Singer in 'Woody Woodpecker' song dies

(Los Angeles-AP) -- His name may not be too familiar -- but perhaps you know his laugh. <br><br>The man who did the Woody Woodpecker laugh on a big-band recording in the 1940s is dead. Harry Babbitt --

Friday, April 23rd 2004, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

(Los Angeles-AP) -- His name may not be too familiar -- but perhaps you know his laugh.

The man who did the Woody Woodpecker laugh on a big-band recording in the 1940s is dead. Harry Babbitt -- who sang with the Kay Kyser band -- died this month at a California nursing home at the age of 90.

He didn't do the Woody voice in the cartoon itself. That was done by Mel Blanc -- and later by Gracie Lantz, the wife of animator Walter Lantz.

Babbitt had a high voice that later was used on a version of the song, "All I Want For Christmas Is My Two Front Teeth." Babbitt included a lisp on that one.

Babbitt was known as "Handsome Harry" by Kyser. Among the big band's hits -- "The White Cliffs of Dover."