It was the summer of 1964, the waning months of the official Baby Boom. On the radio, Mississippi born “Jumpin Gene Simmons” was singing a goofy, fun, novelty song called “Haunted House,” a boppin’, high-energy example of early rock, back when the raison d’être was to just feel good.
This song is so cool that The Boss himself, Bruce Springsteen, performed it in L.A. years ago for a Halloween show, complete with a casket on stage, and all sorts of props.
Some have confused “Jumpin’ Gene Simmons” with the Gene Simmons who is a member of KISS but they’re two very different people. The KISS Gene Simmons wasn’t even old enough to drive when “Haunted House” was a hit!
While the Bobby “Boris” Pickett hit “Monster Mash” garners the most attention this time of year, let’s acknowledge “Haunted House,” a rock-a-billy one-hit wonder that broke through when the Top 40 chart was dominated by Beatlemania and the British Invasion. It was that good.