Fifty years ago this week John George Diefenbaker was prime minister, the Cuban Missile Crisis had just ended and radios were blaring a tune called “Monster Mash” by Bobby “Boris” Pickett and the Crypt-Kickers.
The catchy tune, released just in time for Halloween, was the hit from The Original Monster Mash album. It knocked The Four Season’s “Sherry” from its five-week run at the top of the charts, writes David Bowling at the Seattle Post Intelligencer.
“Monster Mash” was Pickett’s sole No. 1 hit, and was reportedly inspired by a dead-on Boris Karloff impression Pickett did while jamming with his original band, The Cordials.
While the tune will be playing at many a Halloween party this weekend, Pickett won’t be there to celebrate the 50-year anniversary. The singer died of leukemia in 2007 at age 69.
