The soul singer Brenton Wooden has died. The artist was finest identified for his songs “Oogum Boogum” and “Gimme Little Sign.” Wooden’s supervisor and assistant, Manny Gallegos, confirmed the demise to Selection and stated that the singer died of pure causes at residence in Moreno Valley, CA. Gallegos additionally stated that Wooden’s closing message to his followers was “Catch you on the rebound,” a nod to his 1967 music of the identical title. Wooden was 83 years outdated.
Wooden was born Alfred Jesse Smith in Shreveport, LA. His household quickly moved to San Pedro, CA and Wooden later attended faculty within the space. After discovering his love of music as a toddler, Wooden started singing in native R&B bands in faculty. He later went solo and adopted a stage title that referenced town of Brentwood. For inspiration, Wooden turned to Sam Cooke and Jesse Belvin.
After a number of early singles, Wooden signed with Double Shot Information in 1967. That yr, he achieved his largest hits. His breakthrough, “The Oogum Boogum Song,” was a novel shock that peaked at No. 19 on the Billboard R&B charts and No. 34 on the Sizzling 100. “It took me about six weeks, because I had to switch the verses around about a hundred times,” Wooden instructed the San Diego Union-Tribune of the monitor’s writing course of. “That was a song about fashion changes in the ’60s with bell-bottom hip-huggers and high-heeled boots and all the different styles of clothes the girls were wearing — hot pants and all that stuff.” “Gimme Little Sign” was an excellent greater success, reaching No. 9 on the Sizzling 100.
In 1972, Wooden fashioned his personal label, Prophesy Information. He additionally launched music on Mr. Wooden Information. Wooden discovered a passionate viewers amongst Latinos and he steadily carried out alongside Chicano musical legends. Final yr, Wooden launched into a farewell tour, which was paused after the singer was hospitalized. Additionally in 2024, Craft Recordings reissued Brenton Wooden’s 18 Greatest, a celebrated assortment of the soul singer’s classics.
Order Brenton Wooden’s 18 Greatest now.
