NEW ORLEANS — KQKI is sad to announce the passing of New Orleans musician Clarence “Frogman” Henry. His family confirmed to WWL-TV. The singer of “Ain’t Got No Home” was 87.
The family announced the passing of Henry on Sunday night. “Frogman” was surrounded by his family.
Clarence Henry was born in New Orleans in 1937 and moved to the Algiers neighborhood in 1948. Henry started learning piano as a child, with Fats Domino and Professor Longhair. When Henry played in talent shows, he liked to dress like Longhair and wear a wig with braids on both sides. In 1952, Henry joined Bobby Mitchell and the Toppers, playing piano and trombone, before leaving when he graduated in 1955 to join saxophonist Eddie Smith’s band.
He used his trademark croak to improvise the song “Ain’t Got No Home” one night in 1955. It was in 1956 Paul Gayten of Chess Records heard the song, and had Henry record it. The song was initially promoted by local DJ Poppa Stoppa, and the song eventually rose to number 3 on the national R & B chart and number 20 on the US pop chart. The gimmick earned Henry his nickname of ‘Frogman’.