Woody Rock (born James Green on September 10, 1976 in Baltimore, Maryland) is an African-American singer and musician. Woody is best known as one of the founding members of multi-platinum R&B act Dru Hill, a group for which he has written and sung lead on songs such as "5 Steps", "April Showers", and "Angel". He has also recorded his own solo gospel album, Soul Music, for Kirk Franklin's Gospocentric Records. His nickname was derived from his father saying he resembled the Woody Woodpecker cartoon character.
Early life
Raised in a Christian family, Woody was forbidden to listen to anything except gospel, and had to listen to R&B music in secret. He met future Dru Hill bandmate Mark "Sisqó" Andrews in middle school, and in 1992, he, Sisqó, Larry "Jazz" Anthony, and Tamir "Nokio" Ruffin founded the group and began performing around the Baltimore area.
Musical career
Dru Hill
Originally a gospel group, Dru Hill soon moved into R&B, at the chagrin of Woody's mother, Joan Green, who promptly and literally pulled the 15-year-old out of the group. Only in reluctance did Joan Green allow Woody to rejoin the group, which was signed to Island Records in 1996.
Woody served as the group's primary songwriter during its early days, and has always been as the group's most religious member. While Dru Hill enjoyed mainstream success during the late-1990s, Woody felt uneasy about leaving gospel music behind. After the group had to dodge gunshots while on tour in Paris, France, Woody felt convinced that he needed to leave the group, and quit on the set of the music video shoot for "Wild Wild West", a Will Smith song which featured Dru Hill as guest vocalists.
Solo career
Dru Hill tried to continue as a trio, but decided that they needed Woody back in the group. Newly reorganized Island Def Jam Records set up the "Dru World Order" project, allowing each member to record a solo album before the next Dru Hill album was recorded in November 2000. Woody recorded his debut solo album, Soul Music, but its release was continually delayed by Def Jam/ Def Soul, because of the success of Sisqó's Unleash the Dragon album and its singles.
Woody got a release from Def Jam for his solo deal, and issued Soul Music on Kirk Franklin's Gospocentric Records in May 2002. The album was moderately successful within the gospel scene, reaching #5 on the gospel charts. Soul Music was dedicated to the memory of Woody's mother, who died of liver disease the year before, and features Woody's cover version of her favorite gospel song, "I Won't Complain".
Re-joining Dru Hill
After the release of Soul Music, Woody returned to Def Soul and re-joined Dru Hill for the Dru World Order LP. That album's "My Angel" is a dedication to his mother, and precedes "How Could You," a gospel song.
More recently, Woody contributed vocals to DJ Blaqstarr's Supastarr EP, released through DJ/producer Diplo's Mad Decent label. He and fellow Dru Hill members Larry "Jazz" Anthony and Scola have formed a side group called 3 Da Hardway and are touring oversees in Germany. Jazz however wanted to only focus on Dru Hill and his younger brother Marcus Anthony aka G-Man took his place.
Leaving Dru Hill for the second time
In early 2008, the original quartet version of Dru Hill began touring alongside fellow 1990s R&B acts Tony! Toni! Toné!, Bell Biv Devoe, and their former producer Keith Sweat. On March 6, the group appeared on WERQ, a Baltimore radio station, to promote their reunion. In the midst of their interview, however, Woody announced he was quitting the group again to dedicate himself to his gospel ministry. A YouTube video shows Sisqó walking out on the interview as a result, and Woody, Nokio, and Jazz fighting, although the authenticity of the conflict has been called into question.[1][2]. Woody's place in Dru Hill has been taken by Annapolis, Maryland native Tao.
Discography
with Dru Hill
Solo
Albums
- 2002: Soul Music
- 2009: Let's Talk...The Prayer
Singles
- 2000: "My Homie" (featuring Dru Hill)
- 2002: "A New Thing" (featuring Natalie Wilson & the S.O.P. Chorale)
References
