James W. Bazzell, Jr., better known by his stage name Sorrells Pickard, was a multifaceted artist born on September 20, 1939, in Jacksonville, Florida. Growing up on his family's peanut farm in Lovedale, Florida, Sorrells developed a strong foundation for his future endeavors.
As a musician, Sorrells began his career after graduating from high school, fronting the rock'n'roll band Jimmy Bazzell and the Mardells in the late 1950s and early 1960s. He eventually moved to Nashville, Tennessee, where he appeared on the Grand Ole Opry, played bass for Tex Ritter and David Allan Coe, and wrote numerous songs for established country artists such as Slim Whitman, Hank Thompson, David Rogers, Roy Clark, Kitty Wells, Del Reeves, Melba Montgomery, Kenny Price, and the Statler Brothers.
Sorrells also collaborated with Ringo Starr, penning four songs and playing guitar on the acclaimed 1970 country album "Beaucoups of Blues." In 1972, he released his self-titled debut album on the Decca record label, and that same year, he served time in jail for possession of marijuana.
After his release, Sorrells shifted his focus to acting, making his film debut in 1975 with an uncredited minor part in the movie "W.W. and the Dixie Dance Kings." He went on to act in four films for writer/director Mark Griffiths, including the thrillers "Running Hot" and "Ultraviolet," as well as the comedies "Hardbodies" and "Hardbodies 2."
In addition to his entertainment pursuits, Sorrells launched his own brand of gourmet peanut butter in 1999, which sold six million jars in eleven states before production was halted due to economic reasons. Sorrells Pickard passed away at the age of 63 on July 5, 2003, from a heart attack in his home in Keystone Heights, Florida.
