enry Turtle has always been, to quote Christine Iley in the 'Sunday Times' a cross between 'a rumour and a chansonnier... He and his band declined to be interviewed, and looked as if they had just stepped off the cover of the Sgt Pepper album... only in shorts - and obviously without a care in the world.' He reacts to the thought of success with horror. Protects his privacy by being obscure but his loyal following enjoy his regular outbursts of music, paintings and wit. "I never wanted to sit at the top of the charts, just a good table with a view" ... "Don't blow your mind; use it!"... "Never let the truth get in the way of a good story".
Always on the periphery of so much, Yardbirds, Herd, Police whose equipment he used without their consent during the night to record 'Hound Dog Man' at Surrey Sound Studios where Police were recording their first two albums there during the daytime hours. No drink, drug or women problems! Lives wherever possible where the sun shines preferring South of France in the Baie de Pramousquier area where he plays open air concerts each Summer to sell out crowds, his music has been described as goodtime kitchen sink psychedelia.
It defies category although he says that his records and paintings serve to represent and reflect his mood at the time he was making them.He first appeared at the famous London Marquee Club (Eric Clapton got him the job) fronting the Authentics R & B group supporting first the Rolling Stones and then the Yardbirds every Friday night. Occasionally deputised for Keith Relf lead singer with the Yardbirds when asthma attacks prevented Relf from appearing. Henry looked so like him that nobody knew the difference. On one occasion at the Richmond Crawdaddy, whilst fronting The Authentics, Henry looked up from playing harmonica, to find himself nose to nose with John Lennon, who had come to the club with fellow Beatles to check out the Rolling Stones and mistook the Authentics for them. "F***ing nice" was Lennon's comment. He later commented "Lennon was so close I could smell his chewing gun and the leather of his coat". A spell fronting psycedelic band 'The Doves' came next and a self penned single 'Smokeytime Springtime/I'll Cry If You Make Me' (The latter written by Terry Clarke) was recorded for Decca but not released so he moved on to perform solo in the London Chelsea/Kensington area and a residency in Soho at Les Cousins also at Chelsea's Café des Artistes, Troubadour and Bunjies Coffee House.
Henry comes from the same area as Jeff Beck, Jimmy Page and Eric Clapton in Surrey. His solo appearances attracted Columbia Records (EMI) and Henry's first self penned single, the Ronettes-Phil Spector inspired 'Do You Believe' was issued in '72. He was then signed by Bell Records and a successful self-penned single followed. Although his first recollection of being recorded was a self composed live track 'Bin Down So Long It Looks Like Up To Me' recorded live at the Troubadour for the French Disque Bleu label. Worked at Surrey Sound Studios in Leatherhead, Surrey with Nigel and Chris Grey, Nick Smith and Mike Cobb which spurned Henry's hit 'Hound Dog Man' described as the biggest airplay hit of 1982.
Henry is presently working on a new all-original LP with the working title 'Tales from the Perfumed Garden' as a follow up to his recent albums: 'COVER SHOTS', 'Summertime on the Moon' and 'Duck!'. For further details of Henry's releases please do visit the Discography.
