harry woods

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Born in North Chelmsford, Massachusetts, Woods' mother, a concert singer, encouraged him to play the piano, in spite of being born with no fingers on his left hand. His musical training would help when he attended Harvard University and supported himself there by singing in church choirs and giving piano recitals. After graduation, Woods settled on Cape Cod and began life as a farmer. He began cultivating his talent for songwriting while in the Army during World War I. After his discharge, Woods settled in New York 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 #2 hit song in 1924 for Al Jolson. The same year, "Paddlin' Madeleine Home" was published with words & music by Woods (a recording by Cliff Edwards in 1925 would reach #3 on the Billboard chart). By 1926, Woods had become an established songwriter on Tin Pan Alley, and he 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 like Paul Whiteman, "Whispering" Jack Smith, Cliff Edwards and the Ipana Troubadors. Al Jolson, however, had the most success with his recording, which reached #1 on the Billboard charts. The song was recreated in 1953 by Doris Day, and again reached considerable success on the charts. In 1929, Woods began contributing songs to Hollywood musicals such as The Vagabond Lover, A Lady's Morals, Artisti

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