Brenton Wood

Last updated

Brenton Wood
Brenton Wood.png
Background information
Birth nameAlfred Jesse Smith
Born (1941-07-26) July 26, 1941 (age 82)
Shreveport, Louisiana, U.S.
Origin San Pedro, Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Genres
Occupation(s)Singer-songwriter
Instrument(s)
  • Vocals
  • keyboards

Alfred Jesse Smith (born July 26, 1941), [1] better known as Brenton Wood, is an American singer and songwriter known for his three 1967 hit singles, "The Oogum Boogum Song" (peaking at No. 34 on the US Billboard Hot 100), "Gimme Little Sign" (peaking at No. 9), and "Baby You Got It" (also peaking at No. 34).

Contents

Early life

Wood was born in Shreveport, Louisiana, United States. [2] The family moved to San Pedro in Los Angeles, California, when Wood was a child. He attended San Pedro High School for part of his first year before moving to 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 East Los Angeles College. Soon after, he took the stage name Brenton Wood, possibly inspired by the wealthy Los Angeles enclave of Brentwood [2] (some sources state that the name is in honor of his "home county"), with a second possible connection of Bretton Woods. During this period, 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 a competent pianist. [1]

Career

Early singles for Brent Records and Wand Records failed to chart. Wood signed with Double Shot Records, and his novelty song "The Oogum Boogum Song" [2] reached No. 19 on the US Billboard R&B chart and No. 34 on the Billboard Hot 100 in the spring of 1967. In Southern California, "The Oogum Boogum Song" hit the top 10 on KGB-FM and No. 1 on KHJ. Wood's biggest hit came a few months later, as "Gimme Little Sign" hit No. 9 on the pop chart, [2] No. 19 on the R&B charts, No. 2 on KHJ, and No. 8 in the UK Singles Chart; [3] sold over one million copies; and was awarded a gold disc. [1] The title is not actually sung in the song; the chorus instead repeats "Give Me Some Kind of Sign". Wood's "Baby You Got It" (1967) [2] peaked at No. 34 on the Hot 100 during the last week of 1967 and No. 3 on KHJ on January 31, 1968. 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]

A true music entrepreneur, in 1972 Wood formed his own record label and released, co-produced and co-wrote the Funk Soul classic "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 recorded a duet with Shirley Goodman. [2] His next solo song to reach the charts was "Come Softly to Me" in 1977. [2]

He returned again in 1986 with the album Out of the Woodwork, [9] which included contemporary re-recordings of his early hits, along with several new tracks, including the single, "Soothe Me." [10] His album This Love Is for Real came out 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. [11]

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. [12]

In 2019, "The Oogum Boogum Song" was used in a commercial for Kinder Joy products.

Discography

Albums

Studio
Compilations

Singles

Filmography

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Brenda Holloway</span> American soul singer

Brenda Holloway is an American soul singer who was a recording artist for Motown Records during the 1960s. Her best-known recordings are the hits "Every Little Bit Hurts", "When I'm Gone", and "You've Made Me So Very Happy". The latter, which she co-wrote, was later widely popularized when it became a Top Ten hit for Blood, Sweat & Tears. She left Motown after four years, at the age of 22, and largely retired from the music industry until the 1990s, after her recordings had become popular on the British "Northern soul" scene.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Let Me Love You (Mario song)</span> 2004 single by Mario

"Let Me Love You" is a song by American singer Mario, released as a single on October 4, 2004, from his second studio album, Turning Point (2004). The song was written by Ne-Yo, Kameron Houff, and Scott Storch, while the production was handled by Storch. The song garnered Mario a Grammy Award nomination for Best Male R&B Vocal Performance in 2006 and became a top-10 hit worldwide, reaching number one in the United States, Canada, Germany, the Netherlands, and New Zealand.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gimme Little Sign</span> 1967 song by Brenton Wood

"Gimme Little Sign" is a 1967 soul song, originally performed by Brenton Wood and written by Wood, Joe Hooven and Jerry Winn. The charted versions were Wood's, Peter Andre's, the Sattalites', and Danielle Brisebois's.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">I Say a Little Prayer</span> 1967 song by Burt Bacharach and Hal David

"I Say a Little Prayer" is a song written by Burt Bacharach and Hal David for Dionne Warwick, originally peaking at number four on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 pop singles chart in December 1967. On the R&B Singles chart it peaked at number eight.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bobby Bloom</span> American singer-songwriter (1946–1974)

Robert Bloom was an American singer-songwriter. He is known best for the upbeat 1970 hit, "Montego Bay", which was co-written with and produced by Jeff Barry. It may be that his success with "Montego Bay" has overshadowed other aspects of his career. There is some conflicting information surrounding the circumstances of his death.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">There's a Kind of Hush</span> 1967 single by Hermans Hermits

"There's a Kind of Hush" is a popular song written by Les Reed and Geoff Stephens. Originally recorded by Stephens' group the New Vaudeville Band in 1967 as a neo-British music hall number, this version of the track became a hit in Australia and South Africa. However, in the rest of the world, a near-simultaneous cover was a big hit for Herman's Hermits. The song was a charted hit again in 1976 for The Carpenters.

"Try a Little Tenderness" is a song written by Jimmy Campbell, Reg Connelly, and Harry M. Woods.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Carl Carlton</span> American singer

Carl Carlton is an American R&B, soul, and funk singer-songwriter, best known for his hits "Everlasting Love" and "She's a Bad Mama Jama ".

"By the Time I Get to Phoenix" is a song written by Jimmy Webb. Originally recorded by Johnny Rivers in 1965, it was reinterpreted by American country music singer Glen Campbell on his album of the same name. Released on Capitol Records in 1967, Campbell's version topped RPM's Canada Country Tracks, reached number two on Billboard's Hot Country Singles chart, and won two awards at the 10th Annual Grammys. Broadcast Music, Inc. (BMI) named it the third most performed song from 1940 to 1990. The song was ranked number 20 on BMI's Top 100 Songs of the Century. Frank Sinatra called it "the greatest torch song ever written." It was No. 450 on Rolling Stone magazine's Top 500 Songs of All Time.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gimme the Light</span> 2002 single by Sean Paul

"Gimme the Light" is the first single from Jamaican dancehall musician Sean Paul's second studio album, Dutty Rock (2002). The song was originally released in Jamaica in 2001 as "Give Me the Light" and was issued internationally in 2002. "Gimme the Light" was Paul's first hit single, peaking at number seven on the US Billboard Hot 100 and becoming a top-20 hit in Canada, the Netherlands, and the United Kingdom. It is the most popular hit single from the "Buzz" riddim, which was the debut hit production for Troyton Rami & Roger Mackenzie a production duo of Black Shadow Records in Miami, Florida.

The Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart ranks the most popular R&B and hip hop songs in the United States and is published weekly by Billboard. Rankings are based on a measure of radio airplay, sales data, and streaming activity. The chart had 100 positions but was shortened to 50 positions in October 2012.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cher singles discography</span>

American entertainer Cher has released 80 official singles, 24 promotional singles and appeared in 22 other songs. On the Billboard Hot 100, she has achieved: 4 number 1 singles, 12 Top 10 singles, 22 Top 40 singles and a total of 34 charted singles as a solo artist. Combined with the entries she had as part of Sonny & Cher: 5 number 1 singles, 17 Top 10 singles, 32 Top 40 hits and a total of 52 singles which charted on the Billboard Hot 100.

Dalton & Dubarri was an American rock band active in the 1970s, led by Gary Dalton and Kent Dubarri. They mainly played as support acts for artists such as The Beach Boys, Elvin Bishop, The Doobie Brothers, Loggins and Messina, Dave Mason, Boz Scaggs, and Rod Stewart. The group incorporated various aspects of pop, rock, and soul into their music. Recording for Columbia, ABC, and Hilltak, they released four original albums during their career. In 1979, they had a hit with the disco single "I Can Dance All By Myself", which made the Billboard, Cash Box, and Record World charts.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Prince singles discography</span>

Prince released several hundred songs both under his own name and under pseudonyms and/or pen names, as well as writing songs which have been recorded by other artists. Estimates of the actual number of songs written by Prince range anywhere from 500 to well over 1,000. He has released 117 singles, 41 promotional singles, 24 internet singles, and eight internet downloads.

"Please Love Me Forever" is a song written by John Malone and Ollie Blanchard. The song was originally released by Tommy Edwards in 1958. Hit versions were later released by Cathy Jean and the Roommates in 1960 and Bobby Vinton in 1967.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Oogum Boogum Song</span> 1967 single by Brenton Wood

"The Oogum Boogum Song" was originally performed by Brenton Wood. It was released in 1967 on the album Oogum Boogum. It was written by Wood.

"Burning Bridges" is a song written by Walter Scott, and best known for its 1960 recording by Jack Scott, which was a #3 hit in the US. This was the only hit song for composer Walter Scott, who was no relation to Jack Scott.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hit Different</span> 2020 single by SZA featuring Ty Dolla Sign

"Hit Different" is a single by American singer SZA featuring Ty Dolla $ign. The two wrote the song with Rob Bisel and producers The Neptunes. It was recorded at the home of producer DJ Khaled and released through Top Dawg Entertainment on September 4, 2020, days after SZA posted on social media suggesting that the record label had been intentionally pushing back the release date of her music. It is a contemporary R&B torch song about a dysfunctional but tempting relationship.

Kent Sprague aka Butch Dubarri is a singer, drummer and composer. During the 1960s, his band Kent & the Candidates backed Brenton Wood, playing on two of the singer's hits. He was also a member of Boones Farm in the early 1970s and later one half of the duo Dalton & Dubarri who had a hit with "I (You) Can Dance All By My (Your) Self" and "'Til the Day I Started Lovin' You".

Double Shot was an independant record label in the United States that was founded in 1966. Artists that recorded for the label include Count Five, Floyd and Jerry, Bobby Freeman, Kent & The Candidates, Señor Soul, Shirley & Shep, The Vanguards, Brenton Wood, and The Youngfolk.

References

  1. 1 2 3 Murrells, Joseph (1978). The Book of Golden Discs (2nd ed.). London: Barrie and Jenkins Ltd. p.  233. ISBN   0-214-20512-6.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Colin Larkin, ed. (1993). The Guinness Who's Who of Soul Music (First ed.). Guinness Publishing. p. 310. ISBN   0-85112-733-9.
  3. 1 2 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 –
  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. ↑ "Brenton Wood – Out Of The Woodwork (Vinyl, LP, Album)". Discogs.com. 1986. Retrieved August 19, 2015.
  10. ↑ "Brenton Wood – Soothe Me / $Cold Cash$ (Vinyl)". Discogs.com. 1986. Retrieved August 19, 2015.
  11. ↑ "Thee Mr. Duran Show – Videos – Brenton Wood". Mrduran.com. June 7, 2006. Retrieved August 19, 2015.
  12. ↑ "William Pilgrim & The All Grows Up | The Junction of Americana & 60's Soul". Williampilgrim.com. Retrieved August 19, 2015.
  13. 1 2 Stephen Thomas Erlewine (July 26, 1941). "Brenton Wood | Awards". AllMusic . Retrieved August 19, 2015.
  14. ↑ "Popdown (1967)". IMDb.com. Retrieved August 19, 2015.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.