Harry M. Woods(1896-1970)

Harry MacGregor Woods' contributions to popular music in the early 20th century are significant and often ignored by scholars. Few composers could boast that their songs lived far beyond the age of most tunes. He could have retired from just his first few hits, but he kept composing successful songs throughout the 1920s and '30s. His compositions include Paddlin' Madelin Home, When The Red, Red, Robin Comes Bob, Bob, Bobbin' Along, I'm Looking Over a Four Leaf Clover, The Man From the South, Me Too, Side By Side, River, Stay 'Way From My Door, What a Day!, When The Moon Comes Over The Mountain (Kate Smith's radio signature), The Clouds Will Soon Roll By, Just An Echo In The Valley, Try A Little Tenderness, What A Little Moonlight Can Do, and several written for British motion pictures "Evergreen" and "It's Love Again," both starring Jessie Matthews. Most of his compositions are known as "independent" songs, not written specifically for a stage show or film. Woods lived in England for three years, during which time he wrote some hugely successful film songs such as When You've Got a Little Springtime In Your Heart, You Ought To See Sally On Sunday, Celebratin', Over My Shoulder, My Hat's On the Side of My Head, It's Love Again and I Nearly Let Love Go Slipping Through My Fingers. Although he wrote words and music to many of his songs, he also collaborated with Mort Dixon and Gus Kahn.