Brenton Wood, the singer known for the hit song "Oogum Boogum," has passed away at the age of 83.

The soul singer known for hits like "The Oogum Boogum Song" and "Gimme Little Sign," Brenton Wood, has passed away at the age of 83.

Wood’s family confirmed the news to Planet Chronicle Digital.

Dad's fans are expressing their love and appreciation for him through their outpouring of support. Our family is grateful for the kindness and affection shown towards him.

Dad revealed that his record label took everything from him, leaving him only with his name, Brenton Wood, a few years after recording his major hits. Thank you for acknowledging the significance of that name!

In 1967, Wood's first hit, "The Oogum Boogum Song," reached No. 19 on the Billboard R&B chart and No. 24 on the Billboard Hot 100 charts. His next hit, "Gimme Little Sign," reached No. 9 on the pop charts.

"Our family would like to thank each of dad’s fans for the outpouring of love they’ve shown. He loved and treasured you all, and you’re all showing that you loved him back!" — Family of Brenton Wood

"During the 1980s and 1990s, he reinvented himself artistically and was most proud of his accomplishments. His family's statement read that he was proud of his artistic reinvention, which helped him secure newfound fame onstage. This made him a prominent figure in popular culture as a founder of the "oldies but goodies" movement."

Alfred Jesse Smith, born in Shreveport, Louisiana, relocated with his family to San Pedro, California before eventually settling in Compton, California.

Dad attributed his success during those years to his devoted fan base in his hometown of Southern California and the West, where he had built up a significant following. He cherished connecting with his fans as much as possible and was particularly committed to performing locally in his hometown. He took great pleasure in meeting his fans on their own turf and wanted to reciprocate the love and support they had shown him as their hometown superstar.

In 2024, Wood began his farewell tour, "Catch You On The Rebound: The Last Tour," which was named after his 1967 hit song. However, the tour was temporarily halted in May due to the singer's hospitalization.

Wood's manager and assistant, Manny Gallegos, stated that Wood died from natural causes at his home in Moreno Valley, CA, surrounded by his family. According to Gallegos, his final words were, "Catch you on the rebound."

Wood's family stated that, "During a recent reflection on music and his career, dad emphasized that it's all about creating unforgettable memories. We hope he has given you as many of those memories as he has given us."