It is with a heavy heart that we share the news of the recent passing of Motown alumni, Edward Pickens.
As a bassist with the Funk Brothers from 1968-1972, Pickens most notably performed live at Smokey Robinson’s final concert with the Miracles from July 14-16, 1972, at the Carter Barron Amphitheatre in Washington, D.C. Pickens’ bass lines can be heard on the farewell tour’s live album, 1957-1972 by Smokey Robinson and The Miracles, released under the Tamla label.
After Motown, Pickens would go on to play bass with other groups such as Sam Sanders & the Visions and the Wayne Wardlow Quartet. In 1981, he was featured on another live album with the Bob Szajner Triad II titled Live At The Detroit Montreux Jazz Festival 1981.
We send our condolences to his family, friends, and Funk Brothers fans around the world.