Freddy Cannon, the rock and roller whose hits include “Palisades Park” and “Tallahassee Lassie,” has died. He was 89.
Cannon died Friday at a hospice facility in California, his friend, iHeart Radio’s Tom Cuddy, announced. Cuddy said that Cannon was scheduled to interview with DJ Cousin Brucie Morrow on July 11, however he was taken to the hospital a day before the appearance.
The rocker, who was nicknamed Freddy “Boom Boom” Cannon, was born on Dec. 4, 1936, in Lynn, Massachusetts, where he started his music career. An early recording of the soon-to-be hit track “Tallahassee Lassie” intrigued Dick Clark. He and his wife, Jeanette, then moved moved to Philadelphia in his late teens, partly thanks to Clark who urged him to do so.
The track later came out in 1959, peaking at No. 6 on Billboard’s Hot 100; it became Cannon’s first song to grace the Billboard charts. One year later, he appeared on Clark’s American Bandstand for this first time. Cannon went on to appear on the weekly dance show a multitude of times over the years, with a record-setting 110 apperances.
“Palisades Park” was released in 1962, becoming his highest charing track (it landed at No. 3). Cannon’s additional hits included 1960’s “Jump Over” and “Chattanooga Shoe Shine Boy,” 1964’s “Abigail Beecher,” 1965’s “Action” and 1966’s “The Dedication Song,” among many others.
Cannon released his memoir, Where the Action Is!, in 2011, which is a television series he also appeared in. His screen credits also included No Time for Sergeants, Village of the Giants, Never Too Young and Svengoolie.
He is survived by his children Conny Weber and Billy Cannon; his sister Mary Lou; son-in-law Jim; daughter-in-law Beth; five grandchildren and seven great grandchildren. Cannon was pre-deceased by his son John, who died in April, and his wife Jeanette, who died in 2024.