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Influential D.C. Drummer Woody Woodson Wants a New Leg for a Chance to Play Again
NBC Washin ^ | Saturday, Aug 2, 2014 | Mark Segraves

Posted on 08/02/2014 7:20:01 PM PDT by nickcarraway

A native Washingtonian who played drums for some of the greatest singers in history needs a prosthetic leg to play the way he used to play.

Woody Woodson lives in the same Northeast home he’s been in for more than 50 years, most of which he spent playing for artists like the Temptations, the Four Tops, the Supremes and Steve Wonder. He spent years on the road with Wilson Pickett, Otis Redding and Marvin Gaye. One of the biggest hits he collaborated on was the Isley Brothers’ “It’s Your Thing.”

Grammy-winning musician Steve Jordan, who plays for Eric Clapton and Keith Richards, says Woodson’s drumming on that song inspired him.

“He’s one of the greatest of all time and a deep influence on me,” Jordan said. That was before Woodson lost one of his legs to diabetes.

He’s able to get himself around his two-story home, but it’s not easy. Unable to work for years, Woodson gets by on the few royalty checks he does get but says he gets nothing from his work on two of Redding’s biggest records.

“I recorded with Otis and got two albums at the Whisky a Go Go,” he said. “I should get some money somewhere.”

Without a decent prosthetic leg, Woodson is unable to play the drums like he once did. Friends like Jordan are trying to help.

“He is a guy that nobody knows about,” Jordan said. “And he is just super bad. He’s totally incredible. Anyway, he needs a leg.”

What Woodson really wants is just to play.

“I want to do this,” he said. “It would tickle me to death to not play a gig, but just to be able to play a couple of songs. If I play a couple of songs, ain’t no telling, man.”


TOPICS: Health/Medicine; Music/Entertainment
KEYWORDS: 60s; diabetes; drums; music
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1 posted on 08/02/2014 7:20:01 PM PDT by nickcarraway
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To: nickcarraway

Def Leppard had a one armed drummer.


2 posted on 08/02/2014 7:21:22 PM PDT by cripplecreek (Remember the River Raisin.)
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To: nickcarraway
i'd think drumming with one leg is easier than drumming with one arm...

3 posted on 08/02/2014 7:23:51 PM PDT by Chode (Stand UP and Be Counted, or line up and be numbered - *DTOM* -vvv- NO Pity for the LAZY - 86-44)
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To: nickcarraway

It’s very sad that this man doesn’t have any friends who can or will help him.


4 posted on 08/02/2014 7:32:33 PM PDT by Tax-chick (No power in the 'verse can stop me.)
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To: nickcarraway

so get a leg


5 posted on 08/02/2014 7:32:49 PM PDT by yldstrk ( My heroes have always been cowboys)
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To: cripplecreek

Indeed, they did! I used to live in Sheffield, UK. Eh, up, love!


6 posted on 08/02/2014 7:33:46 PM PDT by RushIsMyTeddyBear (Illegals Are Getting Flat Screet TV's....NOT TB Screenings!)
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To: RushIsMyTeddyBear

I wish I had learned to play harmonica.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hBP15lRprPs

Heard this one on the opening scene of the Hancock movie last night.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2gdvgjLvi6c

Dating myself.


7 posted on 08/02/2014 7:42:11 PM PDT by cripplecreek (Remember the River Raisin.)
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To: cripplecreek

Rock on! :)


8 posted on 08/02/2014 7:45:21 PM PDT by RushIsMyTeddyBear (Illegals Are Getting Flat Screet TV's....NOT TB Screenings!)
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To: RushIsMyTeddyBear

Woody Woodson needs a wooden leg. Alliteration on a roll.


9 posted on 08/02/2014 7:49:16 PM PDT by flaglady47 (The useful idiots always go first)
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To: cripplecreek

Saw ol’ Joe Cocker there, too.


10 posted on 08/02/2014 7:49:59 PM PDT by RushIsMyTeddyBear (Illegals Are Getting Flat Screet TV's....NOT TB Screenings!)
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To: Tax-chick
It’s very sad that this man doesn’t have any friends who can or will help him.

It's very sad that there aren't any elitist entertainers who would help one of their own, but they usually only want to contribute their talent to a cause, not their money.

11 posted on 08/02/2014 8:00:04 PM PDT by Mastador1 (I'll take a bad dog over a good politician any day!)
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To: Mastador1
It's very sad that there aren't any elitist entertainers who would help one of their own ...

That's the point I was making. We're talking about ... what ... tens of thousands for a really good prosthesis and therapy, and maybe another twenty thousand or so to make his house amputee-friendly. Chicken feed to the music industry's big winners.

12 posted on 08/02/2014 8:04:38 PM PDT by Tax-chick (No power in the 'verse can stop me.)
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To: nickcarraway

Maybe, some chicken soup. Couldn’t hurt. Maybe, some of the veterans, he has railed against, could help him?


13 posted on 08/02/2014 8:19:44 PM PDT by RedHeeler
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To: nickcarraway

Doesn’t have a leg to stand on....


14 posted on 08/02/2014 8:22:25 PM PDT by Vendome (Don't take life so seriously-you won't live through it anyway-Enjoy Yourself ala Louis Prima)
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To: nickcarraway

Maybe he’ll finally get wood...


15 posted on 08/02/2014 8:22:49 PM PDT by Vendome (Don't take life so seriously-you won't live through it anyway-Enjoy Yourself ala Louis Prima)
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To: nickcarraway

Pegged it!


16 posted on 08/02/2014 8:23:06 PM PDT by Vendome (Don't take life so seriously-you won't live through it anyway-Enjoy Yourself ala Louis Prima)
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To: nickcarraway

Skippy. ..


17 posted on 08/02/2014 8:23:23 PM PDT by Vendome (Don't take life so seriously-you won't live through it anyway-Enjoy Yourself ala Louis Prima)
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To: cripplecreek

If I had a hammer........

Whatever dude. It ain’t like you’re Buddy Rich


18 posted on 08/02/2014 8:28:23 PM PDT by logitech (It is time.)
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To: Vendome

IHOP cook.


19 posted on 08/02/2014 8:36:54 PM PDT by tumblindice (America's founding fathers: all armed conservatives.)
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To: tumblindice

Probably dated that hottie Irene.

Woman had a prosthetic eyeball and she asked him if he’d like to fool around.

“Wood eye? Wood Eye? Oh, wood eye” he was overhead saying...


20 posted on 08/02/2014 8:51:24 PM PDT by Vendome (Don't take life so seriously-you won't live through it anyway-Enjoy Yourself ala Louis Prima)
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