Clarence 'Frogman' Henry(1937-2024)

R&B singer/piano player Clarence "Frogman" Henry was born in Algiers, LA--a suburb of New Orleans--in 1937. He grew up in the New Orleans blues/R&B scene, and in his late teens moved to New Orleans to get into the music business. He got work as a musician and singer, and eventually joined up with the Bobby Mitchell Band. He stayed with them for a short period, then left and began his own group. In 1956 he was signed by Argo Records, a subsidiary of the legendary Chess Records, and soon hit it big with the single "Ain't Got No Home", which landed in the R&B and pop Top-10 charts. Now a hit singer, he parlayed that over the next four years into a constant stream of touring with R&B and rock shows, and making the rounds of New Orleans-area nightclubs. In 1961 he had another hit with "You Always Hurt the One You Love" and yet another with "I Don't Know Why (But I Do)", both on Argo. He was soon touring the country again and making appearances on a string of TV variety and dance shows. When The Beatles made their US tour in 1964, he was their opening act, and performed the same function in 1965 for The Rolling Stones' US tour.

By late 1965, however, R&B music began to fade from popularity. Henry kept his hand in the business by touring with "oldies" shows alongside other rock and R&B bands from the '50s and '60s which, as of this writing, he's still doing.