Franciscus Henri

Franciscus Henricus Antheunis, professionally known as Franciscus Henri is a Australian musician and children's entertainer. Henri was born on 7 August 1947 in The Hague, The Netherlands. In 1956 his family migrated to Australia. He finished his education in Australia and became a qualified secondary arts and craft teacher. In October 1969, Henri performed at the 1st Annual Festival of Gospel Music with Faye Meadows, David Meadows, Leonie Hawthorn and 3-in-1 Gospel Jazz Trio. In 1970 he gained national prominence when he competed as a folk musician on a TV talent quest, New Faces, which led to a recording contract with the Melbourne-based independent label Fable Records. He recorded a number of singles and an album for the label. He continued recording for other smaller labels. He alternates between folky singer songwriter music, sometimes with a Christian influence and children's albums In 1972 Henri toured with English poet Sydney Carter, and in 1973 he left teaching to join the Monash University Theatre company as a set designer, actor and musician and was involved in theatre until 1979. From 1979 to October 1980, Henri was a member of the original cast of Shirl's Neighbourhood, a children's television show, presenting his own segments as himself and, as an early alter-ego, Professor Henri. Around 1982 Henri started to perform children's concerts. Henri also wrote and presented a series of programs and adds for the Victorian Christian Television Association. In 1997 he started performing to children as his new character, Mister Whiskers and released his first album under his new moniker. He went into semi retirement in 2017. Franciscus is also an exhibiting painter.

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