Clarence “Frogman” Henry Honored with Lifetime Achievement Award
By Kirk Lang
New Orleans-based R&B singer Clarence “Frogman” Henry was honored with an EarlyRnB.com Lifetime Achievement Award on May 25, 2023.
“I appreciate it,” said Henry, who first gained fame with the 1956 release of “Aint Got No Home,” a song in which Henry sings in his voice, as a woman using a high falsetto, and thirdly, as a frog.
Henry attained further chart success in the early 1960s with “(I Don’t Know Why) But I Do” and “You Always Hurt the One You Love.”
He said his latest honor is “going to be on the wall with all the pictures,” in a room that includes other awards and photos with, among others, the Beatles, singer-pianist Charles Brown and Fats Domino.
“I love it,” he said, noting that he will put it on display in both the upstairs and downstairs areas of his Algiers neighborhood home, as EarlyRnB.com sent him two copies.
Queried as to when he was last given an award, Henry couldn’t recall but said, “I got a bunch of them. I’ve got one from (broadcast legend) Dick Clark. I received one in England. I’ve got so many.”
Frogman has fond memories from his career, from meeting his idol, Fats Domino, when he was 19 years old, to touring with the Beatles on their east coast tour in 1964. He also loved meeting Etta James and doing a gig with the legendary Tina Turner, who died earlier this month.
Nowadays, Henry’s life is a calmer one. No longer taking planes across the country and overseas, he spends most of his time at home, with the air conditioning on, as temperatures in New Orleans this time of year tend to hit 90 degrees and higher. If he’s in front of the television, he’s often watching Steve Harvey or old western-themed shows, such as Wagon Train and Tales of Wells Fargo. If the weather isn’t bad, Henry will sit on his back porch and listen to the radio.
At 86 years young, he is still technically an active performer, though he only does one gig a year, albeit a big one, the New Orleans Jazz & heritage Festival.
NEW ORLEANS, LA – MAY 5: Clarence “Frogman” Henry performs during the 2013 New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Music Festival at Fair Grounds Race Course on May 5, 2013 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Tyler Kaufman/FilmMagic)
“I just performed there,” said Henry, referring to the May 1 event. “It was great.”
