The Voice of Passion - Wilson Pickett
November 17, 2008 by admin
Filed under Featured Artists
Wilson Pickett, a singer with genres in R&B, Southern Soul, Rock and roll and Soul, was introduced in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Wilson Pickett recorded over fifty songs which rocked the charts for a long time. Wilson was born in the year 1941, in Prattville, Alabama and reviled her mother because she used to hit him very bad. So, Wilson Pickett ran away from his home one day and started living in Detroit, where he used to sing in the Baptist Church choirs as well as on streets.
In the year 1955, Wilson Pickett joined the gospel music band named “The Violinaires” where he gained his actual recognition. Then he linked with The Falcons, where he released his first ever hit “I found a love”. “I found a love” was Wilson Pickett’s first step towards triumph, which graded sixth on R&B charts and seventy fifth on the pop charts. After this success, Wilson Pickett launched his first solo song namely “I’m gonna cry” in association with Don Covay. Don Covay is an American- African singer as well as writer whose genres were in rock and roll, R&B and soul. He was active for a few years because of a debilitating stroke that attacked him in mid 90’s, but recovered from it and is presently composing new songs.
In the mean time, Wilson Pickett co wrote a song named “If you need me”, which he gave to the producer of Atlantic Records, “Jerry Wexler”. Jerry loved the song so much that he gave the song to Solomon Burke, who was a singer under the same label. This was really agonizing for Wilson Pickett, when the song came out to be a chart buster. Still he managed to launch a solo recording again, namely “It’s too late”, which was a big success and peaked seventh on R&B charts as well as forty ninth on the pop charts. Consequently, he launched other singles and albums that were rocking the charts, continuously.
Talking of Wilson Pickett’s personal life, he was unpredictable and was preoccupied with artillery. Moreover, in 1987 he was fined with one thousand dollars, for keeping a fully loaded shotgun. In 1991 he supposedly drove his car over the front lawn of the mayor of New Jersey and was arrested for this. In the same year, Wilson Pickett beat up his girlfriend. In 1993, he smacked a walker who was eighty six years old, for which he was sentenced to jail for one year and probated for five years. In addition to this, including his drug offenses, he was still acknowledged by the people and was also privileged by R&B Foundation.
Apart from this, Wilson Pickett was an excellent song writer also who wrote songs for various artists like The Rolling Stones, Roxy Music, Bruce Springsteen, The Jam, Van Halen and Led Zeppelin to name a few. One of his famous albums “It’s harder now”, which he recorded in the year 1999 after his release from the jail, was nominated for the Grammy awards also. Besides this he was privileged as the Soul/Blues Male Artist of the Year in Memphis. Till the year 2004, Wilson Pickett gave many live concerts, but after 2004 he started suffering from various health tribulations.
In the year 2006, he was stroked by a heart attack due to which he died at an age of sixty four. Still the celebrity is ruling millions of hearts. So tune up to the songs of Wilson Pickett and keep him alive in your hearts.
TJ Grooves
Rare Soul Grooves & Soul Music TV
The bad boy of soul - this stroppy testosterone-fuelled guy with the nasty temper - who crooned In the Midnight Hour and became an American icon.
Even his unhappy childhood could not keep Wilson Pickett from chasing his dreams. True talent shines despite all misfortunes. With his firm determination, he managed to become a R&B singer in the ‘50s. He had always been a tough person. He showed his mettle when he battled with stroke in the mid 1990s, and I admire his never say die attitude.
It is really unfortunate that a massive heart attack took away the life of this great singer in 2006. He was only sixty four years old and he could have carried on with more music. However, his melodious songs will continue to stir our souls with the deepest emotions. We will never forget you Wilson.
What songs did he write for The Rolling Stones, Roxy Music, Bruce Springsteen, The Jam, Van Halen and Led Zeppelin ? Help me out here?
His earliest music experience was in Baptist church choirs. His home life as the youngest of 11 children was less uplifting.
This guy was very unpredictable …I mean, running over the mayor’s front lawn…that’s either foolish or awe-inspiring. The preoccupation with guns isn’t nice at all though.
He’s a formidable songwriter — he absolutely is. And that’s what separates the men from the boys. Or the geniuses from the wannebes.
“It’s Too Late” spoke to me and what I had been going through decades back. His personal life is unfortunate..but I’m sure that it was a full and celebrated life. He has raw talent and we all had a taste of it.
I kinda wonder how my life would be written about after I’ve left this earth. There would be the joys and the sorrows and certainly one’s mistakes. Wilson Pickett is to be admired. He’s worthy of mention in any R&B list of significant contributors.
For someone who sounds like he’s mentally ill, Wilson Pickett sure has achieved much in the music industry. I’m not very familiar with his career I have to admit. But I know his songs and they’re timeless.