'Monster Mash' singer dead at 69

[Sequoia]

Bobby "Boris" Pickett, whose dead-on Boris Karloff impression propelled the Halloween anthem to the top of the charts in 1962, making him one of pop music's most enduring one-hit wonders, has died of leukemia. He was 69.

Pickett, dubbed "The Guy Lombardo of Halloween," died 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.

"Monster Mash" hit the Billboard chart three times: when it debuted in 1962, reaching No. 1 the week before Halloween; 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 played 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.

http://www.cnn.com/2007/SHOWBIZ/Music/04/26/obit.pickett.ap/index.html

[CrazyOrangeCat]

1. he was a graveyard smash . . .

[AnneD]

8. But what ever happened...

to the Transylvania Twist?

One of the songs I look forward to every year. I love Halloween-and he made it special. What a fun legacy. Thanks Bobby. I am all smiles thinking about your funeral (the sick person that I am). I hope you made tons of money off the royalities.

[CrazyOrangeCat]

10. You know, I never thought about that!

I'll bet he DID make some good bucks over the years . . .

RIP, Bobby.

Hope ya get a big ole freaky-lookin' tombstone.;)

[AnneD]

14. After posting...

I did a google search....AND YES HE DID OWN THE ROYALTIES. Since time immemorial, artists were screwed out of money-Bobby kept his. I remembered long ago reading an article that mentioned him retaining the royalties.
:toast: Here's to Bobby and his heirs.

[CrazyOrangeCat]

18. Pretty amazing that a . . .

"one-hit wonder" would have had the presence of mind to not get screwed by the recording biz.

Then there's McCartney. And Willie Nelson.

(At least Willie laughs about it.)

:hi:

[AnneD]

21. Willie

was screwed by his accountant-and the IRS.

[ElizabethDC]

2. Oh, I love that song!

that's sad to hear. ;(

[OmmmSweetOmmm]

3. Oddly enough, in captioning a photo of Shrub earlier, I said he was dancing

The Monster Mash.

And so it goes.

[KansDem]

4. Hmmm...My sister had a 45 with the theme from "The Blob" on it...

Had a Karloff-like sounding voice singing the lyrics. It was from the same era...wonder if it was this same guy?

edited.

[Dr Fate]

5. Possibly the best novelty rocker ever. An "RIP" for your tombstone, Boris!!!

I hope you get everyone else in the graveyard mashing!!!

[Tom Joad]

6. Really young guy when it came out in '62.

[Gloria]

7. Am I THAT old??? I remember this so clearly!

I was also freaked when the oldies channel on Comcast played Lou Christie......My god, I LOVED Lou Christie as a mere girl....
Not the mid-60's hit about the "Rain"...I'm talking "Two Faces Have I" which I still have on single....

[Tom Joad]

11. It was high in the charts a couple times after '62.... reached '73 also.

[GreenPartyVoter]

9. Ah, that was a fun song. Rip, 'Boris'

[mcscajun]

12. "It caught on in a flash..."

And stayed forever, for Hallowe'en after Hallowe'en. :)

RIP Crypt-Kicker. :hi:

[Philosoraptor]

13. There REALLY IS a Frankenstein, MO

http://www.hometownlocator.com/City/Frankenstein-Missouri.cfm

And in 1999 25 Peter Boyle type Frankensteins skydived down to pass out DVD's commemorating the 25th anniversary of the release of Mel Brooks 'Young Frankenstein'.

Not making this up.

"People say my humor is vulgar, that's fucking bullshit"

....Mel Brooks.

[Philosoraptor]

15. That old monster Leon Russel is playing piano in the back of the cave

I never knew that.

[madokie]

24. thats too cool

leon russell, which isn't his real name, can't remember now what it was, was in one of my BIL classes back in high school. bil was the teacher.

edit to add: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f_u72N4Ojcc
some kick ass Leon Russell

edit to add: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7sXGT0WhFnU
Leon, Willie and Ray

[Madspirit]

16. I posted Lyrics in the Lounge..n/t

[WinkyDink]

17. I loved BBP AND his song. RIP, Bobby.

[NaturalHigh]

19. Until I read this thread...

I had no idea who sang that song.

RIP Bobby.

[SalmonChantedEvening]

20. Mash Goooood!!

RIP Bobby :loveya: :cry:

[newyawker99]

22. R.I.P Bobby. Thanks for the memories.

[KharmaTrain]

23. The Bobby "Boris" Pickett Tribute...

Showings tonight at 8:00, 8:02, 8:04, 8:06, 8:08...

RIP Bobby...Halloween will never forget ya!