Lead vocals — Bobby Pickett (co-creator and original vocalist on the 1962 smash hit 'Monster Mash') www.themonstermash.com

Music and backup vocals performed by Andrea Perry, www.andreaperry.com

Animation and design by Free Range Graphics, www.freerangegraphics.com

Lead vocals recorded and mixed at Swing House Studios in Los Angeles.

Lyrics and concept — Peter Altman, Campaign to Protect America’s Lands, www.protectamericaslands.org

Additional great ideas and promotion — Scott Stapf and Stephanie Kendall of The Hastings Group

Monster Mash song used with permission.

Produced by the Campaign to Protect America’s Lands for the Defenders of Wildlife Action Fund.

BOBBY "BORIS" PICKETT

In 1962, Bobby Pickett emerged with the Boris Karloff spoof that has since become the rock 'n' roll anthem of Halloween: The Monster Mash (He did the Mash...He did the Monster Mash!)

Photo: Pete Altman Bobby Pickett in the studio for Monster Slash.

For 40 years since, Pickett's goulish glee club has risen annually from the crypt of Golden Oldies with a fleeting bit of airplay for the ghosts, goblins and spirits of his Halloween Howl. Over the years, Monster Mash has sold about 4 million copies, easily one of the most popular novelty records of all time.

His Karlovian imitation for Monster Mash was born when Pickett was 9 years old and spent time at the movie theater his father managed in Somerville, Mass. "I always did Boris," he said. He used Karloff in his nightclub act in Hollywood in 1959 and 1960. And when he was part of the group, the Cordials, he'd often slip in a few impersonations between songs. Boris was the crowd favorite. So one Saturday afternoon, he and friend Lenny Capizzi decided to write a song, putting the mimic to music. They dubbed themselves Bobby Boris Pickett and the CryptKickers.

Monster Mash was released three times. It reached No.1 on October 20, 1962. It re-entered the Hot 100 eight years later, on August 29, 1970, and peaked at 91. Almost three years after that, on May 5, 1973, it made a third re-entry, and this time went all the way to number 10.