Soul singer Brenton Wood, behind 1967 hit Oogum Boogum Song, dies aged 83

Singer-songwriter Brenton Wood, famed for his timeless hits “The Oogum Boogum Song” and “Gimme Little Sign,” passed away at the age of 83. Wood died of natural causes on Friday at his home in Moreno Valley, California, peacefully in his sleep, according to his managers Isabel and Manny Gallegos.
Manny Gallegos, who also served as Wood’s personal assistant, revealed that the singer had been battling illness for several months. Speaking to Entertainment Weekly, Gallegos shared his final moments with Wood: “I was at his house [Thursday] night, playing the piano for him. He was in his hospital bed, and I asked, ‘Friend, is there anything you want to say to your fans?’ He said, ‘Catch you on the rebound.’” The phrase is a nod to Wood’s 1967 song “Catch You on the Rebound,” which inspired the name of his recent farewell tour.
Although Wood was in the middle of the tour, titled Catch You on the Rebound: The Last Tour, he had to postpone several dates due to his health, including a hospitalization in May 2024.

Born Alfred Jesse Smith on July 26, 1941, in Shreveport, Louisiana, Wood adopted his stage name from Los Angeles’ Brentwood community, where his manager lived at the time. His family moved to California in the 1950s, settling in San Pedro before relocating to Compton, where Wood graduated from Compton High School. He later attended Compton College, where he began exploring music, teaching himself piano, writing songs, and harmonizing with neighborhood friends.
Wood lived and created music in Long Beach and South Los Angeles communities, gaining inspiration from the vibrant cultural scene around him.

Wood’s career took off after signing with Double Shot Records in the mid-1960s. His breakout hit, “The Oogum Boogum Song,” released in 1967, climbed to No. 19 on the R&B charts and No. 4 on the pop charts. That same year, his follow-up single, “Gimme Little Sign,” became his biggest hit, reaching No. 9 on the Billboard Hot 100. Another single, “Baby You Got It,” peaked at No. 34 later in 1967.
In 1972, Wood founded his own record labels, Prophesy Records and later Mr. Wood Records, continuing to release music though he never replicated the chart success of his earlier hits. However, his music endured, finding new audiences through films like Almost Famous and Don’t Worry Darling, and TV shows such as Big Little Lies, The Umbrella Academy, and Eastbound & Down.

Wood’s songs remained especially beloved by Latino communities in California and the Southwest, where he was a staple at cultural events and car and bike club gatherings.
“They’ve kind of picked me out of the whole batch, and they keep me going,” Wood told the Los Angeles Times in 1992. “I appreciate it, because if I was waiting for the big boys to call, I’d have died a long time ago.”
He reflected on the timelessness of his music, saying: “This is like the third generation of kids that have been following me. The kids like my music. It’s timeless because everyone goes through it—breaking up, getting back together, boyfriend-girlfriend type stuff.”
Brenton Wood leaves behind a legacy of soulful music that transcends generations and continues to inspire fans worldwide.

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