Soul singer Brenton Wood has died at the age of 83. According to his manager, Manny Gallegos, Wood passed away at his home in Moreno Valley, California. Born Alfred Jesse Smith, Wood was best known for his 1967 hit “The Oogum Boogum Song,” which has been featured in various films and TV shows.
Wood, a singer and pianist from Shreveport, Louisiana, and San Pedro, Los Angeles, released several records before gaining popularity with the upbeat tune. He covered Sam Cooke’s classic “A Change Is Gonna Come” and later formed his own label, Prophesy Records, in 1972.
Wood’s music continued to gain new fans through films like “The Umbrella Academy,” “Almost Famous,” and “Don’t Worry Darling.” He launched a final tour called “Catch You on the Rebound” in early 2024 but was forced to stop due to hospitalization.
Source: https://www.theguardian.com/music/2025/jan/03/brenton-wood-dies-oogum-boogum-song