Brenton Wood, the soulful voice behind "The Oogum Boogum Song," has passed away at the age of 83.

 Brenton Wood, the legendary soul singer behind classics like “The Oogum Boogum Song” and “Gimme Little Sign,” has passed away at 83.

His death was confirmed by his manager and assistant, Manny Gallegos, who revealed to Variety that Wood died from natural causes while surrounded by his family at his home in Moreno Valley, California. Gallegos shared that Wood's final words to his fans were, “Catch you on the rebound,” a nod to his 1967 hit song.

Born Alfred Jesse Smith in Shreveport, Louisiana, Wood relocated with his family to San Pedro, California, where he developed an interest in music while attending Compton College. He adopted his stage name in tribute to his home county and drew inspiration from artists like Sam Cooke and Jesse Belvin as he wrote songs and honed his piano skills.

Wood recorded multiple singles before signing with Double Shot Records in 1967, which led to his breakout hits: “The Oogum Boogum Song,” which peaked at No. 19 on the Billboard R&B chart, and “Gimme Little Sign,” which reached No. 9 on the pop charts. In 1972, he founded his own label, Prophesy Records, and later released music through Mr. Wood Records. In early 2024, Wood embarked on the "Catch You on the Rebound: The Last Tour," but the tour was halted after he was hospitalized.

His music continued to resonate with new generations, with "The Oogum Boogum Song" appearing in films and TV shows such as The Umbrella Academy, Almost Famous, and Don’t Worry Darling. Additionally, his track “Great Big Bundle of Love” was featured in season two of Big Little Lies.