The Clown of Pevensey Bay
Well-known member
One-hit wonder Pickett, voice of 'Monster Mash,' dies at
69
By LARRY McSHANE
Associated Press Writer
NEW YORK (AP) - 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,
Massachusetts, 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.
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.
Besides his daughter and sister, Pickett is survived by
two grandchildren, Olivia and Jordan. There was no
immediate word on funeral arrangements.
69
By LARRY McSHANE
Associated Press Writer
NEW YORK (AP) - 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,
Massachusetts, 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.
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.
Besides his daughter and sister, Pickett is survived by
two grandchildren, Olivia and Jordan. There was no
immediate word on funeral arrangements.
