Brenton Wood
Brenton Wood (born Alfred Jesse Smith, 26 July 1941, Shreveport, Louisiana) is an American singer and songwriter, best known for his two 1967 hit singles: "The Oogum Boogum Song" and "Gimme Little Sign".
Career
When he was a child his family moved west to San Pedro in Los Angeles, California. In his high school years his family relocated to nearby Compton, where Brenton became a member of the Compton High School track team and received several awards for his athletic achievements.
Following his high school graduation, Wood enrolled in Compton College. Soon after he took the stage name Brenton Wood, possibly inspired by the wealthy Los Angeles enclave of Brentwood (some sources state that the name is in honor of his "home county"). During his period there his musical interests began to manifest themselves. He was inspired by Jesse Belvin and Sam Cooke, and he began cultivating his songwriting skills, also becoming an accomplished pianist.
After signing with Double Shot Records he had a hit with "The Oogum Boogum Song" in the spring of 1967. It reached number 19 on the Billboard R&B chart and number 34 on the corresponding Billboard Hot 100 pop listing. His biggest hit came in September the same year. "Gimme Little Sign" hit #9 on the pop chart and also #19 on the R&B charts. In the song Gimme Little Sign is not sung, instead the chorus repeats "Give Me Some Kind of Sign".
"The Oogum Boogum Song" was covered by Alex Chilton.
Wood continued to perform and even recorded a duet with Shirley Goodman. He reached the charts again in 1977, when "Come Softly to Me" registered in the lower reaches of the listings. Following its release, Wood became part of the oldies soul circuit. In 2001, he finally returned with an album of new material, This Love Is for Real.
"Gimme Little Sign" was later covered by Danielle Brisebois, who had a hit with it in 1994. "Gimme Little Sign" was also recorded by Ricky Nelson.
Though Brenton Wood had few charted singles, his entire work is considered to be quintessential lowrider cruisin' oldies, and are featured on an uncountable amount of oldies compilations popular with a Latino, specifically Chicano, audience.
Brenton Wood does not own the rights to any of his songs. They are all owned by famous Los Angeles DJ, Art Laboe.
Discography
Albums
Studio
- Gimme Little Sign - (Liberty) - (1967)
- The Oogum Boogum Man - (Double Shot) - (1967) - Billboard Hot 200 - #184
- Baby You Got It - (1967)
- Come Softly - (Cream) - (1977)
Compilations
- Brenton Wood's 18 Best - (1991)
- 18 More of the Best, Vol. 2 - (1999)
- Better Believe It - (Demon / Westside) - (2000)
Singles
- "Baby You Got It" / "Catch You On the Rebound" - (1967) - Billboard Hot 100 - #34
- "Gimme Little Sign" / "I Think You've Got Your Fools Mixed Up"- (1967) - U.S. - #9 / UK Singles Chart - #8
- "The Oogum Boogum Song" - (1967) - #34
- "Lovey Dovey Kinda Lovin'" - (1968) - #99
Filmography
- Popdown - (1967) - (Brenton Wood appeared in the movie, alongside Julie Driscoll, Zoot Money, Andy Summers, Don Partridge and Tony Hicks)
- Almost Famous - (2000) - Wood's "Oogum Boogum Song" (written by Alfred Smith) appears on the soundtrack.