Freddy \u201cBoom-Boom\u201d Cannon, best known for the 1959 hit single \u201cTallahassee Lassie\u201d and 1962 follow-up \u201cPalisades Park,\u201d died after a brief cancer battle, it was confirmed. He was 89.<\/p>\n
Born Frederick Anthony Picariello Jr. in 1936, he became a regular face on music TV, notching up more appearances on Dick Clark\u2019s American Bandstand than any other performer.<\/p>\n
He was also known for delivering his high-energy songs on Shindig, Hullabaloo, Where the Action Is and The Midnight Special. Out of 60 singles released between 1969 and 2016, 29 of them charted.<\/p>\n
READ MORE:\u00a0The Biggest No. 1 Rock Songs of the ’60s<\/a><\/p>\n Cannon\u2019s passing was confirmed by old friend and radio producer Tom Cuddy, who told Deadline<\/a>: \u201cFreddy didn\u2019t do ballads. Dick Clark once told me that every time he hosted an oldies concert, he asked Freddy to open it, because he knew Freddy would get the audience on their feet with up-tempo rock and roll.\u201d<\/p>\n His daughter Conny Weber added in a statement: \u201cWe would like to thank everyone for their love and support throughout our dad\u2019s life. He will be remembered as a rock and roll icon. His music will live forever in our hearts.\u201d<\/p>\n Cannon\u2019s musical fans included Robert Plant<\/a> and Mick Jagger<\/a>. The former is said to have told Cannon that Led Zeppelin <\/a>recorded a version of \u201cTallahassee Lassie\u201d \u2013 although such a track has never been released \u2013 while Jagger and the Rolling Stones<\/a> did record a version, and Jagger said their song \u201cBrown Sugar\u201d had been inspired by it.<\/p>\n He was also namechecked by author Stephen King, who mentioned the singer\u00a0in four books and featured \u201cPalisades Park\u201d in 2011 publication 11\/22\/63.<\/p>\n The Two Singles That Made Freddy Cannon Most Proud<\/p>\n