Brenton Wood, Singer of 'The Oogum Boogum Song,' Passes Away at 83

Brenton Wood, known for his hit "The Oogum Boogum Song," has passed away at 83. According to Variety, his manager confirmed that Wood died from natural causes in Moreno Valley, California, surrounded by family. His final words to fans were a nod to his famous track, "Catch you on the rebound."

Born Alfred Jesse Smith in Shreveport, Louisiana, Wood relocated to California with his family, where he developed an interest in music at Compton College. It was there he adopted the stage name Brenton Wood.

In 1967, he signed with Double Shot Records and released "The Oogum Boogum Song," which

climbed to No. 19 on the Billboard R&B charts. The song has since become a timeless classic, featured in TV shows and films like The Umbrella Academy, Almost Famous, and Don’t Worry Darling.

Wood’s other notable tracks include "Gimme Little Sign" and "Baby You Got It." In 1972, he launched his own record label.

Variety also reports that Wood had recently embarked on a farewell tour, "Catch You on the Rebound: The Last Tour," though it was temporarily paused due to his hospitalization.