Henry MacGregor Woods (November 4, 1896 - January 14, 1970) was a Tin Pan Alley songwriter and pianist. Woods is sometimes credited as Harry Woods.
Woods was born in North Chelmsford, Massachusetts. He had no fingers on his left hand since birth. Nonetheless, Woods' mother, a concert singer, encouraged him to play the piano. Woods got his bachelor's degree at Harvard University, where he supported himself by singing in church choirs and giving pi...
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Henry MacGregor Woods (November 4, 1896 - January 14, 1970) was a Tin Pan Alley songwriter and pianist. Woods is sometimes credited as Harry Woods.
Woods was born in North Chelmsford, Massachusetts. He had no fingers on his left hand since birth. Nonetheless, Woods' mother, a concert singer, encouraged him to play the piano. Woods got his bachelor's degree at Harvard University, where he supported himself by singing in church choirs and giving piano recitals. After graduation, Woods 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 #2 hit song in 1924 for Al Jolson. The same year, "Paddlin' Madeleine Home" was published with words & music by Woods (a recording by...
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