Brenton Wood was a singer and songwriter best known for a trio of hits released in 1967: “The Oogum Boogum Song,” “Gimme Little Sign,” and “Baby You Got It.”
- Died: January 3, 2025 (Who else died on January 3?)
- Details of death: Died in Moreno Valley, California of natural causes at the age of 83.
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Brenton Wood’s legacy
Wood needed a hit. His initial singles in the 1960s failed to chart, and the California singer wanted to make headway in his musical career, so he sat down and wrote a catchy novelty song. That composition, “The Oogum Boogum Song,” became a Top 40 hit in 1967 and made the Top 20 on the R&B charts, the first of a series of hits he had in the late 1960s.
Born Alfred Smith in Shreveport, Louisiana, Wood moved to the Golden State with his family when he was a child, was raised in Southern California and graduated from Compton High School before attending Compton College. Wood’s ‘60s work with Double Shot Records made him a major success in the L.A. music scene and beyond, thanks to a trio of popular singles he wrote. “The Oogum Boogum Song” was followed by “Gimme Little Sign,” an even bigger hit that went to No. 9 nationwide on the pop charts. He closed out 1967 with a third Top 40 song, “Baby You Got It.”
Wood carved his own musical path in the ‘70s, forming his own record label, and continuing to release music, including the 1977 song “Come Softly to Me.” His most recent album was 2009’s “Lord Hear My Prayer.”
With a stage name taken from the Brentwood neighborhood of Los Angeles, his work endured long after it left the charts, appearing in movies and shows like “Almost Famous,” “The Umbrella Academy,” and “Eastbound and Down.” Wood launched a farewell tour in 2024 that was put on hold for health reasons.
Tributes to Brenton Wood
Full obituary: Variety
