Veteran of the New Orleans original R&B scene, CLARENCE “FROGMAN” died on Sunday 7th April. He was 87 and his family have confirmed his death, though no exact cause of his passing was given. According to some reports the singer’s health had been declining for several years and he’d recently undergone an unspecified surgery.
Henry was born in New Orleans in 1937 and, influenced by people like Fats Domino and Professor Longhair, he learned the piano and started entering local talent shows. He eventually worked with bands led by Bobby Mitchell and Eddie Smith, occasionally singing, using his distinctive croaky, frog-like voice. Encouraged, he recorded ‘Ain’t Got No Home’ in 1956 and when released on the Chess imprint, Argo it was both an R&B and pop chart hit.
His best remembered hits are ‘I Don’t Know Why I Love You But I Do’ and ‘You Always Hurt The One You Love’ (both 1961). In 1964 Henry toured the US with the Beatles, opening 18 shows for the Fab 4! Later he became a mainstay on the New Orleans music scene and continued performing well into his 80s. He was married seven times, with all marriages ending in divorce and he had ten children
