I have records on my various playlists that were single hits for an individual artist or group but they were never followed up by another chart success. I also wonder what happened to the artist. So I am going to track some of them down and find out more…..starting with the 1950s – I am taking them from the list kindly supplied by Wikipedia
Monster Mash – Bobby Pickett 1960s
Robert George Pickett born in 1938 was known as Bobby ‘Boris’ Pickett and was a singer, songwriter, actor and comedian… In 1962 he co-wrote ‘Monster Mash’ with Leonard Capizzi. It was a spoof on the dance crazes of the time including the Twist and the Mashed Potato. Horror stars Boris Karloff and Bela Lugosi were impersonated by Bobby Pickett. Unfortunately it was not considered to be a hit by the various record labels that were approached but it was heard by Gary S. Paxton, a record producer who agreed to produce it on his Garpax Records.
The single sold over 1 million and was #1 in the Billboard Hot 100 for two weeks in1962 as performed by Bobby ‘Boris’ Pickett and the Crypt-Kicker 5. It entered the charts again in 1970 and in 1973 at #10. It then went into the UK charts in 1973 at #3 and sold another million copies.
For a one hit wonder for Bobby Pickett, it certainly was a gift that kept giving.
As far as his career was concerned he continued to write and perform other monster themed songs and an album and in 1985, he even released ‘Monster Rap’.
Bobby Pickett also wrote musicals including ‘Frankenstein Unbound’. In 1995 the co-writers of Disney’s ‘Toy Story’, Joel Cohen and Alex Sokolow, produced a movie of the musical called ‘Frankenstein Sings’ but it was later released as ‘Monster Mash: The Movie’.
In 2005, Bobby Pickett published his autobiography ‘Monster Mash: Half Dead in Hollywood.
Bobby Pickett passed away in 2007.
Additional sources: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bobby_Pickett
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Monster-Mash-Bobby-Boris-Pickett/dp/B000V3VT7Y
If you wonder what happened to the artist of your favourite one hit wonder, then let me know their name in the comments and I will see what I can find out…..
Thanks for tuning in… next week William Price King is back with another jazz instrumentalist…
I remember that one. I had it on an album along with “The Flying Purple People Eater” and other goodies.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I have heard Monster Mash so many times and I had no idea of its origins.. I think he was before his time. If Youtube had been available then he might have got more exposure for his other work. Have a good week.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I remember it, but hadn’t realised/remembered it had been a hit several times.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I hope they got royalties on the re-releases…x
LikeLike
I remember this though haven’t heard it for a while. You are right about if there had been YouTube in those days…
LikeLiked by 1 person
Very clever writers and clearly a market for their talent.. hugsx
LikeLiked by 1 person
One of my all-time favorite songs! I just love the drums as well as the humor of the lyrics. Good choice. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks Annette.. been in my head all day….♥
LikeLiked by 1 person
And it is played every Halloween all over the world. I love how he made faces like Jim Cary does. A clever fellow. It proves sometimes you only need one great idea!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Exactly Darlene.. hugs…xx
LikeLiked by 1 person
Loved this Sal. As popular as that song still is here around Halloween, I never even knew who sang it, lol. Another song that stays with us annually, yet, no other hit. Thanks Sal ❤
LikeLiked by 1 person
I hope wherever he is it still makes him smile at the laughter and fun it brings.. ♥♥
LikeLiked by 1 person
❤
LikeLiked by 1 person
Wow. Haven’t heard that one in ages. It was a big hit in my neighborhood. Thanks for bringing it back to my attention, Sally. Hugs
LikeLiked by 1 person
Glad you enjoyed.. no doubt it will be doing the rounds again at Halloween… hugs
LikeLike
I loved that song! And I can still do the Monster Mash. It became a dance, too.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I would pay to see that Jennie..hugsxxxx
LikeLiked by 1 person
Haha! 😀 Hugs to you, Sally.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Pingback: Smorgasbord Blog Magazine – The Weekly Round Up – Easter Parade Invite, Bloggers Bash Voting, And all the fun of the fair. | Smorgasbord Blog Magazine