‘Too wild for TV’: Trailblazing Aussie rock ‘n’ roller Judy Cannon has died

Australia’s first “hellraising” female rocker, Judy Cannon — who worked with Jimi Hendrix and Johnny O’Keefe — is being remembered as a “wild thing” who “broke the glass ceiling” after her death at the age of 84.

Singing legend Judy Cannon has died aged 84.

Australia’s first female rock star Judy Cannon, who worked with the likes of Jimi Hendrix, Johnny O’Keefe and Cliff Richard, has passed away.

Cannon, who was known as the female equivalent of hellraiser O’Keefe, was born in Melbourne in 1939 and started her singing career performing at suburban dances and town halls in the late 1950s and early 1960s.

She released a number of songs with the Thunderbirds and as a solo artist during the early 1960s.

Judy Cannon burst on to the scene and ‘turned everything upside down’.

“She got interested in rock and roll when Bill Haley’s records came out in the early ’50s and that is what she wanted to do,” her lifelong friend Coral Drouyn said.

“When she performed live she was an out and out female rocker, but, of course, there were no female rockers in those days and when she got a recording contract she was pushed into recording these pretty girly pop songs.

“She did eventually get to the stuff which was her real love, out and out heavy rock and roll, with the Thunderbirds. She was the female equivalent to Johnny O’Keefe. She was a wild thing, as he was.”

Jimmy Little, Judy Cannon, Colin Cooke and Col Joye. Picture: Supplied

Cannon made regular appearances on TV variety shows such O’Keefe’s Six O’Clock Rock, Bandstand and The Late Show with Bert Newton.

“It was 65 years ago when Jude first burst on the scene and turned everything upside down,” Drouyn said.

“In the beginning they were not sure if they could put her on television because she was too wild.”

She was very much in O’Keefe’s circle, with Cannon herself recalling in 1997 that “JO’K was like a naughty little kid.

“He liked me because I was the only female singer who could make the audience scream.”

Judy Cannon and John Laws. Picture: Supplied

Cannon toured with Col Joye and in 1961 supported Cliff Richard and the Shadows on their Australian tour.

In 1963 Cannon moved to England to try her luck on the international scene.

“Shortly after arriving in London I landed a TV role on Terry O’Neill’s One O’Clock Show,” she said in that 1997 interview.

“I sang for Princess Margaret, Princess Anne — even the Shah of Iran.”

She stayed in England for 13 years where she worked as a session singer and featured as a backing vocalist on Jimi Hendrix’s hit Hey Joe.

Cannon with Bryan Davies on the cover of Teenagers Weekly. Picture: Supplied

She also had a successful musical theatre career, landing roles in a number of West End shows including the original production of Gypsy, Oh What A Lovely War, Guys and Dolls, and Bordello.

Cannon returned to Australia in 1976 and joined Play School briefly as a presenter.

She went on to become a successful real estate agent on the Gold Coast before moving to Ballarat in the early 2000s.

“She was unique,” Drouyn said.

“She was a one-off as a person and she certainly laid the groundwork for so many artists that followed. She broke down that glass ceiling and she was the first female rocker in Australia.

“She was special and she lived life to the fullest.

“All of the female singers who have done well over the past 50 years have to thank the woman who broke the ground for them more than 60 years ago.”

Cannon passed away in Ballarat on August 29 aged 84, after a long battle with illness. She is survived by her daughters Cass and Denny.