Girl from Tallahassee Hitmaker Freddy “Boom Boom” Cannon has died aged 89.
The first rock & roll, known for his radio hits, including Palisades Parkbreathed his last on Friday July 17 in a hospice in California.
His longtime friend and iHeart Radio producer Tom Cuddy announced his death following Freddy’s brief battle with cancer.
The friend also noted that Freddy’s children, Conny Weber and Billy Cannon, were with him a few days before he disappeared.
Additionally, his daughter Weber paid a heartfelt tribute to her late father and expressed her gratitude to her admirer, writing, “We would like to thank everyone for their love and support throughout our father’s life.”
“He will be remembered as a rock and roll icon,” she added in a statement. “His music will forever be engraved in our hearts.”
Born Frederick Anthony Picariello Jr. on December 4, 1936 in Lynn, Massachusetts, Freddy earned the nickname “Boom Boom” thanks to the percussive power of his songs as well as the double meaning of his last name.
He reportedly worked on music at his home in Oxnard until his death.
Cuddy further revealed that his friend was scheduled to do what would have been his final interview on July 11 with his longtime friend and New York DJ cousin Brucie Morrow, but was forced to cancel when he was hospitalized the day before.
In addition to Girl from Tallahassee And Palisades ParkFreddy’s other hits included Over there in New Orleans, too much monkey business, action, transistors And Abigail Beecher.
Freddy is survived by his children Conny and Billy, his sister Mary Lou, his son-in-law Jim, his daughter-in-law Beth, five grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren.
He was predeceased by his son John, who died on April 13, and his wife Jeanette, who died in 2024.
