Woody Woodpecker

November 25, 1940 marks the theatrical premiere of Knock Knock, the short film where Woody Woodpecker first appeared. This release is often mistaken for a musical album, but no studio record bearing that title came out on that day. The confusion likely stems from the character's massive cultural footprint and the fact that his voice was recorded for numerous soundtracks and novelty records over the decades.

Music associated with the bird spans several eras and formats. The most famous track is the 1948 hit The Woody Woodpecker Song, performed by Kay Kyser and His Orchestra. While Mel Blanc provided the manic laugh and voice for the shorts from 1940 to 1948, he did not perform the vocal version of the song. Ben Hardaway co-created the character and voiced him during the late 1940s, while Eric Bauza revived the role much later for projects like Ralph Breaks the Internet.

Throughout the 1950s and 1960s, labels such as Golden Records and Decca issued children's LPs featuring stories and songs. Titles like Woody Woodpecker March and My Little Brown Uke captured the whimsical spirit of the cartoons. Modern listeners can find these tracks on streaming platforms alongside scores from recent films like the 2024 Netflix release Woody Woodpecker Goes to Camp. [edit]