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Brenton Wood

Brenton Wood
1967 promo image of Wood for "The Oogum Boogum Song"
1967 promo image of Wood for "The Oogum Boogum Song"
Background information
Birth nameAlfred Jesse Smith
Born(1941-07-26)July 26, 1941
Shreveport, Louisiana, U.S.
OriginSan Pedro, California, U.S.
DiedJanuary 3, 2025(2025-01-03) (aged 83)
Moreno Valley, California, U.S.
Genres
OccupationSinger-songwriter
Instruments
  • Vocals
  • keyboards
Years active1963–2024

Alfred Jesse Smith (July 26, 1941 – January 3, 2025), known professionally as Brenton Wood, was an American singer and songwriter. Three 1967 singles of Wood's, "The Oogum Boogum Song" (peaking at No. 34 on the US Billboard Hot 100), "Gimme Little Sign" (reached No. 9), and "Baby You Got It" (also peaking at No. 34) were hits.

Early life and education

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Alfred Jesse Smith was born in Shreveport in northwest Louisiana on July 26, 1941.[1][2] The family moved to San Pedro in Los Angeles when Smith was a child. He attended San Pedro High School for part of his first year of high school and then moved to Compton, where he became a member of the Compton High School track team and received several awards for his athletic achievements.[citation needed]

After graduating, Smith enrolled in East Los Angeles College. Soon after, he took the stage name of Brenton Wood, possibly inspired by the Brentwood neighborhood of Los Angeles.[1] He was influenced by Jesse Belvin's and Sam Cooke's music. He began writing while also becoming a pianist.[2]

Career

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1960s

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Wood's novelty song "The Oogum Boogum Song"[1] was released on Double Shot Records, and reached No. 19 on the US Billboard R&B chart and No. 34 on the Billboard Hot 100 in the spring of 1967. Wood's biggest hit came a few months later, as "Gimme Little Sign" hit No. 9 on the pop chart,[1] No. 19 on the R&B charts and No. 8 in the UK Singles Chart.[3] The record sold over one million copies and was awarded a gold disc.[2] Wood's "Baby You Got It" (1967)[1] peaked at No. 34 on the Hot 100 during the last week of 1967. His backing band during the 1960s was the LA-based Kent and The Candidates, which was led by drummer Kent Sprague.[4][5] They also recorded several singles for the Double Shot label.[6][7]

1970s

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In 1972, Wood formed his own record label and released, co-produced and co-wrote the track "Sticky Boom Boom [Too Cold] Part I and II" with collaborators George Semper (co-producer, arranger) and Al McKay (co-writer, performer) of Earth, Wind & Fire fame.[8] Wood also recorded a duet with Shirley Goodman.[1]

Wood recorded the single "Rainin' Love (You Gotta Feel It)" which was released on Midget M-101 in 1975. Along with "Bump Me Baby" by Dooley Silverspoon, "The Mighty Clouds of Joy" by Mighty Clouds of Joy, "Come on Down (Get Your Head Out of the Clouds)" by Greg Perry, and others, "Rainin' Love (You Gotta Feel It)" was listed by Cash Box magazine as a Newcomer Pick and the magazine positively reviewed the song, predicting it would cause a stir.[9] Wood's next song on the charts was "Come Softly to Me" in 1977.[1]

1980s and beyond

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Wood returned in 1986 with the album Out of the Woodwork,[10] which included contemporary re-recordings of his early hits, along with several new tracks, including the single, "Soothe Me".[11] His album This Love Is for Real was released in 2001. Among his later appearances was in 2006 on the Los Angeles public access program Thee Mr. Duran Show, where Wood and his band performed several of his hit singles.[12]

In 2014, he partnered with William Pilgrim & The All Grows Up for a remake of the song "Gimme Little Sign" on their album, Epic Endings.[13] In 2024, Wood announced his farewell tour Catch You On The Rebound: The Last Tour.[citation needed] He was hospitalized in May 2024, pausing his farewell tour. He died at his home in Moreno Valley, California, on January 3, 2025, at the age of 83.[14]

Discography

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Albums

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Studio
Compilations

Singles

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Filmography

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See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b c d e f g Colin Larkin, ed. (1993). The Guinness Who's Who of Soul Music (First ed.). Guinness Publishing. p. 310. ISBN 0-85112-733-9.
  2. ^ a b c Murrells, Joseph (1978). The Book of Golden Discs (2nd ed.). London: Barrie and Jenkins Ltd. p. 233. ISBN 0-214-20512-6.
  3. ^ a b Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 610. ISBN 1-904994-10-5.
  4. ^ FYI Music News, Nov 06, 2015 – The Colour of Music on the Bandstand by Bill King
  5. ^ Riot on Sunset Strip: Rock'n'roll's Last Stand in Hollywood by Domenic Priore, ISBN 9781906002046 – [1]
  6. ^ 45Cat - Kent and the Candidates – Discography, USA
  7. ^ Music Metason - ArtistInfo, Kent & The Candidates
  8. ^ "Brenton Wood – Sticky Boom Boom Too Cold". Discogs. 1972. Retrieved April 12, 2017.
  9. ^ Cash Box, February 1, 1975 - Page 22 cash box | "singles reviews, newcomer picks, BRENTON WOOD (Midget M-101)
  10. ^ "Brenton Wood – Out Of The Woodwork (Vinyl, LP, Album)". Discogs.com. 1986. Retrieved August 19, 2015.
  11. ^ "Brenton Wood – Soothe Me / $Cold Cash$ (Vinyl)". Discogs.com. 1986. Retrieved August 19, 2015.
  12. ^ "Thee Mr. Duran Show – Videos – Brenton Wood". Mrduran.com. June 7, 2006. Retrieved August 19, 2015.
  13. ^ "William Pilgrim & The All Grows Up | The Junction of Americana & 60's Soul". Williampilgrim.com. Retrieved August 19, 2015.
  14. ^ "'Oogum Boogum' Singer Brenton Wood Dead at 83". TMZ. January 3, 2025. Retrieved January 3, 2025.
  15. ^ a b Stephen Thomas Erlewine (July 26, 1941). "Brenton Wood | Awards". AllMusic. Retrieved August 19, 2015.
  16. ^ "Popdown (1967)". IMDb.com. Retrieved August 19, 2015.
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