The Beatles’ historic 1964 U.S. tour stretched from Los Angeles, California, to Boston, Massachusetts, spreading the blazing wildfire that was the Beatlemania phenomena in the mid-1960s, and the opening acts on the Beatles’ tour, though varied in their style and personal success, had one thing in common: they had to perform through near-constant heckling and shouting for the Beatles by crazed fans.
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But we can’t help but imagine that one extraordinary opening act probably made those frenzied shrieks and hollering die down, if only for a moment—long enough for the audience to be sure of what they were hearing come out of this singularly unique singer.
The Strange Opening Act From the Beatles’ 1964 U.S. Tour
Opening acts for the Beatles’ 1964 tour of the United States and Canada generally had at least one high-charting hit to their name, helping ensure fans would be in the seats (if the Beatlemania wasn’t a good enough certainty, that is). Supporting act genres generally stayed in the rock and pop realm, serving as a pleasant complement to the Beatles’ early teenybopper rock ‘n’ roll. But one opening act stands alone, thanks to his ultra-distinct vocal time: Clarence “Frogman” Henry.
Although a beloved name in the rhythm and blues world, if you didn’t readily recognize Frogman, we wouldn’t blame you. But one listen to his croaking hits like “Ain’t Got No Home” from 1956 and “(I Don’t Know Why) But I Do” from 1961, and you’ll never forget his unique sound. Indeed, Frogman’s nickname was wholly appropriate, with his rumbling bass voice sounding exactly like a bullfrog took over the microphone.
Frogman performed with the Beatles on 18 shows of the band’s 32-night run. While he never achieved the same sort of chart success beyond the 1960s, the memorable rhythm and blues musician enjoyed a prolific career performing in his native New Orleans’ Bourbon Street strip.
A Shared Challenge Amongst The Lucky Supporting Musicians
With every stop on their iconic 1964 North American tour, the Beatles ascended one more rung of the ladder of celebrity, leaving the U.S. and Canada sick with Beatlemania. To be an opening act for this monumental run was no small accomplishment for musicians of the time. But Beatles fans certainly made them work for their props. The Righteous Brothers’ Bill Medley once told Billboard that opening for the Beatles was less enjoyable than opening for the Rolling Stones because of the fans’ ceaseless screaming for the Fab Four.
Jackie DeShannon, another pop opening act on the Beatles’ U.S. tour, didn’t let the shouting bother her. “The thing I was grateful for was that I had a chance to get out there and do my thing in front of that many people,” she said in an interview with ClassicBands.com. “I expected [the shouting]. It was not something I was surprised at. It was not a surprise to me. I think some of the acts were put off. A couple of ‘em were pretty unhappy because they would be booing and screaming all through the numbers. But it didn’t bother me at all. I just plowed ahead.”
And in Clarence “Frogman” Henry’s case, he just croaked ahead.
Photo by Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images
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