Clarence ‘Frogman’ Henry

Musician

CLARENCE ‘Frogman’ Henry, who has died at 87, was one of New Orleans’ best known old-time R&B singers and scored a hit at age 19 with Ain’t Got No Home.

Henry, who had been scheduled to perform at the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival this month, imitated the voice of a frog in the song, which was a hit in 1956 and later brought him renewed fame when it was featured on the Forrest Gump and Mickey Blue Eyes soundtracks.

He credited disc jockey Poppa Stoppa, whose real name was Clarence Hayman, as coming up with the nickname Frogman, which mimicked that of Fats Domino.

By 1958, Henry’s popularity waned and he took to playing nightclubs on Bourbon Street.

“I thought the sun would shine. I thought my record would always stay out there and stay on the top, but in 1958, the rain came and brought me back to New Orleans,” he said in 2003.

But in 1960, a new song, I Don’t Know Why But I Do by Cajun songwriter Bobby Charles and arranged by Allen Toussaint, brought Henry renewed success.

With the Bill Black Combo and the Jive Five he opened for the Beatles for 18 dates in 1964 during their first US trip and toured extensively, from Scotland to New Zealand.

In Louisiana, Henry remained popular. He also was one of the few black New Orleans musicians to cross over into Cajun musical circles.

Henry, who was born in New Orleans on March 19, 1937, started playing the piano at age eight, taking up lessons his sister had disliked. He worked for his father until he was 15, often for no money.

He played the trombone and piano in his high school band and later joined The Toppers, travelling around southern Louisiana before making it big.

“When I was going to school, I wanted to be Fats Domino, Professor Longhair, and I would wear a wig with two plaits and call myself Professor Longhair,” Henry said. “I like the Fats Domino rhythm, but I play my own chords and style.”

Henry’s national fame faded but he remained popular in Louisiana. He was a Bourbon Street fixture until 1981, when he retired from the gruelling club circuit. But he never gave up music, and continued to be an annual crowd pleaser at the Jazz and Heritage Festival.