Freddie ‘Boom-Boom’ Cannon was a rock and roll icon in the early days of pop. Now he’s back. (Photo: DIS Company)
Freddy “Boom Boom” Cannon is an American rock and roll singer who became one of the most prolific hitmakers of the late 1950s and early 1960s. Now, he’s back and finding a new audience.
Known for his high-energy delivery and powerful, thumping drum-heavy arrangements, he earned his famous nickname from the explosive bass drum sound that characterized his recordings.
Freddie ‘Boom-Boom’ Cannon today, at 89. He’s still rockin with a new song. (Photo: DIS Company)
Make no mistake, Freddy Cannon is a rock n roll icon. No less than E Street Band guitarist Steve Van Zandt claimed his song “Palisades Park” changed his life.
Cannon’s “Palisades Park,” “Way Down Yonder In New Orleans” and “Tallahassee Lassie” were among the early staples of rock and roll.
After an absence from the charts and airwaves for decades, Cannon, now 89, returned last Christmas season with a new song, “Red Coat Santa.” It was a Top 20 hit on the U.K.’s Heritage Chart.
Now Cannon is back for real with a new song, “Everybody’s Rockin’ Tonight (2026 Boom Boom Mix)” which aired immediately on SiriusXM Gold. It’s got that solid 50s rock and roll vibe. Click here to check out the track on YouTube.
Born Frederick Anthony Picariello Jr. in Revere, Mass., Cannon grew up in a musical household. His father was a truck driver and a semi-professional musician who performed under the stage name Freddy Karmon.
He attended Lynn Vocational High School, where he taught himself guitar and formed a local group, “The Hurricanes.”
Before his solo career, he played lead guitar on the G-Clefs’ 1956 hit “Ka-Ding Dong” and worked as a session musician for various Boston-area groups.
Cannon’s breakthrough came in 1959 with the song “Tallahassee Lassie,” originally a demo titled “Rock and Roll Baby” written by his mother.
Breakthrough: Producer Frank Slay and songwriter Bob Crewe reworked the track, adding a heavy bass drum and Cannon’s trademark “whoo!” shouts. The song reached #6 on the Billboard Hot 100.
The hits continued in the 1960s with “Way Down Yonder in New Orleans” (1960), which reached No. 3 in both the US and UK.
His classic “Palisades Park” (1962), written by future Gong Show host Chuck Barris, also reached No. 3 and his most memorable song, “Action” (1965), became the theme song for the TV series “Where the Action Is,” which earned him his fourth gold disc.
The New York Independent talked to Cannon about his reemerging work from his L.A. home:
NYI: From “Palisades Park” to “Way Down Yonder In New Orleans” and “Tallahassee Lassie” you’ve enjoyed wide-spread success. How does it feel to have impacted music in such a terrific way?
Cannon: It felt great knowing I made a small notch in music. I’m very grateful for that. Me and my mom wrote “Tallahassee Lassie.” She wrote the words; I wrote the melody.
Freddie Cannon (right) with the King, Elvis Presley. (Photo: DIS Company)
NYI: When Steve Van Zandt said that your “Palisades Park” changed his life, what did that mean to you?
Cannon: Wow. What a great feeling. I’m glad it helped him in some way, as he became a huge star.
NYI: What’s the first record that you heard that changed your life?
Cannon: First record I bought was Big Joe Turner’s “Shake, Rattle and Roll.” The blues set the tone for me. I also loved Hank Williams.
NYI: You had a long relationship with long-time music impresario Dick Clark. What was he like to work with?
Cannon: Dick Clark was all business. Everything had to be right on time. I did many shows with him. It was a great period in my life.
NYI: What was Bandstand, Clark’s long-time musical variety show, like? You hold the record for the most appearances, 110.
Cannon: : Exciting to do one of the biggest shows on TV. It was a very small studio in Philly. But that show helped me get started in music.
NYI: You had some interaction with Elvis Presley. Tell is about that.
Cannon: I met Elvis in the early 60s. In Memphis at The Peabody Hotel. He came up the fire escape with Red West. He loved “Tallahassee Lassie” Had it on his jukebox at Graceland.
FYI: The music business has changed so much. What do you think the biggest change has been?
Cannon: There’re no more records; it’s all downloads. Radio also changed, and in the past songwriters would give songs to artists. Now, you better write your own songs. That’s what I’m doing.
NYI: “Red Coat Santa,” from last Christmas was a surprise hit. Tell us how “Everybody’s Rockin’ Tonight (2026 Boom Boom Mix)” came about.
Cannon: I always write but when I wrote “Rockin’” I just knew I had the right title melody and lyrics. It shows that I’m a true rocker. That’s the message.
NYI: As of this writing, the song has already charted in England, what’s next?
Cannon: The UK fans have been great to me. A big thank you to all of them. And to the Heritage chart and Mike Read for giving them my music. And having the ears to hear a hit!
Check out two of Cannon’s big hits, including performance from his Bandstand days.