Woodrow Charles Herman (May 16, 1913 – October 29, 1987) was an American jazz clarinetist, saxophonist, singer, and big band leader.

His bands often played music that was cutting edge and experimental; their recordings received numerous Grammy nominations.

[5] As a child, Woody Herman worked as a singer and tap-dancer in vaudeville, then started to play the clarinet and saxophone by age 12.

[8] Woody Herman joined the Tom Gerun band and his first recorded vocals were "Lonesome Me" and "My Heart's at Ease".

Herman saw the chance to lead his former band[12] and eventually acquired the remains of the orchestra after Jones' retirement.

[16] "The Golden Wedding" (1941), arranged by James "Jiggs" Noble, featured an extended (34 bars) drum solo by Frankie Carlson.

[20] Herman liked what drew many artists to Columbia, Liederkranz Hall, at the time the best recording venue in New York City.

[21] Herman's version was so successful that it made Columbia hold from release the arrangement that Harry James had recorded days earlier.

As of February 1945, the personnel included Sonny Berman, Pete Candoli, Bill Harris, Flip Phillips, Billy Bauer (later replaced by Chuck Wayne), Ralph Burns, and Davey Tough.

[27] Classical composer Igor Stravinsky wrote the Ebony Concerto, one in a series of compositions commissioned by Herman with solo clarinet, for this band in 1945.

"[30] Stravinsky observed the massive amount of smoking at the recording session: "the atmosphere looked like Pernod clouded by water.

"[33] Many critics cite December 1946 as the actual date the big-band era ended, when seven other bands, in addition to Herman's, dissolved.

[36] The other musicians of this band included Al Cohn, Gene Ammons, Lou Levy, Oscar Pettiford, Terry Gibbs, and Shelly Manne.

[38] In 1947, Herman was Emcee and also played at the third Cavalcade of Jazz concert held at Wrigley Field in Los Angeles which was produced by Leon Hefflin, Sr. on September 7, 1947.

[42] In the early and mid 1960s, Herman fronted a Herd featuring Michael Moore, drummer Jake Hanna, tenor saxophonist Sal Nistico, trombonists Phil Wilson and Henry Southall and trumpeters like Bill Chase, Paul Fontaine and Duško Gojković.

[44] In the early 1970s, he toured frequently and began to work more in jazz education, offering workshops and taking on younger sidemen.

Instead, it takes the listener back to the relaxed style of Herman's first band of the thirties that recorded for Decca.

[52] Herman continued to perform into the 1980s, after the death of his wife and with his health in decline, chiefly to pay back taxes that were owed because of his business manager's bookkeeping in the 1960s.

In a December 5, 1985, review of the band at the Blue Note jazz club for The New York Times, John S. Wilson pointed out: "In a one-hour set, Mr. Herman is able to show off his latest batch of young stars—the baritone saxophonist Mike Brignola, the bassist Bill Moring, the pianist Brad Williams, the trumpeter Ron Stout—and to remind listeners that one of his own basic charms is the dry humor with which he shouts the blues."

[54] Before Woody Herman died in 1987 he delegated most of his duties to leader of the reed section, Frank Tiberi.

[57] Herman died on October 29, 1987,[58] and had a Catholic funeral on November 2 at St. Victor's in West Hollywood, California.