In 1956, Clarence "Frogman" Henry had a #1 hit song with "Ain't Got No Home". In the 1990s, Rush Limbaugh used it as the theme song for his "Homeless Update".
In 1961, he had two other hits with "(I Don't Know Why) But I Do" &
"You Always Hurt the One You Love".
In 1964, he opened up for a four piece band from Liverpool, England, 18 times!
For our younger readers the name of that band was "The Beatles". Enough said. Check it out.
The time for Frogman Sr. to pass the everlasting burning New Orleans torch of down home, gut-bucket music to Frogman Jr. has officially arrived.
Clarence "Frogman" Henry JUNIOR is about to arrive on the New Orleans music scene with a point to prove. When he speaks of "Uncle Fats" (Fats Domino), his personal love of Irma Thomas, and his dad's old friend Paul (Paul McCartney), you get the feeling that he has all the right ingredients to create something that is truly musically special. His commitment to church is unwavering and the man has openly said that he will request the approval of his pastor to make sure his songs are "right with the Lord".
***This example of belief in the Word is one of the unsaid tenets that are unreported in the greatness and history of New Orleans music. ***
Here is my part in Frogman Junior's story... A life-long friend of mine, Andy Hymel, has a music school aptly named "Andy Hymel's School of Music". A Belle Chasse, LA lawyer I've never met starting probing Andy about his musicianship and songwriting ability. Apparently, the man has a loved one enrolled in Andy's school and started asking questions. He represented himself as the manager of Clarence "Frogman" Henry Jr. and said they were interested in fresh material. Andy has written several songs so it was absolutely no problem for him to grant the request via guitar and/or piano.
The representative of Frogman Jr. was impressed and set up a meeting. Andy played 3 tunes and both men were highly impressed! They requested that the songs be re-recorded twice; once with a scratch vocal track and once one no vocal track to give Frogman Jr. the opportunity to make the songs his own (as they say on American Idol). A mutually beneficial relationship is solidly forming. With regard to Andy Hymel, the wheels of professional song writing recognition are starting to spin rather quickly. Clarence "Frogman" Henry Jr. has been aligned with a songwriting monster with the knowledge and ability to take him to the upper echelon levels of Rhythm and Blues.
Having grown up loving Fats Domino, Irma Thomas, Ray Charles, Sam Cooke, Marvin Gaye, Al Jarreau, Professor Longhair, Louis Jordan, and of course the Neville Brothers, it's about damn time someone with a great voice re-embraces the greatness of soul music & rhythm and blues, and avoids the fast-food mentality of rap music. Thank the good Lord Clarence "Frogman" Henry Jr. is carrying that burden on his back!
