Henri Woode was a composer, lyricist, arranger, and singer active during the swing era, best known for co-writing the jazz standard Broadway with Teddy McRae. Born William Henri Woode in Omaha, Nebraska, in 1909, he worked as an arranger for several of the leading big bands of the 1930s and 1940s. His arrangements for Earl Hines's orchestra included Sensational Mood and a version of Rosetta, which Woode claimed to have authored despite its label credit to Hines. He also provided freelance arrangements for Benny Goodman, including Goody Goody, a hit in 1936. Broadway, composed for the Count Basie Orchestra and popularized through their 1941 recording, became a frequently performed standard known for its riff-driven energy and swinging ensemble passages. Woode's other compositions include A Night at the Vanguard, Sweet Slumber, and You Taught Me to Love Again. His writing and arranging contributed to the big band sound that defined the swing era, bridging original composition with the craft of tailoring charts for specific ensembles.
