Clarence "Frogman" Henry

It was a long night evolving into an early morning at the popular nightclub on Huey P. Long Avenue in Gretna and Clarence Henry was getting tired. Besides, he was still a student at L.B. Landry High School on the West Bank and he needed to get home.

But, he recalled in an interview with the Times-Picayune years later, the crowd would not leave. "I was actually too young to be performing in that place, much less so early in the morning," he recalled. "They just kept dancing and partying and asking for more and more. I gave them every song I knew."

"I just looked out at one point, about 2:00 a.m. or so, and wondered to myself why all these people were still here and why they just don't go home so I could go home and get some sleep," Henry said.

Out of that experience came the Henry classic, "Ain't Got No Home," considered one of the historic milestones in the evolution of New Orleans Rhythm and Blues into American Rock and Roll.

A short time later he recorded at Cosimo Matassa's legendary French Quarter studio, the song that has become his worldwide trademark. Not only a classic catchy novelty item, it showcased Henry's remarkable vocal range and quickly earned him the nickname "Frogman," the name by which he is known and revered around the globe.

Born in New Orleans in 1937, Henry has musically traveled and conquered the world, but still calls New Orleans home, living for years on the West Bank of the Mississippi River.

The trademark song and a 1955 recording effort, Lonely Tramp," also self penned, quickly propelled Henry into the national spotlight and an appearance at the Apollo Theater in New York in 1957.

It was a rapid rise from a high schooler who had tested his vocal chops a few months before the initial 1955 recording, when he stepped away from playing trombone to handle some vocal chores at a Landry school dance, filling in for the equally legendary and late Bobby Mitchell. Mitchell, Henry and other high school chums had formed a high school band, "The Toppers," which began with Henry in the horn section before doing vocals for an ailing Mitchell. It wasn't long before the two buddies were taking the Algiers ferry together across the river to make records at Matassa's studio.

After the Apollo appearance, Henry, like so many singers of the time, joined many of the various traveling musical caravans and his records quickly made their way to England, where a group of "youngsters" began listening to them and emulating the sounds of American rock and roll.

He scored huge national hits in 1961 with "I Don't Know Why," still one of his most requested songs around the world, and "You Always Hurt The One You Love." The smash success of "I Don't Know Why" and "Ain't Got No Home" landed Henry a spot on the nationally televised "American Bandstand" show hosted by Dick Clark.

By 1964 a group of those British youngsters made an historic debut at Shea Stadium in New York. They called themselves "The Beatles" and had a hit "I Wanna Hold Your Hand." They invited one of their U.S. musical heroes, "Frogman" Henry, to open the Shea Stadium show. He went on to open 18 more Beatles' shows in the U.S. and around the world.

"Being on the same stage and performing with The Beatles was the highlight of my life and career," Henry said. "They were all so gracious and kind. I loved them all, but there was a special bond between Paul and me; he was a soul brother."

Henry still tours, plays private events and is a much beloved regular each year at the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival.

Henry was inducted into the Louisiana Music Hall of Fame in 1995 and received the Living Legend Award in 2002. He has also received the New Orleans Big Easy Entertainment award and the Armstrong Cultural Ambassador to New Orleans award. His portrait is on display at the airport over door seven, what a great welcome to the Big Easy.

His trademark song still sells and has sold millions over the years around the world. Henry had a gold and platinum with his recording of "But I Do."

"Ain't Got No Home" took on a somewhat strange new life in the past few years with nationally syndicated radio talk show host Rush Limbaugh, who began playing it every day as a theme to a segment of his show dealing with the homeless Americans.

Henry said he receives e-mails daily from fans around the world and his guest book online has reached over 2,000 pages thus far.

His music has been featured in numerous movie soundtracks including the hugely popular "Forrest Gump" and that soundtrack alone has sold over eight million copies worldwide. His recorded work is heard in the movies "Diner," "Lost Boys," "Casino," "Raised In Harlem" and "Mickey Blue Eyes." During the filming of "Forrest Gump," he spent time in California on the movie set.

On January 25, 2003, Henry was inducted into the Museum of the Gulf Coast Music Hall of Fame in Port Arthur, Texas.

On February 7, 2003, Henry made an appearance at the Newberry Opera House, South Carolina performing before a sold out crowd and receiving a standing ovation. His performance was excellent and everyone loved him, as well they should. He truly is Louisiana's own Living Legend.

Clarence "Frogman" Henry, whose "Ain't Got No Home" is one of most enduring anthems from the golden age of New Orleans rhythm and blues, received the WWOZ-FM Living Legend award in February of 2003 while in South Carolina on tour.

On February 20, 2003, he was awarded the Pioneer Award from the Rhythm and Blues Foundation in New York.

He appeared at the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival in New Orleans on April 26, 2003. On April 28, 2003 Henry appeared at the "Ponderosa Stomp" - Rock-N-Bowl in New Orleans.

Clarence "Frogman" Henry was inducted into the Westbank Music Hall of Fame on October 26, 2003 and has performed at the following locations:

• November 1, 2003 - Cavalcade of Stars in Jackson, Tenn.
• November 14, 2003 - Harrah's Outdoor Tailgate Concert in New Orleans
• December 23, 2003 - Louisiana Legends at Christmas 2003 at the Radisson Hotel in New Orleans
• December 27, 2003 - Mardi Gras Den-Christmas Party in New Orleans
• January 4, 2004 - Harrah's Outdoor Tailgate Concert in New Orleans

Henry has had the honor and pleasure of entertaining President George Bush, Sr. as well as touring and performing on stage with Tina Turner, Dr. John, Professor Long Hair, Jerry Butler, James Brown, Little Richard, Bonnie Raitt and many other outstanding artists.

Visit Frogman's official homepage at www.neworleansfrogman.com