Freddy Cannon, a rock and roll singer who is best known for his hits including “Palisades Park” and “Tallahassee Lassie” has died at the age of 89.
His death was announced by longtime friend and iHeart Radio producer Tom Cuddy, who said it occurred before Cannon was scheduled to do ” what would have been his final interview” on July 11. Variety further reported that Cannon died at a hospice facility in California after recently being diagnosed with cancer. He was working on music right up until his hospitalization.
“Freddy didn’t do ballads,” Cuddy said. “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.”
Cannon’s hit “Tallahassee Lassie” made it to No. 6 on Billboard’s Hot 100 in 1959, followed by “Way Down in New Orleans” reaching No. 3 on the Hot 100 that same year. “Palisades Park” in 1962 went to No. 3 on the Hot 100. He also was known by his nickname, “Boom Boom”
Cannon’s representative further told Variety that Cannon holds the record for the most appearances on Dick Clark’s “American Bandstand,” with 110. He had many other famous fans, including Mick Jagger and Led Zeppelin’s Robert Plant, as well as author Stephen King, who mentioned the singer in four of his books, including 11/22/63.
In 2011, Cannon released his autobiography Where the Action Is.
He is survived by his children, five grandchildren, and seven great grandchildren.
“We would like to thank everyone for their love and support throughout our dad’s life,” his daughter said in a statement, per Deadline. “He will be remembered as a rock ‘and’n’ roll icon. His music will live forever in our hearts.”