Legendary soul singer Brenton Wood dies at 83

Soul singer Brenton Wood has died of natural causes (Picture: Getty/Redferns)

Brenton Wood, known for the Oogum Boogum Song, has died at 83 years old.

Wood’s manager Manny Gallegos confirmed the musician had died from natural causes.

Gallegos claimed to Variety that Wood said, just before his death, ‘Catch you on the rebound,’ a reference to his 1967 song.

Born Alfred Jesse Smith, the singer signed with Double Shot Records in 1967.

The Oogum Boogum song was a massive breakout hit for Wood in that same year, reaching Number 19 on the Billboard R&B charts.

It would go on to become a cultural touchstone, featuring in several films and TV shows including Almost Famous and Don’t Worry Darling. 

The singer considered the song to be his ‘abracadabra’ moment – for which he claimed Oogum Boogum was a synonym – because its release followed his label making it clear that he needed to have a major hit to stay under contract.

He then spent six weeks reworking the version of the song the label originally brought him, certain he could make it into something career defining.

Wood toured until May of this year (Picture: Scott Dudelson/Getty Images)

Wood was born in Shreveport, Louisiana but grew up in Los Angeles,eventually attending Compton College where he fell in love with rhythm and blues.

Wood was a gifted singer and pianist who took musical inspiration from greats like Sam Cooke, eventually forming his own label Prophesy Records in 1972.

Over the past nearly five decades he continued to release music on his label Mr Wood Records and even continued to tour up until May of this year when he was hospitalised.

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