Bobby “Boris” Pickett (1940-2007)

Bobby “Boris” Pickett, has died of leukemia. Using a very good Boris Karloff impression, he recorded the biggest Halloween song of all time. “Monster Mash” hit the Billboard chart three times, reaching Number ONE in 1962, and then re-charting in 1970 and 1973 for a new generation of fans.

Born Robert George Pickett on February 11th, 1940, Bobby was fascinated by horror movies as a child. By the time he was nine, he started to imitate Boris Karloff, whom he would see at the movie theatre that his father managed in Somerville, Massachusetts.

Following his discharge from the army in 1961, he moved to Los Angeles and joined the vocal group called “The Cordials”. I have discovered approximately NINE 45’s released by groups using this name, all on different labels, but have no way to verify which records Bobby was involved with. His friend and fellow band mate, Lenny Capizi suggested that the pair try to take advantage of the novelty song craze that was happening in the early sixties by writing a tune around Bobby’s Karloff imitation. It took nearly a year after the suggestion to get around to it, but when they did, the two worked out “The Monster Mash” in about an hour and a half.

To record their song, they approached producer Gary Paxton, who sang The Hollywood Argyles’ hit, “Alley Oop”. Pickett and Paxton, along with a then unknown piano player Leon Russell, Johnny McCrae (Ronny & the Daytonas) and Rickie Page (The Bermudas) recorded the tune, and when the session was done, it was Paxton who came up with the idea of putting “Bobby ‘Boris’ Pickett and the Cryptkickers”, on the record’s label. Pickett also added all his own sound sound effects: the creaky door opening is a nail being pulled from a piece of wood, the boiling cauldron is Pickett blowing bubbles into a cup of water with a straw and the chains are him moving chains up and down. The song was recorded in just one take.

Gary Paxton took the tape to four major labels, and was turned down by all of them. Paxton then pressed a thousand copies himself and started delivering them to radio stations across California. Soon, the Monster Mash was getting airplay and London Records, who had rejected the song earlier, called Paxton to sign a deal. Eight weeks later, on October 20, 1962, the record hit number one, just in time for Halloween. “The Monster Mash” has been the recipient of three gold records, selling an estimated 4 million copies, and one of only three records to ever hit the Billboard Top 100 on three separate occasions

Pickett followed up his smash hit with “Monster’s Holiday,” just in time for Christmas. His final Hot 100 entry was “Graduation Day” peaking at number 80 in 1963. Bobby also “bubbled under” the Hot 100 with two tunes. These songs didn’t qualify for the Hot 100 but got enough regional airplay to be ranked somewhere between 101 and 135. “Monster Swim” just made it, at number 135 in 1964. Then, 12 years later, in the middle of the disco craze, he hit number 107 with “King Kong (Your Song)” partnered with Peter Ferrara.

Bobby remained in demand for Halloween performances, including a memorable 1973 show when his bus broke down outside Frankenstein, Mo. He continued to perform until late last year. Pickett is survived by is daughter Nancy, his sister, Lynda, and two grandchildren.

No waiting for Halloween – hear Bobby’s songs 24/7 at:  TUNEDEX MEMORIES.

Old Habits Die Hard

As far back as I can remember, Sunday mornings have been associated with news gathering. As a child, it was spiritual education at church followed by a nice breakfast and the Sunday comics and the Sports section. The only negative was the TV and the ever droning guests of “Meet The Press” in the background. As I got older, some Sunday rituals fell by the wayside and new ones sprung up like flowers in the Spring, but one thing remained… the weekly re-hash of news. When my revered “funny papers” lost their humor due to one cancellation after another of my favorite comics, I stopped reading them. I still read the Sports, but also hoarded the Entertainment and Business sections. Now, I’m older still, and I don’t think I’ve actually read a paper in about 10 years or so. My instinctive grab for the Sports section has been replaced by various toolbar icons. The Sunday morning quest for news gathering is still there, it’s just been transferred to the Internet. And what provides the background sound for this new-age ritual? Why, “Meet The Press” of course….

Haven’t listened yet?  Tune in now to TUNEDEX MEMORIES!

Don Ho (1930-2007)

Don Ho, Hawaii’s most popular entertainer, has died at Honolulu medical center at the age of 76. Don Ho will be always be remembered for his “signature” song, “Tiny Bubbles”. Not only by his local fans, but the countless millions of tourists who have seen his shows while visiting Hawaii. Donald Ho Tai Loy, a native of Honolulu, was born August 13, 1930 of Chinese, Hawaiian, Portuguese, Dutch and German descent. He served as a fighter jet pilot in the United States Air Force and began his singing career in 1962 at a night club called Duke’s. Within three years, he had a recording contract and was playing shows in Las Vegas, Lake Tahoe and New York.

While no official cause of death has been released, the Honolulu Advertiser reported he had suffered a heart attack. Don Ho had a history of heart problems. He underwent an experimental stem cell procedure in Thailand in December of 2005 which undoubtedly extended his life. He is survived by his wife Haumea and daughter Hoku.

On a personal note, I won a trip to Hawaii in 1973 and while the gorgeous weather and golf courses were high notes, attending the Don Ho show was my favorite event. He was a personable man and gifted entertainer. Hawaii may claim him as a favorite son, but the entire world is saddened at the lost of his talent and vitality.

Listen for “Tiny Bubbles” on “the Honor Roll of Hits” – 24/7 at TUNEDEX MEMORIES!

Dakota Staton (1931-2007)

Legendary jazz vocalist, Dakota Staton, died April 10th in Manhattan while recovering from a stroke. She was 76. Staton had been in recovery at the Isabella Geriatric Center, where she was residing. Dakota was born on June 3, 1931, in the Homewood neighborhood of Pittsburgh, she studied at the Filjon school of music. She began her professional career as a vocalist for the Joe Wespray Orchestra and spent several years on the Midwest nightclub circuit. She was discovered at the Baby Grand club in Harlem by Dave Cavanaugh, and signed to Capitol records. In 1955, Downbeat Magazine named her the years “most promising newcomer”. Ms. Staton’s debut album, “The Late Late Show” featured Jonah Jones on trumpet. In addition to the smash title track, Staton also recorded a vocal version of the Count Basie instrumental hit “Broadway”, and a haunting rendition of “My Funny Valentine”. Staton recorded more than two dozen albums, working with great musicians from pianist George Shearing to arranger Nelson Riddle. Vocally, compared to Dinah Washington and Sarah Vaughn, Staton was always oriented towards albums and never enjoyed the hit single that might have broadened her appeal to a larger market. From 1962 to 1992 she recorded for a variety of labels, including United Artists, Verve, Columbia, Groove Merchant and Muse. Later in her career, Ms. Staton’s stylings showed more of a blues and gospel influence. Dakota married trumpeter Talib Dawud in 1958. Mr. Dawad played in many successful bands led by Louis Armstrong, Benny Carter, Jimmy Lunceford and Dizzy Gillespie. Per her step-daughter, Idrees Dawud, Dakota embraced Islam later in life, and changed her name to Aliyah Rabia.

Vinyl Memories…

Since most of us grew up with great radio stations, I’m guessing that a lot of music we bought and cherished began with hearing it on your favorite station. Some of us had friends with records that we shared with each other, and sometimes even swapped, like baseball cards. And then of course, there was the record store. We all bought our records from different types of stores. Some of them had instruments in the window and a stack of 45’s under the counter, hidden away like an adult magazine. Others, like Record Rendezvous in downtown Cleveland had a wall of 45’s, and listening booths to check them out.

Little did we know back then that we were experiencing Marketing 101 when we visited that store. Many of us came in to get our favorite free radio station survey… for me it was the WHK Fabulous 50 Tunedex, with the suggested purchase of the day, the “Pick Hit of the Week”. We were drawn to those tunes for two reasons… first the Station played them in heavy rotation, so by the time you got to the store, if you liked what you heard, you were on a mission. And second, you got to buy it at the bargain price of just $ .69. Little did we know how many more times we would be attracted to stores over the course of our lives by a “loss leader”. And of course, if you had any extra money, there was no way you’d be leaving there with any left… so many 45’s… so little time…

You’ll hear most of MY 45’s and a LOT more at TUNEDEX MEMORIES!