Brenton Wood Passes Away at 83: A Look at His Soulful Legacy

Brenton Wood, the talented soul singer known for his hit songs in the 1960s, has passed away at the age of 83. He died peacefully in his sleep on January 3 at his home in Moreno Valley, California.

Wood was born Alfred Smith on July 26, 1941, in Shreveport, Louisiana. He grew up in San Pedro, just south of Los Angeles, where he began his music career at a young age. Wood signed with Brent Records and later Wand Records, although he did not achieve success with these labels. It was not until he joined Double Shot Records in Hollywood that he recorded his famous track “The Oogum Boogum Song.”

The quirky yet catchy tune featured Wood's sweet falsetto paired with an infectious piano hook, becoming a Top 10 hit on Los Angeles's KHJ-AM radio station. It made its way onto the national charts during the Summer of Love, with Wood performing it on the iconic show American Bandstand.

Success with 'Gimme Little Sign'

Following the success of “The Oogum Boogum Song,” Wood released “Gimme Little Sign,” which became his signature song. This soulful ballad built slowly but effectively and was well-received by audiences. The song reached the Billboard Hot 100 in August 1967 and peaked at No. 9. It also made waves internationally, reaching No. 8 on the UK singles chart after Wood performed it on the popular TV show Top of the Pops.

Other Contributions and Legacy

While “Gimme Little Sign” marked the peak of Wood's career, he continued to produce music. In early 1968, he cracked the Billboard Top 40 again with “Baby You Got It,” and later that year, he made it onto the Hot 100 with “Lovey Dovey Kinda Lovin’.” His only charting album, titled Oogum Boogum, peaked at No. 187.

In the late 1960s, Wood released a minor hit called “Some Got It, Some Don’t,” and in 1978, “Come Softly to Me” reached No. 97 on Billboard's R&B chart. Wood also had a cameo in the 1969 movie Popdown.

Information about survivors or future memorial services has not yet been disclosed.

singer, soul, music