Jude | |
| "Hey Joe" b/w "Night Owl" (from Hey Jude) |
59 | 29 | – | – | Right On | |
| "You Keep Me Hangin' On" b/w "Now You See Me, Now You Don't" (Non-album track) |
92 | 16 | – | – | ||
| 1970 | "Sugar, Sugar" | 25 | 4 | – | 77 | |
| "Cole, Cooke, and Redding" | 76 | 11 | – | – | The Best of Wilson Pickett Vol. II | |
| "She Said Yes" b/w "It's Still Good" |
68 | 20 | – | – | Right On | |
| "Engine No. 9" b/w "International Playboy" |
14 | 3 | – | – | In Philadelphia | |
| 1971 | "Don't Let the Green Grass Fool You" b/w "Ain't No Doubt About It" |
17 | 2 | – | – | |
| "Don't Knock My Love – Pt. I" b/w "Don't Knock My Love – Pt. II" |
13 | 1 | – | – | Don't Knock My Love | |
| "Call My Name, I'll Be There" b/w "Woman, Let Me Be Down Home" |
52 | 10 | – | – | ||
| "Fire and Water" b/w "Pledging My Love" |
24 | 2 | – | – | ||
| 1972 | "Funk Factory" b/w "One Step Away" |
58 | 11 | – | – | Non-album tracks |
| "Mama Told Me Not to Come" b/w "Covering the Same Old Ground" |
99 | 16 | – | – | Don't Knock My Love | |
| 1973 | "Mr. Magic Man" b/w "I Sho' Love You" |
98 | 16 | – | – | Mr. Magic Man |
| "Take a Closer Look at the Woman You're With" b/w "Two Woman and a Wife" |
90 | 17 | – | – | Miz Lena's Boy | |
| "International Playboy" b/w "Come Right Here" |
104 | 30 | – | – | In Philadelphia | |
| 1974 | "Soft Soul Boogie Woogie" b/w "Take That Pollution Out Your Throat" |
103 | 20 | – | – | Miz Lena's Boy |
| "Take Your Pleasure Where You Find It" b/w "What Good Is a Lie" |
– | 68 | – | – | Pickett in the Pocket | |
| "I Was Too Nice" b/w "Isn't That So" |
– | – | – | – | ||
| 1975 | "The Best Part of a Man" b/w "How Will I Ever Know" |
– | 26 | – | – | Chocolate Mountain |
| 1976 | "Love Will Keep Us Together" b/w "It's Gonna Be Good" |
– | 69 | – | – | |
| 1977 | "Love Dagger" b/w "Time to Let the Sun Shine on Me" (from A Funky Situation) |
– | – | – | – | Non-album track |
| 1978 | "Who Turned You On" b/w "Dance You Down" |
– | 59 | – | – | A Funky Situation |
| "Groovin'" b/w "Time to Let the Sun Shine on Me" |
– | 94 | – | – | ||
| 1979 | "I Want You" b/w "Love of My Life" |
– | 41 | – | – | I Want You |
| 1980 | "Live with Me" b/w "Granny" |
– | 95 | – | – | |
| 1981 | "Ain't Gonna Give You No More" b/w "Don't Underestimate the Power of Love" |
– | – | – | – | Right Track |
| "Back on the Right Track" b/w "It's You" |
– | – | – | – | ||
| 1982 | "Seconds" (with Jackie Moore) b/w "Seconds" (instrumental) |
– | – | – | – | Non-album tracks |
| 1987 | "Don't Turn Away" b/w "I Can't Stop Now" |
– | 74 | – | – | American Soul Man |
| "In the Midnight Hour" (re-recording) b/w "634-5789 (Soulsville U.S.A.)" (re-recording, non-album track) |
– | – | 62 | – | ||
| 1988 | "Love Never Let Me Down" b/w "Just Let Her Know" |
– | – | – | – | |
| "–" means the single did not appear on the charts or was not released in that country. | ||||||
See also
In Spanish: Wilson Pickett para niños
