Brenton Wood facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Brenton Wood
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1967 promo image of Wood for "The Oogum Boogum Song"
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | Alfred Jesse Smith |
| Born | July 26, 1941 Shreveport, Louisiana, U.S. |
| Origin | San Pedro, California, U.S. |
| Died | January 3, 2025 (aged 83) Moreno Valley, California, U.S. |
| Genres | |
| Occupation(s) | Singer-songwriter |
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| Years active | 1963–2024 |
Brenton Wood was an American singer and songwriter. His real name was Alfred Jesse Smith. He was born on July 26, 1941, and passed away on January 3, 2025. Brenton Wood became famous for his hit songs in 1967. These included "The Oogum Boogum Song", "Gimme Little Sign", and "Baby You Got It". All three songs were very popular on the Billboard charts.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Alfred Jesse Smith was born in Shreveport, Louisiana, on July 26, 1941. When he was a child, his family moved to San Pedro in Los Angeles, California. He went to San Pedro High School for a short time. Later, he moved to Compton. There, he joined the Compton High School track team. He won several awards for his athletic skills.
After finishing high school, Smith went to East Los Angeles College. Soon after, he chose the stage name Brenton Wood. He might have gotten the idea from the Brentwood area of Los Angeles. He was inspired by the music of Jesse Belvin and Sam Cooke. Brenton Wood started writing songs and also became a pianist.
Music Career Highlights
Becoming a Star in the 1960s
Brenton Wood's fun song "The Oogum Boogum Song" was released in 1967. It became a hit, reaching No. 19 on the US Billboard R&B chart. It also reached No. 34 on the Billboard Hot 100 pop chart.
His biggest hit song was "Gimme Little Sign". This song came out a few months later. It reached No. 9 on the pop chart and No. 8 in the UK Singles Chart. Over one million copies of "Gimme Little Sign" were sold. This earned it a gold disc. Another song, "Baby You Got It", also reached No. 34 on the Hot 100 in late 1967. His band during this time was called Kent and The Candidates.
Music in the 1970s
In 1972, Brenton Wood started his own record label. He released a song called "Sticky Boom Boom [Too Cold] Part I and II". He worked on this song with George Semper and Al McKay from the band Earth, Wind & Fire. Wood also recorded a duet song with Shirley Goodman.
In 1975, he released "Rainin' Love (You Gotta Feel It)". This song was praised by Cash Box magazine. His next song to appear on the charts was "Come Softly to Me" in 1977.
Later Years and Farewell Tour
Brenton Wood released a new album in 1986 called Out of the Woodwork. It included new versions of his old hits and some new songs. His album This Love Is for Real came out in 2001. In 2006, he appeared on a TV show called Thee Mr. Duran Show. He performed many of his popular songs there.
In 2014, he worked with William Pilgrim & The All Grows Up. They made a new version of "Gimme Little Sign" for their album. In 2024, Brenton Wood announced his last tour, called Catch You On The Rebound: The Last Tour. He was hospitalized in May 2024, which paused his tour. Brenton Wood passed away at his home in Moreno Valley, California, on January 3, 2025. He was 83 years old.
Music Albums and Songs
Albums
- Oogum Boogum (1967)
- Gimme Little Sign (1967)
- Baby You Got It (1967)
- Come Softly (1977)
- Out of the Woodwork (1986)
- Sweet Old School (1995)
- Classic By Design (2000)
- This Love Is for Real (2001)
- Lord Hear My Prayer (2009)
Popular Songs (Singles)
- "The Oogum Boogum Song" (1967)
- "Gimme Little Sign" (1967)
- "Baby You Got It" (1967)
- "Lovey Dovey Kinda Lovin'" (1968)
- "Some Got It, Some Don't" (1968)
- "Come Softly To Me" (1977)
Film Appearance
- Popdown (1967) – Brenton Wood appeared in this movie.
See also
In Spanish: Brenton Wood para niños
