Brenton Wood Dies: Soul Singer Behind ‘Gimme Little Sign’ & ‘Oogum Boogum Song’ Was 83
deadline.comBrenton Wood, the soul singer who sang 1967’s catchy “Oogum Boogum Song” and followed it with the Top 10 hit “Gimme Little Sign,” died Friday at his home in Moreno Valley, CA.
He was 83. His managers Isabel and Manny Gallegosconfirmed the news to multiple media outlets, saying Wood died peacefully in his sleep.
Born Alfred Smith on July 26, 1941, in Shreveport, LA, Wood was raised in San Pedro just south of Los Angeles. He began singing and playing piano at an early age at signed with Brent Records and later Wand Records but didn’t produce a hit for either.
He then switched to Double Shot Records in Hollywood, where he recorded “The Oogum Boogum Song.” A borderline-novelty tune fueled by Wood’s sweet falsetto and piano hook, the track went Top 10 at L.A.’s leading Top 40 station KHJ-AM and dented the national Top 40 during the Summer of Love.
Read more on deadline.com
