Died On This Date (April 25, 2007) Bobby “Boris” Pickett / Had Huge Hit With “Monster Mash”
themusicsover Bobby “Boris” Pickett
February 11, 1938 – April 25, 2007
Bobby Pickett was best known for his novelty smash, “Monster Mash,” an homage to such horror classics as Boris Karloff and Bela Lugosi. Released in 1962, it quickly became a million seller and reached #1 on the US charts, and reentered the charts two more times over the next decade. The song became a staple on Dr. Demento’s radio program and continues to be celebrated every year during the days leading up to Halloween. A little known fact is that Leon Russell can be heard playing piano on the track. Pickett died of leukemia on April 28, 2007.
Susan Reed was a popular American folk singer and musician who came to prominence during the mid-’40s. She was one of the leading voices during the folk revival that also included 
Otis Spann was one of greatest blues pianists to come out of post-war Chicago. And some consider him the greatest, period. Spann gigged around mostly on his own throughout much of his teens and then joined up with 
Tristram Cary was a British composer and pioneering electronic musician. But his greatest contribution to popular music was probably the EMS VCS3 portable synthesizer which he co-designed. The instrument became very popular with such English electronic and prog acts as Pink Floyd, Brian Eno and Roxy Music. He also wrote music for British television show, Dr. Who, as well as some British films.
Jimmy Giuffre was a respected jazz composer and arranger and also was also known for his stylish saxophone and clarinet skills. Getting his start as Woody Herman’s arranger in 1947, he went on to become of the main forces of West coast jazz. In 1961, Giuffre formed a trio with Paul Bley and Steve Swallow who, though not very successful at the time, went down in history as one of the most important groups in jazz history. Giuffre went on to teach at NYU and later the New England Conservatory of Music through the ’90s. He suffered from Parkinson’s Disease throughout his later life and passed away on April 24, 2008 at the age of 86.