Rock n Roll

One of the favorite upbeat rock and roll golden oldies is “Tallahassee Lassie” by Freddy Boom Boom Cannon. It’s one of those songs about dancing that makes you want to get up and dance.

Freddy Cannon was born Frederick Anthony Picariello, Jr., and Swampscott, Massachusetts. While growing up, he particularly liked the music of Big Joe Turner, Buddy Johnson, Chuck Berry, Bo Diddley, and Little Richard. He had a group called Freddy Karmon & The Hurricanes, which was popular in the Boston area. “Tallahassee Lassie” came about first as a demo, with lyrics written by Cannon’s mother, Mimi Picariello. It was called “Rock and Roll Baby.” Bob Crew and Frank Slay, who wrote and produced many songs during this first decade of rock and roll, rearranged and rewrote the song, calling it “Tallahassee Lassie.” They had a hard time shopping the record, but Dick Clark liked it. Clark was part owner of Swan Records, and they recorded it. They added lots of bass drum and hand claps plus some shouts of “whoo.” Bernie Binnick, who was president of Swan Records, recommended that Freddy be called Freddy Boom Boom Cannon because of the big percussive sound. In 1959, “Tallahassee Lassie” went to #6 on the Billlboard Hot 100, #13 on the R&B Chart, and #17 in the U.K.

Cannon continues to tour and perform. He has made many hits, including “Way Down Yonder in New Orleans” and “Palisades Park.”

Here are the lyrics to “Tallahassee Lassie” by Freddy Boom Boom Cannon:

Well she comes from Tallahassee
She got a hi-fi chassis
Maybe looks a little sassy
But to me she’s real classy
Yeah my Tallahassee Lassie down in F-L-A
Well she’s rockin, to the Drag, the Cha-cha, Rag and Mop
Stomping to the Shag, rocks the Bunny Hop ooh ooh ooh ooh
Well, she dances to the Rock, she dances to the Stroll
She dances to the Walk, she can rock and roll
She’s my Tallahassee lassie, yeah my Tallahassee lassie
She’s my Tallahassee lassie down in F-L-A

INSTRUMENTAL INTERLUDE

(repeat song)

(fade while singing “Come on baby come on sugar come on honey”)

For another song by Freddy “Boom Boom” Cannon: “Palisades Park.”

For More Golden Oldies Music

The Daily Doo Wop Rec Room has daily featured doo wop, rock and roll, R&B, or rockabilly songs that were hits during the first era of rock and roll (that is, from about 1952 until the British invasion in 1964). After a song is featured, it then goes into the juke box. You are welcome to listen to any of the 40+ selections there. Every weekend, there is a Golden Oldies Juke Box Saturday Night, and the juke box is full of song requests from the 1950s and 1960s.

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