Brenton Wood, the classic soul singer behind hits ‘The Oogum Boogum Song’ and ‘Gimme Little Sign,’ died at the age of 83. Wood’s manager and assistant, Manny Gallegos, confirmed his death to Variety.

According to Gallegos, Wood died from natural causes while surrounded by family at his home in Moreno Valley, California. His final words to fans were, ‘Catch you on the rebound,’ referencing his song from 1967.

Born Alfred Jesse Smith in Shreveport, Louisiana, Wood relocated with his family to San Pedro, California. He pursued music seriously while attending Compton College, influenced by notable artists such as Sam Cooke and Jesse Belvin. Wood adopted his stage name as a homage to his home county.

His music career took off in 1967 after he signed with Double Shot Records, where he recorded ‘The Oogum Boogum Song,’ which peaked at No. 19 on the Billboard R&B charts. Another significant hit, ‘Gimme Little Sign,’ reached No. 9 on the pop charts. In 1972, he established his label, Prophesy Records, and continued to release music through Mr. Wood Records over the years.

Earlier in 2025, Wood commenced a farewell tour called ‘Catch You on the Rebound: The Last Tour.’ However, the tour was temporarily paused after he faced hospitalization.

Wood’s music transcended time, with ‘The Oogum Boogum Song’ being featured in numerous films and television shows, including ‘The Umbrella Academy,’ ‘Almost Famous,’ and ‘Don’t Worry Darling.’ His track ‘Great Big Bundle of Love’ also found its way into the second season of ‘Big Little Lies.’