Legendary soul singer Wilson Pickett was born today (March 18, 1941).
Wilson Pickett began his career as part of a gospel music group called the Violinaires, before joining The Falcons, who hit big in 1962 with the single “I Found a Love.”
He was signed to Atlantic Records by Jerry Wexler in 1964 and began recording at the Stax studio in Memphis, Tennessee.
Wilson Pickett hit immediately with the single “In The Midnight Hour.”
Wilson Pickett became embroiled in a dispute with Stax over writing credit for some of his biggest hits, including “634–5789.”
As a result, he began recording at Fame Studios in Muscle Shoals, Alabama.
There, he produced a series of hits like “Mustang Sally,” “Land of 1000 Dances,” and “Funky Broadway.”
Wilson Pickett was also a well-known hothead, who had a penchant for guns.
In 1991, Pickett was arrested for driving his car over the lawn of the Mayor of Englewood, New Jersey during a drunken spree.
In 1992, Wilson Pickett killed an 86 year old woman during a drunk driving incident.
Pickett later pled guilty to drunk driving, entered into rehab and received a jail sentence of one year and five years probation.
Wilson Pickett died of a heart attack on January 19, 2006.
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