‘Oogum Boogum’ singer and soul legend Brenton Wood has died, aged 83

Brenton Wood, the singer behind hit song ‘Oogum Boogum’ has died, aged 83.

The news was confirmed by Wood’s manager and assistant Manny Gallegos, who told Variety the musician had died from natural causes and was surrounded by his family at his Moreno Valley home.

Gallegos claimed Wood’s final words to his fans were, “Catch you on the rebound” – a reference to his 1967 song and 2024 tour of the same name.

Wood, born Alfred Jesse Smith, adopted his stage name as a reference to his home county, and had recorded several singles before he signed with Double Shot Records in 1967 and scored one of his biggest hits in ‘The Oogum Boogum Song’.

The Compton crooner considered the track his “abracadabra” moment, because it came at a time when his label was desperate for a hit from him. Having spent six weeks reworking the track because he didn’t like what they had initially brought him, it went on to become one of his most successful releases.

Brenton Wood wrote The Oogum Boogum song because he desperately needed a hit.

The meaning of the song was another way to say Abracadabra to those he believed were against him.

Rest in Power So Cal legend. pic.twitter.com/eg0R8U2WKt

— Danny Deraney (@DannyDeraney) January 3, 2025

It reached Number 19 on the Billboard R&B charts, and featured in several film and TV shows including Almost Famous and Don’t Worry Darling. Wood had another hit in ‘Gimme Little Sign’, which reached Number 9 in the pop charts.

Since news of his death circulated, many fans have taken to social media to share the significance of his music. “You gave us so many great Melodies to jam to as a culture forever in our hearts,” wrote one, with another adding: “You didn’t experience life if you didn’t listen to Brenton Wood’s 18 greatest hits album.” Check out more tributes below:

Rest in Power, Brenton Wood. A Soul legend and one of the many who migrated from Louisiana to California. 🎶🕊 pic.twitter.com/RpwkHPBc3C

— O.J. Spivey (@OJPhilly) January 4, 2025

Brenton Wood was a huge special part of my childhood being first gen my non English speaking mom loved him sm and would always play his music ugh RIP king 💔💔

— ♡ ☆*:.｡.♡ ☆*:.｡. ♡ (@gisssellleh) January 3, 2025

Got to see Brenton Wood live in 2018. I’ll always remember how happy I was seeing him move around in his outfit and hat and share his beautiful music with us. Definitely feeling a heavy heart losing an Oldies legend 🩵🕊️ #RIPBrentonWood pic.twitter.com/YzYuNWdjvY

— 📧 elise 💜 (@eliseryann) January 4, 2025

Rest In Passing Mr. Brenton Wood you gave us so many great Melodies to jam to as a culture forever in our hearts. pic.twitter.com/4Sn17Bk4OE

— Ralfi PoELA777 🇺🇸 (@Ralfi_PoELA) January 4, 2025

RIP TO A MF LEGEND. You didn’t experience life if you didn’t listen to Brenton Wood’s 18 greatest hits album. Maaan he really performed until he passed.

— ³ʳᵈ (@3rdtres) January 3, 2025

Wood, who formed his own labels in Prophesy Records and Mr. Wood Records, developed an ardent following from Latino listeners, with former Warner Bros. executive Bob Merlis telling the L.A. Times he was a  “standard bearer for the Southern California pop soul scene.”