Brenton Wood is a legendary American singer-songwriter and musician best known for his 1967 hit song “The Oogum Boogum Song”. Though originally from Shreveport, Louisiana, Brenton Wood found great success performing on the West Coast, especially in California cities like Los Angeles and Stockton. Throughout his over 50 year career, Brenton Wood has played with a rotating cast of talented backing musicians. When Brenton Wood takes the stage in Stockton, California, fans can expect a soulful show filled with his classic hits and fan favorites.
Brenton Wood’s Band Members
Brenton Wood often tours with a full live band to recreate the retro soul sound of his studio recordings. The musicians that join Brenton on stage provide backing vocals, rhythm, horns, and lead guitar to complement Brenton’s vocals and keyboard playing. Though his touring band members may change from year to year, Brenton’s stage shows consistently feature a top-notch group of musicians who faithfully reproduce his funky retro soul style. Fans can count on seeing a tight, polished band backing up Brenton at his Stockton shows.
Backup Singers
Brenton Wood’s live shows feature male and female backup vocalists who enhance the soulful vocals on his hit songs. Backup singers provide supporting harmonies and vocal responses, often echoing Brenton’s ad libs and embellishments. The call-and-response style between Brenton and his backup vocalists allows for improvisation and creativity during live performances. Backup singers also handle the high harmonies and vocal parts originally performed by session singers on Brenton’s studio recordings. Strong backup vocalists with soulful voices are essential for recreating Brenton’s classic sound during concerts.
Bass
The bass player in Brenton Wood’s band keeps the groove going with a solid, funky rhythmic foundation. The bass lines anchor the song arrangements and work closely with the drummer to lock into the pocket. Brenton’s music is defined by an infectious, danceable R&B groove, so the bass player takes on an important role in providing the low end rhythms. The best bassists for Brenton’s band have a strong sense of rhythm and melodic sensibility to improvise and complement the vocals. At a Brenton Wood show, expect the bass to make you move and dance all night long.
Drums
Drums are also essential for laying down the rhythmic funk grooves of Brenton’s discography. The drummer must be versatile enough to switch between slinky R&B beats and uptempo soul. Brenton’s music often features drum breaks, fills, and dynamic accents that require precise timing and musicality from the drummer. An experienced drummer with a solid pocket is needed to locked in tight with the bass player and propel the band. At a Brenton Wood concert, the drums pack a rhythmic punch that gets the crowd dancing along to soul classics like “Gimme Little Sign.”
Guitar
The electric guitar fills out the band’s sound by providing melodic lines, funky rhythmic strumming, and instrumental solos. Brenton’s music combines elements of blues, R&B, and soul, so the guitarist must be fluent in these styles. From crunchy rhythm guitar on uptempo tracks to expressive leads on ballads, the guitarist has opportunities to stand out. But just as importantly, the guitarist must support the overall band arrangements. The best guitarists for Brenton Wood shows are versatile players who can play off of the drummer and support the vocals while injecting melodic personality into the songs.
Horns
Horn players are included in Brenton Wood’s touring band lineup to faithfully reproduce the brass parts on his recordings. Most often trumpet and saxophone players are recruited to add a soulful punch of brass. Horn arrangements provide melodic and rhythmic counterpoints to flesh out the funky soul sound. The syncopated horn lines act as instrumental hooks that capture listeners’ attention. Brenton’s horns cheerfully blur the lines between R&B, soul, pop, and funk. The brassy horns are key for getting Stockton crowds dancing and keeping the good times rolling at a Brenton Wood show.
Keyboards
As a talented singer-songwriter, Brenton Wood often rocks the keyboard onstage playing soulful organ parts. The Hammond B-3 organ sound is all over his classic recordings, providing an essential element to his retro soul style. Brenton keeps the groove going on keys while also singing lead vocals. And when he steps back from the keyboard to dance, a keyboard player takes over supporting the band with funky organ lines. Keyboards fill out the rhythmic and harmonic backing on Brenton Wood’s hits. Whether played by the man himself or a supporting player, organ is sure to feature prominently at Brenton’s Stockton show.
Special Guest Artists
In addition to his talented band, Brenton Wood may invite other special guest artists to join him during Stockton concerts. As a music industry veteran, Brenton has many connections with fellow performers. Opening acts may play short sets before Brenton takes the stage. But occasionally Brenton brings out surprise guests for jams during his own set as well. Past Brenton Wood shows have seen appearances by supporting acts and other soul/R&B singers joining him for duets on classic tunes.
Mable John
Legendary soul singer Mable John is a frequent special guest at Brenton Wood’s concerts. Mable got her start on Motown before becoming a session musician and solo artist based out of Los Angeles. She and Brenton Wood first met and collaborated in the 1960s. Mable has contributed vocals on several Brenton Wood albums over the years. Their chemistry and long friendship often leads to live duets. Brenton may bring Mable on stage for playful renditions of classics like “The Oogum Boogum Song” and “Gimme Little Sign.”
Freda Payne
Soul singer Freda Payne has also appeared at Brenton Wood shows. Freda is best known for her 1970 hit “Band of Gold” along with other Northern soul classics. Coming up through the Detroit music scene, Freda sometimes joins forces with Brenton for West Coast concerts. Her powerful, emotive vocals complement Brenton’s smooth soul delivery allowing them to vocally play off one another. Freda might come on stage for a soaring duet performance of “Oogum Boogum” or one of her own hits like “Band of Gold.”
Joe Tex
Fellow soul pioneer Joe Tex has shared the stage with Brenton Wood many times over their long careers. With his deep soul vocals, Joe Tex scored hits of his own with songs like “I Gotcha” and “Show Me.” Joe and Brenton are longtime friends and collaborators since the 1960s soul circuit. When their tours line up, Joe often makes appearances during Brenton’s shows. Their playful chemistry and talents combine for inspired duets on classics from both their repertoires. Seeing legends like Joe Tex and Brenton Wood share a stage is a rare treat for any soul fan.
Don Julian
LA musician and radio host Don Julian may occasionally make unannounced appearances at Brenton Wood shows. Don hosted the legendary radio show “The Don Julian Show” on KDAY in the 1960s and 1970s. The popular R&B radio show helped promote many soul and funk musicians, including Brenton Wood. Don Julian’s smooth baritone also features on Brenton’s recordings providing backing vocals. When his old friend is playing in town, Don sometimes will surprise audiences by coming on stage to sing. Seeing these two influential LA musicians reunite encapsulates the spirit and history of the classic soul era.
Setlists
During live shows, Brenton Wood draws from his deep catalog of original hits along with classic soul and R&B covers. Fans can expect to hear staples from Brenton’s 1960s through 1970s output along with newer material. As a consummate showman, Brenton crafts a setlist that balances his most upbeat danceable soul hits with slow burning ballads. The variation keeps the energy and emotions flowing throughout the concert.
Hit Songs
Any Brenton Wood live show features his most popular charting singles that audience members will instantly recognize. Fan favorites like “The Oogum Boogum Song,” “Gimme Little Sign,” and “Baby You Got It” are concert staples. Brenton slows things down with smooth ballads like “Lovey Dovey Kinda Lovin'” and “Where Were You.” Performing his highest-charting songs allows Brenton to connect with audiences through nostalgia and shared memories. Fans can count on hearing these Brenton Wood classics played faithfully with his live band at Stockton shows.
Cover Songs
In addition to his own catalog, Brenton Wood mixes in classic R&B and soul covers to pay tribute to his influences. Brenton may bust out covers like “My Girl” by The Temptations, “Mr. Big Stuff” by Jean Knight, or “Dock of the Bay” by Otis Redding as surprises during shows. His soulful vocals and retro band arrangements breath new life into vintage songs. The covers showcase Brenton’s musicality and allow audiences to sing along. Sprinkling in familiar covers augment the classics and highlights Brenton Wood’s connection to soul music history.
Album Cuts/Deep Tracks
True fans who know Brenton Wood’s full discography will be delighted by some of his lesser-known album cuts and deep tracks. While casual fans gravitate to the big hits, Brenton rewards longtime listeners by breaking out soulful album tracks. Obscure songs like “Where is the Love I Used to Know” and “Promises Promises” may make rare appearances. Dedicated fans may request rare tracks that prompt Brenton to improvise on stage. The unpredictable setlists featuring Brenton Wood’s deeper album cuts satisfy serious soul aficionados.
New Songs
While Brenton revisits his classic material in concert, he also sprinkles in new songs from his more recent albums. Throughout the 2000s and 2010s, Brenton continued releasing new music that displayed contemporary production while retaining his vintage vibe. Songs like “Perfect World” and “One Thing on My Mind” from 2018 album Perfect World showcase Brenton’s undiminished talents. Staying contemporary while maintaining his signature sound, new Brenton Wood songs fit fluidly alongside the older hits.
Audience Interaction
One of Brenton Wood’s talents as a showman is his ability to connect with live audiences through direct engagement and interaction. Throughout his shows, Brenton takes time to converse with crowd members. He may give some background stories about his songs or chat about his history touring through various cities.
Song Requests
Brenton is receptive to fans calling out requests for specific songs, often accommodating them if it fits the set progression. He has been known to launch into impromptu performances of obscure B-sides when dedicated fans request rarely-played songs. The audience interaction allows Brenton to tailor his Stockton setlist to local crowd reactions for an intimate live show experience.
Dancing and Singing Together
When performing high-energy dance songs, Brenton encourages audiences to join him singing along and dancing. During extended instrumental breaks, Brenton may dance out in the crowd aisles, spinning female fans and spreading the fun. Getting the Stockton crowd actively involved and feeling the music creates a joyous communal environment. The back-and-forth exchange of energy between Brenton and fans is palpable at his concerts.
Storytelling
Brenton reminisces about his long music career through spoken anecdotes and stories between songs. He may reflect on memories touring through California in the 1960s or cross-country bus trips of the Chitlin’ Circuit era. Brenton gives fans a glimpse into his life on the road during a bygone soul music heyday. The candid storytelling adds historical context and lets Brenton’s personality shine through.
Why Catch a Brenton Wood Concert in Stockton?
There are many great reasons for music lovers to catch a Brenton Wood show when he’s performing in Stockton, California. Here are some of the key motivations:
- Dance and sing along to enduring soul classics like “The Oogum Boogum Song” and “Gimme Little Sign”
- Experience Brenton’s incredible talents as a singer, songwriter, musician, and entertainer
- Immerse yourself in nostalgia for the 1960s and 1970s soul music eras
- See talented backup musicians faithfully recreate Brenton’s retro sound
- Potential special guest appearances by other soul legends joining the show
- Brenton’s charismatic audience engagement and storytelling
- A setlist mixing beloved hits, deep cuts, and covers
- Celebrate Black music history and Stockton’s diversity
- Share cherished memories connected to Brenton Wood’s timeless songs
For over 50 years, Brenton Wood has been entertaining audiences worldwide with doo-wop infused soul music that radiates positivity. His talents have not diminished, and his performances aim to uplift crowds. When Brenton Wood comes to Stockton, he brings the best of live soul and R&B music as well as his personal charm. Local fans are encouraged not to miss out on a magical musical opportunity right in their backyard.
Conclusion
Brenton Wood’s talents have endured from the 1960s through today as he continues playing energetic live shows filled with his smash hits. When Brenton takes the stage in Stockton, fans can expect to hear classic soul anthems backed by his tight, polished band. Special guests like Mable John may join him for inspired duets that provide a link to soul music’s golden era. Brenton’s genuine audience interaction and pop-up covers add spontaneity to his sets. For an uplifting night of dancing and singing along to timeless soul music, music lovers in Stockton should seize the chance to catch Brenton Wood in their hometown.