Picket was born March 18, 1941 in Pratvill, Alabama and grew up singing in Baptist church choirs.. Picket's forceful, passionate syle of singing was developed in the church under the influence of Little Richard. In 1955 he became part of a gospel music group called The VIolinaieres or bernadette. The group accompanied The Soul Stirrers, The Swan Silverstones on church tours across country. The Falcons was one of his first bands he joined to bring gopsel into a popular cotnext, thus paving the way for soul music.