Bobby Pickett

Robert George Pickett (February 11, 1938 – April 25, 2007) was an American singer who found fame under the name Bobby "Boris" Pickett. He was known for co-writing and performing the 1962 hit novelty song, "Monster Mash".

Pickett was born in Somerville, Massachusetts. His father was a theater manager, and as a nine-year-old he watched many horror films. He would later incorporate impressions of them in his Hollywood, California nightclub act in 1959. Pickett was a United States Army veteran, who served in Korea.

Pickett co-wrote "Monster Mash" with Leonard Capizzi in May 1962. The song was a spoof on the dance crazes popular at the time, including the Twist and the Mashed Potato, which inspired the title. The song featured Pickett's impersonations of veteran horror stars Boris Karloff and Bela Lugosi (the latter with the line "Whatever happened to my Transylvania Twist?"). It was passed on by every major record label, but after hearing the song, Gary S. Paxton agreed to produce and engineer it; among the musicians who played on it was pianist Leon Russell. Issued on Paxton's Garpax Records, the single became a million seller, reaching #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart for two weeks before Halloween in 1962. It was styled as being by "Bobby 'Boris' Pickett & 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. In Britain it took until October 1973 for the tune to become popular, peaking at #3 in the UK Singles Chart. For the second time, the record sold over one million copies. The tune remains a Halloween perennial on radio and on iTunes. A Christmas-themed follow-up, "Monster's Holiday," was also released in 1962 and reached #30 in December that year. This was followed by further monster-themed recordings such as the album The Original Monster Mash and such singles as "Werewolf Watusi" and "The Monster Swim". Another of Pickett's songs, "Graduation Day", made #80 in June 1963.

Pickett, Bobby Filmography

Play in Full Screen Comedy Songs: The Pop Years

2008, role: actor , character name: Himself
Play in Full Screen The Boneyard Collection

2006, role: actor
Play in Full Screen The Witch's Dungeon: 40 Years of Chills

2006, role: actor , character name: Himself
Play in Full Screen Boogie with the Undead

2003, role: actor , character name: The Manager
Play in Full Screen Monster Mash: The Movie

1995, role: composer
Play in Full Screen Monster Mash: The Movie

1995, role: actor , character name: Dr. Victor Frankenstein
Play in Full Screen Monster Mash: The Movie

1995, role: writer
Play in Full Screen The Horror Hall of Fame III

1992, role: actor , character name: Himself
Play in Full Screen Lobster Man from Mars

1989, role: actor , character name: The Astrologer
Play in Full Screen Lobster Man from Mars

1989, role: actor , character name: King of Mars
Play in Full Screen Frankenstein General Hospital

1988, role: actor , character name: Man in Elevator
Play in Full Screen Sister, Sister

1987, role: actor , character name: Roger
Play in Full Screen Splitz

1984, role: actor , character name: Chef
Play in Full Screen Strange Invaders

1983, role: actor , character name: Editor
Play in Full Screen Hot Money

1983, role: actor , character name: Stewart
Play in Full Screen Deathmaster

1972, role: actor , character name: Kirkwood
Play in Full Screen Chrome and Hot Leather

1971, role: actor , character name: Sweet Willy
Play in Full Screen The Baby Maker

1970, role: actor , character name: Dr. Sims
Play in Full Screen Three's a Crowd

1969, role: actor , character name: Roy Dodson
Play in Full Screen It's a Bikini World

1967, role: actor , character name: Woody
Play in Full Screen Celebrity Party

1963, role: actor , character name: Himself

photo: AP / Katie Darby/Invision

In this March 2, 2016 file photo, Christina Grimmie performs as the opener for Rachel Platten at Center Stage Theater, in Atlanta. Florida authorities say "The Voice" star Grimmie is in critical condition after being shot at a concert venue in Orlando by a suspect who then fatally shot himself after being tackled by the singer-songwriter’s brother

‘The Voice’ singer Christina Grimmie shot dead while signing autographs at Florida concert

Edit The Malta Independent 11 Jun 2016

"The Voice" star Christina Grimmie has died after she was shot at a Florida concert venue while signing autographs for fans following a show, officials said Saturday ... The Orlando Police Department also confirmed on its official Twitter page that Grimmie had died ... ....

photo: AP / Shizuo kambayashi, File

In this Feb. 19 2015 file photo, U.S. Rep. Paul Ryan, R-Wis., chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee, speaks during a press conference at the Japan National Press Club in Tokyo.

Indian govt is going to be America's 'great ally': Paul Ryan

Edit The Times of India 11 Jun 2016

WASHINGTON. The Indian government is going to be America's "great ally" and there is a need to nurture this relationship, Speaker of the US House of Representatives Paul Ryan has said. In a major foreign policy speech here in which he was highly critical of President Barack Obama's policies, the US-India relationship was the only aspect of it which was appreciated by Ryan ... Ryan also hosted a lunch for the visiting leader ... RELATED....

photo: AP / Matthias Schrader

A copy of "Hitler, Mein Kampf – A critical edition" lies on a display table in a book shop in Munich, Germany, Friday, Jan. 8, 2016.

Italian daily publishes Hitler's 'Mein Kampf' to anger

Edit The Associated Press 11 Jun 2016

ROME (AP) -- An Italian newspaper has published Hitler's political manifesto "Mein Kampf," angering Italy's premier and the tiny Jewish community ... Italian Jewish community leaders also expressed dismay ... ....

photo: AP / Paul Sakuma, File

FILE - This Feb. 8, 2012 file photo shows a view inside Facebook headquarters in Menlo Park, Calif. Facebook is now allowing teenagers to share their posts on the social network with anyone on the Internet, raising the risks of minors leaving a digital trail that could lead to trouble. The change announced Wednesday, Oct. 16, 2013 affects Facebook users who list their ages as being from 13 to 17.

Facebook is now forcing users to get Moments app

Edit The Times of India 11 Jun 2016

NEW YORK. Social media giant Facebook is pushing its users to download its private photo-sharing Moments app, a media report said. The social network has begun sending out warnings that some photos will be deleted by July 7 if the app is not installed. The company's latest move has managed to make Moments the number one app in the App Store ... Facebook rolls out 360-degree photos for newsfeed....

photo: AP / Herman Verwey

Oscar Pistorius faces return to jail for lover's murder

Edit Deccan Chronicle 11 Jun 2016

Johannesburg. Disgraced South African Paralympic athlete Oscar Pistorius will appear in court Monday for a sentencing hearing set to send him back to jail for murdering his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp three years ago. The double-amputee killed Steenkamp, a model and law graduate, in the early hours of Valentine's Day 2013, saying he mistook her for an intruder when he fired four times through the door of his bedroom toilet ... Simpson ... ....

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Halloween House Wows With Spooky 'Ghostbusters' Light Show

Edit Huffington Post 22 Oct 2015

EmbedContent(562896c0e4b0aac0b8fbb030,,Embed,aolon,Some({})). If there's something strange in your neighborhood... it just might be an elaborate Halloween lighting display set to the tune of "Ghostbusters." ... Along with "Ghostbusters," the lighting display synchronizes to Michael Jackson’s “Thriller” and Bobby Pickett’s “Monster Mash," according to the Press Enterprise. ... ... ....

6 Mindfulness Exercises for Children to Celebrate Fall and a Happy Halloween

Edit Huffington Post 22 Oct 2015

A version of this article appeared at MindfulnessForKids.net. For a free, printable PDF-file to use at home or at school please click here and go to the link at the bottom of the page. Mindfulness can help children relax and become more resilient in school and at home ... Important ... Ask ... Ask ... Ahead of the activity, prepare fun and happy Halloween music, for example, "Monster Mash" by Bobby Pickett, and have it ready to play to the children ... ....

The 13 Halloween Traditions From Childhood We Miss Most

Edit Huffington Post 29 Sep 2015

Fall is upon us and that means your grocery store aisles are fully stocked with Halloween candy, costumes and decorations. . via GIPHY. . It's estimated that Americans purchase around 600 million pounds of candy each year for the fright-filled holiday ... 2 ... The '60s hit song by Bobby Pickett has been a Halloween favorite for decades, telling the story of a mad scientist whose monster comes to life only to start dancing ... 3 ... 4 ... ....

The Rolling Stones learn you cannot say that name in a song

Edit The Examiner 10 Sep 2015

The BBC, in 1962, banned Bobby “Boris” Pickett and the Crypt Kickers novelty music single “Monster Mash” saying the song was offensive ... Bobby Pickett was an inspiring actor who sang in a band at nights and went on audition calls during the day. One night, Pickett did a monologue imitating movie actor Boris Karloff while performing a song and the audience loved it....

Q&A;: Chris O’Dowd, actor

Edit The Guardian 21 Mar 2015

‘To whom would I most like to say sorry? Everyone who knew me between the ages of 19 and 24’. Photograph. Jean Goldsmith/Time Out/Camera Press. Rosanna Greenstreet. Saturday 21 March 2015 06.00 GMT. Born in Ireland, Chris O’Dowd, 35, appeared in the TV series The IT Crowd and Girls, and films such as Bridesmaids and St Vincent ... When were you happiest?. At college ... Oh, and the baby’s birth ... Nearly drowning ... give ... Monster Mash, by Bobby Pickett ... ....

Behold Louis Walsh as a Salem witch for Halloween with Only the Young

Edit Digital Spy 31 Oct 2014

Burn the witch! No wait, it's just Louis Walsh in fancy dress for Halloween with his one remaining X Factor act Only the Young. © Syco / Thames / Corbis ... © Syco / Thames / Corbis ... The show's Fright Night song list has been unveiled and Only the Young will be performing Bobby Pickett's 'The Monster Mash' ... ....

X Factor 2014 Fright Night playlist: We bleeding love it

Edit Digital Spy 31 Oct 2014

All Hallow's Eve. Fright Night! The Americanisation of British culture continues apace with yet another Halloween special on The X Factor ... © Rex Features / Sipa Press. It's Thriller night! And Bleeding Love night too, apparently ... Donnie ... Frank ... Only The Young being given 'The Monster Mash' in its classic Bobby Pickett version feels like one Louis Walsh step too far ... ....

The X Factor: Fright Night's song list unveiled - all the details

Edit Digital Spy 31 Oct 2014

The X Factor acts will have to work hard to impress this week - especially now that we know one of them will be booted off on Saturday night before a second elimination on Sunday. Things are getting scary this Halloween! ... Read on for all the details... Boys ... 'The Monster Mash' - Bobby Pickett....

Spooky Songs for a Halloween Dance Playlist

Edit About.com 30 Sep 2014

Music can set the spooky mood for your Halloween dance. But, you'll need more on your scary playlist than just Michael Jackson's "Thriller" and Bobby Pickett's old school "Monster Mash." These Halloween songs are the ones you haven't thought of... and they'll keep the party going and your friends dancing all night long... 1.  "E.T." by Katy Perry featuring Kanye West ... 4. "Die Young" by Kesha....

Netflix Encounter: “20 Feet from Stardom” (2013)

Edit The Examiner 08 Jun 2014

One of the most fascinating segments features the reunited Blossoms (Love, Fanita James, Gloria Jones, Edna Wright) listening to tracks like “Monster Mash” by Bobby Pickett and “That’s Life” by Frank Sinatra where they had done the background vocals, recalling “we had to sound white” This is backed up by a great clip of Perry Como from a TV ......

Pickett, Bobby Filmography

Bobby "Boris" Pickett

ALBUMS

Buried Treasures: A Rare Collection of Bobby "Boris" Pickett's Recordings From 1963-2002 (Limited Signed Collector's CD)

Born: 1938-02-11

Died: 2007-04-25

Baby Be Good

‘The Voice’ singer Christina Grimmie shot dead while signing autographs at Florida concert

Indian govt is going to be America's 'great ally': Paul Ryan

Italian daily publishes Hitler's 'Mein Kampf' to anger

Facebook is now forcing users to get Moments app

Oscar Pistorius faces return to jail for lover's murder

You can search using any combination of the items listed below.

Halloween House Wows With Spooky 'Ghostbusters' Light Show

6 Mindfulness Exercises for Children to Celebrate Fall and a Happy Halloween

The 13 Halloween Traditions From Childhood We Miss Most

The Rolling Stones learn you cannot say that name in a song

Q&A;: Chris O’Dowd, actor

Behold Louis Walsh as a Salem witch for Halloween with Only the Young

X Factor 2014 Fright Night playlist: We bleeding love it

The X Factor: Fright Night's song list unveiled - all the details

Spooky Songs for a Halloween Dance Playlist

Netflix Encounter: “20 Feet from Stardom” (2013)