Clarence “Frogman” Henry, the New Orleans rhythm-and-blues singer and pianist who wrote and recorded “Ain’t Got No Home,” died on April 7, 2024, at 87. The New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Foundation announced his death; the Associated Press did not report a cause.
Who was Clarence “Frogman” Henry?
Born in New Orleans on March 19, 1937, Henry learned piano as a child and played both piano and trombone in school. He performed with Bobby Mitchell’s band, the Toppers, before joining bandleader Paul Gayten. His musical identity remained tied to New Orleans even after his first records took him on the road.
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You Always Hurt the One You Love (Complete singles As & Bs 1956-62) | $11.99 | Buy on Amazon |
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Ain't Got No Home: The Best of Clarence "Frogman" Henry | $9.64 | Buy on Amazon |
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But I Do: The Complete Releases 1956-62 | $16.99 | Buy on Amazon |
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Best of | $9.99 | Buy on Amazon |
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Complete 'Argo' Recordings | $18.41 | Buy on Amazon |
How did Henry write and record “Ain’t Got No Home”?
The Museum of the Gulf Coast says Henry wrote the song after a late-night performance at the Joy Lounge in 1956. He recorded it for Chess Records with “Troubles, Troubles.” Its playful vocal shifts between Henry’s regular register, falsetto and a frog-like croak helped make the performance distinctive.
WWOZ dates the Argo Records release to 1957 and reports that the song reached No. 3 on Billboard’s national R&B chart and No. 20 on its pop chart that year. Those are chart positions, not sales figures.
How did Clarence Henry get the “Frogman” nickname?
The Guardian recounts that New Orleans DJ Poppa Stoppa played the record’s B-side. Listeners called in asking for “the song by the frog man,” and the label subsequently promoted the song nationally. The Associated Press separately reported that Henry credited Poppa Stoppa with giving him the nickname.
What did Henry record after his signature hit?
Among his later hits were “(I Don’t Know Why) But I Do,” written by Bobby Charles and arranged or produced by Allen Toussaint, and “You Always Hurt the One You Love.” The sources differ on some release and chart details, so specific chart ranks for these songs are not included here.
How did Henry’s career continue beyond the hits?
In 1964, Henry toured with Bill Black’s Combo and the Jive Five as opening acts for the Beatles on 18 dates during the Beatles’ U.S. trip. He continued playing New Orleans clubs and retired from the Bourbon Street circuit in 1981.
He remained a familiar presence at the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival. WWOZ says he performed there nearly every year from its 1970 inception, last appearing in 2023; he had been scheduled to perform at the 2024 festival.
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What was known about Henry’s death?
The Associated Press reported that the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Foundation announced Henry’s death on April 7, 2024, at age 87, without providing a cause. A later Legacy obituary attributed his death to complications from surgery, but that cause was not independently confirmed in the reporting cited here.
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