Soul pioneer Pickett dies at 64

WILSON PICKETT, the soul pioneer best known for the fiery hits Mustang Sally and In The Midnight Hour, died of a heart attack yesterday in a Reston, Virginia, hospital at the age of 64.

Chris Tuthill of his management company Talent Source said Pickett had been suffering from health problems for the past year. Pickett lived in Ashburn, Virginia.

Michael Wilson Pickett, the singer’s son, said: “He did his part. It was a great ride, a great trip, I loved him and I’m sure he was well-loved, and I just hope that he’s given his props,”

Pickett - known as the Wicked Pickett - became a star with his soulful hits in the 1960s. In the Midnight Hour made the top 25 on the Billboard pop charts in 1965 and Mustang Sally did the same the following year.

Singer Aretha Franklin said in a statement: “A fellow Detroiter, Wilson Pickett was one of the greatest soul singers of all time. He will absolutely be missed. I am thankful that I got the chance to speak to him not too long ago.”

Pickett was defined by his raspy voice and passionate delivery. But the Alabama-born Pickett got his start singing gospel music in church. After moving to Detroit as a teenager, he joined the group the Falcons, which scored the hit I Found a Love with Pickett on lead vocals in 1962.

He went solo a year later, and would soon find his greatest success. In 1965, he linked with legendary soul producer Jerry Wexler at the equally legendary soul label Stax Records in Memphis, and recorded one of his greatest hits, In the Midnight Hour, for Atlantic Records. A string of hits followed, including 634-5789, Funky Broadway and Mustang Sally.

Besides his induction into the Hall of Fame in 1991, he was also given the Pioneer award by the Rhythm and Blues Foundation two years later.