Wilson Pickett  Born March 18, 1941, in Prattville, AL; died of
a heart attack, January 19, 2006, in Reston, VA. Singer and
songwriter. Soul/Rhythm & Blues (R&B) singer Wilson Pickett was
best known for such 1960s hits as "In the Midnight Hour" and
"Mustang Sally." Known by the nickname "Wicked Pickett," he
wrote or co-wrote many of his own songs. Despite a career
downturn in the 1970s and 1980s, Pickett was inducted into the
Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1991 and continued to perform
until the year before his death.  Born in 1941 in Prattville,
Alabama, Pickett had ten older siblings. His childhood was not
happy. His mother, Lena, beat him regularly which compelled him
to run away from home several times. Pickett began his musical
career performing in Baptist church choirs. When he was 14 years
old, he moved to Detroit where his father lived. There, Pickett
performed on street corners with other singers. In the 1950s,
Pickett put together the Violinaires, a gospel group.  A move to
a new band and different m