Harry M. Woods
| Harry M. Woods | |
|---|---|
| Birth name | Henry MacGregor Woods |
| Born | November 4, 1896 |
| Origin | North Chelmsford, Massachusetts, U.S.A. |
| Died | January 14, 1970 (aged 73) Glendale, Arizona , U.S.A. |
| Occupation(s) | Songwriter |
Henry MacGregor "Harry" Woods (November 4, 1896 – January 14, 1970) was a Tin Pan Alley songwriter and pianist.
Woods was born in North Chelmsford, Massachusetts. Despite the fact that he was born with no fingers on his left hand, Woods' mother, a concert singer, encouraged him to play the piano. Woods earned his Bachelor's degree at Harvard University, supporting himself by singing in church choirs and giving piano recitals. After graduation, he settled in Cape Cod and began life as a farmer. He was drafted into the Army during World War I; it was there that he began cultivating his talent for songwriting. After his discharge, Woods settled in New York City and began his successful career as a songwriter.
Woods' first songwriting success came in 1923 with the song "I'm Goin' South", written with Abner Silver, and a hit song in 1924 for Al Jolson. The same year, "Paddlin' Madelin Home" was published with words & music by Woods.
By 1926, Woods was an established songwriter on Tin Pan Alley, and would become legendary with his new song, "When the Red, Red Robin (Comes Bob, Bob, Bobbin' Along)". The song was an instant hit for singers such as "Whispering" Jack Smith and Cliff Edwards. It was Al Jolson though who had the most success with his recording of the song. The song was recorded in 1953 by Doris Day, and again achieved considerable success on the charts.
In 1929, Woods began contributing songs to Hollywood musicals such as The Vagabond Lover, A Lady's Morals, Artistic Temper, Aunt Sally, Twentieth Century, Road House, Limelight, It's Love Again, Merry Go Round of 1938, and She's For Me. In 1934, he moved to London, where he lived for three years and worked for the British film studio Gaumont British, contributing to the films Jack Ahoy and Evergreen .
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