"Since I Met You Baby"

 

The Original R&B Masterpiece (1956)

Written and recorded by pianist Ivory Joe Hunter, "Since I Met You Baby" stands out as a triumph of smooth, bluesy elegance. Recorded for Atlantic Records in 1956, the 12-bar blues track bypassed the era's tide of raucous rock & roll in favor of polished sophistication—featuring a lush orchestral arrangement by Ray Ellis, a wordless vocal choir, and saxophone harmonies by Jesse Powell.

The track was a massive success:

• Chart Success: Spent three weeks at #1 on the Billboard R&B chart in 1957 and hit #12 on the Hot 100.

• Major Milestone: Hunter was awarded a gold record live on The Ed Sullivan Show to celebrate its success.

---

The Country Revival (1969)

Country music superstar Sonny James gave the standard a second life in 1969. Adding overdubbed crowd noise to give the studio recording a live feel, James scored a #1 hit on the Hot Country Singles chart. This marked his 13th country #1 overall and served as a key link in his legendary streak of 16 consecutive #1 singles.

---

A Multigenre Legacy

Beyond Hunter and James, "Since I Met You Baby" became a beloved standard spanning pop, rock, Tejano, and blues:

• 1950s–1960s: Covered by Mindy Carson (1957 pop hit), Sam Cooke (1961), and The Spencer Davis Group (1966).

• 1970s: Country-Tejano star Freddy Fender scored a major hit with a Spanish-language rendition, "Desde Que Conozco" (later featured in the 1996 film Lone Star).

• Other Notable Artists: Recorded across generations by B.B. King, Neil Young, Dean Martin, Jerry Lee Lewis, Wanda Jackson, Solomon Burke, and Gary Moore.

 

Biography of Freddy Cannon

Frederick Anthony Picariello Jr. (December 4, 1936 – July 17, 2026), professionally known as Freddy Cannon, was an American rock and roll singer. Nicknamed "Boom Boom" for his driving, energetic style, he achieved massive success in the late 1950s and 1960s.

---

Early Life

Born in Revere and raised in Lynn, Massachusetts, Cannon grew up influenced by his musical father and radio rhythm and blues. He learned guitar and formed his own group, the Hurricanes, developing a trademark strained vocal style.

---

Career Highlights

• Breakthrough: His mother wrote the lyrics to what became his 1959 signature hit, "Tallahassee Lassie". Modified with input from TV presenter Dick Clark, the million-selling song peaked at No. 6 on the Billboard Hot 100.

• American Bandstand: Cannon became a staple of Dick Clark’s television program, making a record 110 appearances.

• Major Hits: His biggest chart successes included "Way Down Yonder in New Orleans" (1959), the UK chart-topping album The Explosive Freddy Cannon (1960), and the rollercoaster-themed "Palisades Park" (1962).

• Later Success: After signing with Warner Bros. Records, he scored final top-20 hits with "Abigail Beecher" (1964) and "Action" (1965), earning four gold discs throughout his career.

---

Later Years and Death

Though his chart prominence faded after the 1960s, Cannon remained a global touring act, worked as a promotional man, and recorded commercial jingles and holiday music.

Following a brief battle with cancer, Cannon died in hospice care in Oxnard, California, on July 17, 2026, at the age of 89.