Bobby Pickett

Robert George Pickett(February 11, 1938 – April 25, 2007), better known asBobby"Boris"Pickett,was an Americansinger-songwriterandcomedian.He is best known for co-writing and performing the 1962 smash hitnovelty song"Monster Mash".

Bobby Pickett
Pickett in 2005
Background information
Birth name	Robert George Pickett
Also known as	Bobby Boris Pickett
Born	(1938-02-11)February 11, 1938 Somerville, Massachusetts,U.S.
Died	April 25, 2007(2007-04-25)(aged 69) Los Angeles,California, U.S.
Genres	Novelty,pop
Occupation(s)	Singer, writer, comedian
Instrument	Vocals
Years active	1959–2007
Labels	Garpax Records

Born inSomerville, Massachusetts,Pickett watched many horror films as a result of his father's position as a local movie theater manager. He started improvising impressions of Hollywood film stars at a young age. At a turning point in his career, Pickett was a vocalist for a localswingband called Darren Bailes and the Wolf Eaters. He would later serve in theUnited States Army.

He co-wrote his signature song, "Monster Mash", with Leonard Capizzi in May 1962 as a spoof of popular contemporary dance crazes. Pickett's performances include impersonations ofBoris Karloff(The Mummy(1932)) andBela Lugosi(Dracula(1931)), and although many major labels declined to distribute the song,Gary S. Paxtonagreed to release it in the United States. "Monster Mash" was met with instant success and peaked at No. 1 on the USBillboardHot 100for two weeks in October 1962, including Halloween. The song wascertifiedgoldby theRIAAon August 28, 1973.The song has since re-charted five more times—in 1970, 1973 (when it reached the Top Ten), 2021, 2022, and 2023.

Though Pickett never achieved the same success as he did with "Monster Mash" on charts, he continued to lend his voice to further parodies and other songs throughout the rest of his life. Pickett also made appearances on television, film, and radio as a guest star, narrator, actor, and disc jockey. He releasedMonster Mash: Half Dead in Hollywood,an autobiography, in 2005. Pickett died ofleukemiaon April 25, 2007, at age 69.

Early life

Robert George Pickett was born inSomerville, Massachusetts,on February 11, 1938.His family lived in theWinter Hillneighborhood, and he attended Somerville High School.Through his father's movie theater business, Pickett was introduced to horror films such asDraculaandFrankenstein,both from 1931.Pickett served in theUnited States Armyfrom March 9, 1956, to March 13, 1959, and was stationed inKoreafor an unknown period of time.

Career

Early music career

An aspiring actor, Pickett began his music career as a vocalist for a localswingband, Darren Bailes and the Wolf Eaters.During one performance, Pickett delivered a monologue in the style ofBoris Karloff,an impression he would use later in his career.

"Monster Mash" and commercial success

Pickett co-wrote "Monster Mash"with Leonard Capizzi in May 1962. The song is a spoof on the dance crazes popular at the time, including theTwistand theMashed Potato,which inspired the title. The song features Pickett's impersonations of veteran horror starsBoris KarloffandBela Lugosi(the latter with the line "Whatever happened to myTransylvaniaTwist? "). Every major record label declined the song, but after hearing it,Gary S. Paxtonagreed to produce and engineer it. Among the musicians who contributed to the song are pianistLeon RussellandThe VenturesdrummerMel Taylor.Issued on Paxton'sGarpax Records,the single became a million-seller, reaching number 1 on theBillboardHot 100chart for two weeks beforeHalloweenin 1962.It was styled as being by "Bobby (Boris) Pickett and the Crypt-Kickers".

The track re-entered the U.S. charts twice, in August 1970, and again in May 1973, when it reached the #10 spot. InBritainit took until October 1973 for the tune to become popular, peaking at number 3 in theUK Singles Chart.For the second time, the record sold over one million copies.The tune remains a Halloween perennial onradioand oniTunes.

Further parodies

AChristmas-themed follow-up, "Monster's Holiday", (with "Monster Motion" on the B side) was also released in 1962 and reached number 30 in December that year. "Blood Bank Blues" (with "Me and My Mummy" on the B side) did not chart. This was followed by further monster-themed recordings such as the albumThe Original Monster Mashand such singles as "Werewolf Watusi" and "The Monster Swim", the latter of which made it to No. 135 on theBubbling Underchart and was credited under "Bobby Pickett and The Rolling Bones".

In 1973, Pickett rerecorded "Me and My Mummy" for a Metromedia 45, but it did not chart. Another of Pickett's songs, "Graduation Day", made number 80 in June 1963.

In 1975, Pickett recorded a noveltyspoofonStar Trekcalled "Star Drek" with Peter Ferrara, again performing some of the various voices, which was played onDr. Demento's radio show for many years. He also performed a duet with Ferrara in 1976 titled "King Kong (Your Song)" spoofing theKing Kongremakereleased that year.

In October 1984, Easy Street Recordsreleased "Monster Rap", which lyrically continues the story of "Monster Mash" and features vocals by Bobby Payne as a monster who speaks inrapform and Pickett reprising his roles as the mad scientist and Dracula.

In 1993, Pickett wrote and performed "It's Alive", another sequel of sorts to the original "Mash" song. It did not chart but was played occasionally on the Demento show.

In 2004 and 2005, Pickett provided vocals for two Flash cartoons, "Monster Slash" and "Climate Mash", featuring new versions of his hit single. The cartoons protested inaction on theUnited Statesgovernment's part towardsdeforestationandglobal warming.

Record label venture

In 1962, it was reported in the December 1 issue ofCashboxthat Pickett along with Ned Ormand and R.B. Chris Christensen had formed Nico Records. Christensen had been a partner and professional manager inBuck Owens'Bluebook Music Publishing co.They had acquired an instrumental from the Daco label which was to be their first release. The instrumental was byThe Revelsof "Church Key"and" Six Pak "fame.

Film and writing

In 1967, Pickett and television author Sheldon Allman wrote the musicalI'm Sorry the Bridge Is Out, You'll Have to Spend the Night.It has been produced by local theaters around the United States. They followed it with another musical,Frankenstein Unbound.In 1995, the co-writers of Pixar'sToy Story,Joel CohenandAlec Sokolow,produced a movie of it, originally titledFrankenstein Sings,but later released in the United States asMonster Mash: The Movie.Pickett starred in it withCandace Cameron,Jimmie Walker,Mink Stole,John Kassir,Sarah Douglas,Anthony Crivello,Adam ShankmanandCarrie Ann Inaba.On ABC-TV, he appeared on a segment ofThe Long Hot Summer,withRoy ThinnesandNancy Malone,on January 26, 1966.

In 1962 or 1963, Pickett also hosted a weeklydisc jockeyshow onKRLAinLos Angeles.

In 1965, he appeared in several episodes of the sitcomPetticoat Junctionas either Walter Thorp or Stonewall Jackson.

Pickett appeared in films in several classic genres: beach movie,It's a Bikini World(1967); biker,Chrome and Hot Leather(1971); horror,Deathmaster(1972) and the sci-fi comedy film,Lobster Man from Mars(1989).

Pickett appeared in such roles as Archie Bunker as part of a stage comedy revue about television, presented in Boston, titledDon't Touch That Dial.

In 1991, he appeared as a guest on the television showBeyond Vaudeville.

In 2004, Pickett served as the narrator of the children's filmSpookley the Square Pumpkin.

In 2005, Pickett published his autobiography throughTrafford Publishing,titledMonster Mash: Half Dead in Hollywood.

For many years, Pickett performed for Barry Scott's radio showThe Lost 45sduring its annual Halloween show in the Boston area.

Death

On April 25, 2007, Pickett died inLos Angeles,California, fromleukemiaat age 69.The May 13, 2007, episode of theDr. Dementoshow featured a documentary retrospective of Pickett's work.

External links

• Official website
• Bobby PickettatIMDb
• Bobby Pickettdiscography atDiscogs
• Biographical obituary discussing in-depth the life, career and importance of Pickett and his hit songfrom NewYorkNightTrain.com
• Classicbands.com entry on Bobby "Boris" Pickett
• Interview with Bobby Pickett, June 18, 2003; author: Linda Alexander