Brenton Wood, known for hit The Oogum Boogum Song, dies 'in his sleep'

Brenton Wood, the singer known for his 1967 hit The Oogum Boogum Song, has died at the age of 83. His assistant has shared the cause of the singer's death

Brenton Wood, the singer famed for his 1967 hit The Oogum Boogum Song, has passed away at the age of 83.

The beloved artist died on Friday, January 3, surrounded by loved ones at his home in Moreno Valley, California. TMZ first reported the news of his death, which was later confirmed by his assistant, Manny Gallegos. While the cause of death remains undisclosed, Manny told the NYPost: "It just was his old age. He was 83 years old."

"He went in his sleep peacefully. The love that he gave us, God took him the same way," he added. Manny also revealed to the outlet that Brenton had a message for his fans on Thursday, January 2. He told his assistant: "I might not be here for long," and Manny disclosed, "He said, 'Catch you on the rebound,'" This phrase held significance for Brenton, who named his final tour after it and even had a 1967 song with the same title.

According to Manny, the tour concluded on Valentine's Day weekend in 2024, and shortly afterwards, the late 83 year old began to feel unwell. By May 2024, he was hospitalised.

Brenton Wood, born Alfred Jesse Smith on July 26, 1941 in Shreveport, Louisiana, was raised in San Pedro, California after his family relocated there during his childhood. He developed a passion for piano and drew inspiration from the likes of Jesse Belvin and Sam Cooke for his songwriting and piano playing.

Brenton attended East Los Angeles College and performed with local R&B groups such as Little Freddie and the Rockets and the Quotations. Upon embarking on his solo career, he adopted the stage name Brenton Wood, inspired by the affluent Los Angeles neighbourhood of Brentwood.

Some suggest this was a nod to his "home county," reports the Mirror US. His early singles with Brent Records and Wand Records failed to chart, but his fortunes changed when he signed with Double Shot Record. His notable single The Oogum Boogum Song became a hit, reaching No. 34 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1967 and No.

19 on the Billboard R&B charts. Other songs, Gimme Little Sign and Baby You Got It, peaked at No. 9 and No. 34 respectively on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1967. His last solo song to chart was Come Softly to Me, which reached No. 97 on Billboard's R&B tally in 1978.

Brenton established his own record labels, Prophesy Records and Mr. Wood Records, and made a brief foray into acting with a role in the 1969 film Popdown. Committed to "giving back", Brenton frequently performed at schools and community outreach events for at-risk youth, according to his website.

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