MAR 20, 2016: Memorial Tribute for Herbert “Pee Wee” Pickard

The
family of legendary musical prodigy, songwriter, pianist, organist,
director, arranger, and native Detroiter Herbert L. “Pee Wee”
Pickard,  along with The Mighty Voices of Thunder male chorus
of Greater New Mt. Moriah Baptist Church, is planning a Memorial Tribute
during their annual Moments of Meditation at 6 PM on Sunday, March 20,
2016.

Mr.
Pickard was a trailblazer who played with a who’s who of gospel,
including The Rev. James Cleveland and the Voices of Tabernacle,
Albertina Walker, Dorothy Love Coates and the Gospel Harmonettes.
Pickard also taught in the Detroit Public School system as a music
instructor. He is featured on two Savoy albums; one is an instrumental,
and on the other he plays both keyboards and fronts the Pickard Singers.
He also recorded with The Mighty Voices of Thunder. “Pee Wee” was inducted into the Gospel Music Hall of Fame in Detroit in
2001.

Herbert
L. “Pee Wee” Pickard departed this world on Friday, February 19, 2016,
at the age of 81. According to a posting on Mr. Pickard’s Facebook page by a family member, he did not want a funeral and donated his body to science. His loss is mourned by family, friends, and all those
touched by his amazing music ministry.