On this day July 10, 1965, Wilson Pickett released the hit single “In the Midnight Hour.” The song was written by Pickett and Steve Cooper, at the historic Lorraine Motel in Memphis, Tennessee. This is the same hotel where Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated three years later. “In the Midnight Hour,” reached number one on the R&B charts and number twenty-one on the pop chart.
Wilson Pickett was known for his powerful, energetic vocals and his contributions to the development of soul music in the 1960s.
Pickett began his music career as a member of various gospel groups in the 1950s. In the early 1960s, he joined the Falcons, a rhythm and blues vocal group, where he gained some recognition. However, it was his solo career that brought him the most success.
In 1965, Pickett signed with Atlantic Records, where he released his breakout hit, “In the Midnight Hour.” The song became a massive success, reaching the top 10 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart and becoming a soul music standard. Pickett followed up with several more hits, including “Land of 1,000 Dances,” “Mustang Sally,” and “Funky Broadway.” His music was characterized by its raw energy and his soulful delivery.
Throughout the 1960s and 1970s, Pickett continued to release successful singles and albums, becoming one of the most prominent figures in soul music. He collaborated with other notable musicians, including Duane Allman, with whom he recorded the album “Hey Jude” in 1969.
Wilson Pickett was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1991 and the Alabama Music Hall of Fame in 1999. His contributions to soul music and his powerful performances have made him a legend in the genre.
Wilson Pickett ( March 18, 1941 – January 19. 2006 )