Bobby Pickett facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Bobby Pickett |
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Pickett in 2005
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | Robert George Pickett |
| Also known as | Bobby Boris Pickett |
| Born | February 11, 1938 Somerville, Massachusetts, U.S. |
| Died | April 25, 2007 (aged 69) Los Angeles, California, U.S. |
| Genres | Novelty, pop |
| Occupation(s) | Singer, writer, comedian |
| Instruments | Vocals |
| Years active | 1959–2007 |
| Labels | Garpax Records |
Robert George Pickett (born February 11, 1938 – died April 25, 2007) was an American singer, songwriter, and comedian. He was best known as Bobby "Boris" Pickett. He co-wrote and sang the huge 1962 hit song "Monster Mash". This fun song was a spoof of popular dance crazes.
Pickett was born in Somerville, Massachusetts. His father managed a movie theater. Because of this, Bobby watched many horror films when he was young. He started doing impressions of famous Hollywood actors early on. Before his big hit, he sang for a swing band called Darren Bailes and the Wolf Eaters. He also served in the United States Army from 1956 to 1959.
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Becoming Bobby "Boris" Pickett
Pickett co-wrote his famous song, "Monster Mash", with Leonard Capizzi in May 1962. They wanted to make a funny song about popular dances like the Twist. Pickett's performance included impressions of horror movie stars. He sounded like Boris Karloff from The Mummy. He also sounded like Bela Lugosi from Dracula.
Many big record companies didn't want to release the song. But Gary S. Paxton decided to put it out in the United States. "Monster Mash" became an instant success! It reached number 1 on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart. It stayed there for two weeks in October 1962, right around Halloween. The song later sold over a million copies. It has been popular again several times, even in 2021.
Life Before the Mash
Bobby Pickett was born in Somerville, Massachusetts, on February 11, 1938. His family lived in the Winter Hill area. He went to Somerville High School. When he was nine, his father's job as a theater manager meant he saw many horror movies. He later used these impressions in his acts. Bobby started his music journey singing for a local swing band. He was in the United States Army from 1956 to 1959.
The "Monster Mash" and More Hits
Pickett wrote "Monster Mash" with Leonard Capizzi in May 1962. The song made fun of dance crazes like the Twist and the Mashed Potato. Pickett did impressions of Boris Karloff and Bela Lugosi in the song. Even though many labels said no, Gary S. Paxton produced it.
The song was released by Paxton's Garpax Records. It quickly became a huge hit. It reached number 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in October 1962. The song was credited to "Bobby (Boris) Pickett and the Crypt-Kickers". It became popular again in the U.S. in 1970 and 1973. In Britain, it hit number 3 in 1973. "Monster Mash" is still a favorite Halloween song today.
Pickett also released a Christmas song in 1962. It was called "Monster's Holiday" and reached number 30. He made other monster-themed songs too. These included "Werewolf Watusi" and "The Monster Swim". In 1985, he released "Monster Rap". This song was about teaching the dancing monster how to rap.
More Funny Songs
In 1975, Pickett recorded a funny song about Star Trek called "Star Drek". He did many of the voices in it. This song was played on Dr. Demento's radio show for years. He also sang a duet called "King Kong (Your Song)" in 1976.
In the early 1980s, he released "Monster Rap". This song was like a follow-up to "Monster Mash". It showed Pickett teaching the monster to speak by rapping. In 1993, he wrote "It's Alive", another song related to the original "Mash".
Later, in 2004 and 2005, Pickett sang for two online cartoons. These were "Monster Slash" and "Climate Mash". They used new versions of his hit song. The cartoons spoke out against deforestation and global warming.
On Screen and In Books
In 1967, Pickett and Sheldon Allman wrote a musical. It was called I'm Sorry the Bridge Is Out, You'll Have to Spend the Night. They also wrote another musical, Frankenstein Unbound. In 1995, this musical was made into a movie. It was called Monster Mash: The Movie. Pickett starred in it with other actors.
Pickett also appeared on TV shows. He was on Petticoat Junction in 1965. He acted in movies like It's a Bikini World (1967) and Lobster Man from Mars (1989). In 2004, he was the narrator for the children's film Spookley the Square Pumpkin.
In 2005, Pickett wrote his own book. It was an autobiography called Monster Mash: Half Dead in Hollywood.
His Final Years
Bobby Pickett passed away on April 25, 2007. He died in Los Angeles, California, from leukemia. He was 69 years old. The Dr. Demento radio show honored his work after his death.
