Brenton Wood, the renowned soul singer best known for his 1967 hit “The Oogum Boogum Song,” passed away at the age of 83. His death was confirmed by his manager Manny Gallegos, who stated that Wood died of natural causes at his home in Moreno Valley, California.
Born Alfred Jesse Smith on July 26, 1941, in Shreveport, Louisiana, Wood later moved with his family to San Pedro, California. He attended Compton High School and later enrolled in East Los Angeles College, where he adopted the stage name Brenton Wood and began to explore his musical talents.
After signing with Double Shot Records in 1967, Wood quickly gained popularity with songs such as “The Wooggum Bugum Song,” which reached No. 19 on the Billboard R&B chart, and “Gimme Little Sign,” which also peaked at No. 19 on the Hot 100. He produced several notable tracks, including “Baby You Got It,” which reached No. 34 on the charts.
In interviews, Wood explained the whimsical nature behind “Oogum Boogum,” describing it as a playful expression of being under a spell. He was initially reluctant about the song but invested time over six weeks to reshape it to his satisfaction. His music has been featured in a variety of films and shows, including “Almost Famous” and “Don’t Worry Darling.”
In 1972, Wood founded Prophesy Records and continued to release music through Mr. Wood Records over the years. He was in the process of announcing his final tour, titled “Catch You on the Rebound: The Last Tour,” which was inspired by a song he wrote in 1967. Gallegos shared that Wood’s last message to his fans was, “Catch me on the rebound.”