It caught on in a flash
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Posted on 04/26/2007 12:00:17 PM PDT by Borges
Bobby "Boris" Pickett, whose dead-on Boris Karloff impression propelled the Halloween anthem "Monster Mash" to the top of the charts while cementing his place as one of pop music's most enduring one-hit wonders, has died of leukemia. He was 69.
Pickett, dubbed "The Guy Lombardo of Halloween" for his impossibly catchy No. 1 song, passed away Wednesday night at the West Los Angeles Veterans Hospital, said his longtime manager, Stuart Hersh. His daughter, Nancy, and his sister, Lynda, were at Pickett's bedside.
Pickett's multimillion selling single hit the charts three separate times: when it debuted in 1962, again in August 1970, and for a third time in May 1973. The resurrections were appropriate for a song where Pickett gravely intoned the forever-stuck-in-your-head chorus: "He did the monster mash. ... It was a graveyard smash."
The novelty hit's fans included Bob Dylan, who sang Pickett's praises before playing the single on his XM Satellite Radio program last October. "Our next artist is considered a one-hit wonder, but his one hit comes back year after year," Dylan noted before mentioning that "Monster Mash" reached No. 1 on Oct. 20, 1962.
The hit single insured Pickett's place in the pantheon of pop music obscurities, said syndicated radio host Dr. Demento, whose long-running program celebrates offbeat tunes.
"It's certainly the biggest Halloween song of all time," said Demento, who interviewed Pickett last year. The DJ said Pickett maintained a sense of humor about his singular success: "As he loved to say at oldies shows, `And now I'm going to do a medley of my hit."'
Pickett's Karloff impression was forged in Somerville, Mass., where 9-year-old Bobby watched horror films in a theater managed by his father. When Pickett launched a Hollywood nightclub act in 1959, it inevitably featured his Karloff impersonation.
Pickett also did the voice when performing with his band the Cordials, particularly during the spoken part of the '50s hit by the Diamonds, "Little Darling." Bandmate Lenny Capizzi convinced Pickett they needed to do a song featuring his impression of the horror impresario, and "Monster Mash" was born -- "written in about a half-hour," said Dr. Demento.
The song was recorded in another two hours, featuring a then-unknown piano player named Leon Russell and a backing band christened The Crypt-Kickers. It was rejected by four major labels before Gary Paxton, lead singer on the Hollywood Argyles' hit "Alley Oop," released "Monster Mash" on his own.
The instant smash became a Halloween perennial -- a sort-of Christmas carol for the pumpkin and ghoul set. In a 1996 interview with People magazine, Pickett said he never grew tired of his biggest hit: "When I hear it, I hear a cash register ringing."
While Pickett never again recreated the success of "Monster Mash," he continued performing through his final gig in November 2006. He remained in demand for Halloween performances, including a memorable 1973 show where his bus broke down outside Frankenstein, Mo.
Although considered a one-hit wonder, Pickett actually cracked the charts on two other occasions: "Monster's Holiday," a Christmas follow-up to his Halloween hit, reached No. 30 in December 1962. And "Graduation Day" hit No. 80 in June 1963.
Beside his daughter and sister, Pickett is survived by two grandchildren, Olivia and Jordan. There was no immediate word on funeral arrangements.
RIP,"Boris".
He’ll be a grave yard smash.
One of the first records I bought. I was 9 years old. I think Rolf Harris's "Tie Me Kangaroo Down" was big in America around the same time (which I also bought). I got interested early in comedy "novelty songs."
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It caught on in a flash.
RIP, Bobby.
My favorite Halloween special song. I guess Snoopy and the Red Baron is my favorite Christmas era song. Now trivia buffs, what group did that one?
The Royal Guardsmen, of course!
Buckinghams?
What do I win?
I’m not amazed to see Leon Russel has a small roll to play in this. His genius has been behind the scenes in dozens of records over the years.
The Royal Guardsmen.........
“The Guy Lombardo of Halloween”
The got that right
ping a ling...
The same group that did “The Battle of New Orleans,” wasn’t it? Don’t know their name, but sure remember their sound.
Mel Torme said “All you need is one really great song” to put food on the table. The rest is just gravy. This coming from the guy who wrote a lot of songs, but none more endearing than “Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire”.
It's twin was moved to a quiet room for those times. Arthur grew measurably faster.
Manfred Von Rhicthofen and The Royal Guardsmen 1966.
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