R&B Singer Clarence ‘Frogman’ Henry Dies at 87 After Surgery

Clarence “Frogman” Henry, a New Orleans R&B singer best known for his hit 1956 single “Ain’t Got No Home,” has died. He was 87.

Henry passed away on Sunday, April 7, from complications following back surgery, one of his daughters told Nola.com.

A New Orleans native, Henry was born on March 19, 1937. He played piano and trombone as a child, according to his biography on the Museum of the Gulf Coast website.

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He scored his first hit and found instant fame at age 19 with “Ain’t Got No Home.”

“My first big break was when I went to the Apollo Theater,” Henry told New Orleans news station WGNO.

He imitated the sound of a frog croaking on “Ain’t Got No Home” and became known as “Frogman.” The song reached the top 20 on the Billboard pop chart.

He had another successful single with “(I Don’t Know Why) But I Do” in 1961.

Henry wrote the song with fellow Louisiana musician Bobby Charles and it was arranged by Allen Toussaint. The single was featured on the soundtrack for the Oscar-winning 1994 film Forrest Gump and the soundtrack for the 1999 romantic comedy, Mickey Blue Eyes.

In 1964, Henry performed with the Beatles on their North American tour, but he primarily focused on playing the club scene in his hometown.

He was a fixture on the New Orleans music scene and retired in 1981, although he made annual appearances at the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival. He was scheduled to perform in the festival later this month.

Henry was inducted into the Louisiana Music Hall of Fame in 2007.

Watch a news report on Clarence “Frogman” Henry below.