Brenton Wood, the celebrated American singer and songwriter best known for his classic hits “The Oogum Boogum Song” and “Gimme Little Sign,” has passed away at the age of 83.
His manager and assistant, Manny Gallegos, confirmed to TMZ that Wood died peacefully at his home in Moreno Valley, California, on Friday, surrounded by loved ones. The cause of his death has not yet been disclosed.
Born Alfred Jesse Smith on July 26, 1941, in Shreveport, Louisiana, Wood’s family relocated to Los Angeles during his childhood. He attended Compton High School, where he excelled as a track athlete before pursuing his passion for music. Inspired by legends like Jesse Belvin and Sam Cooke, Wood adopted his stage name, potentially influenced by the Los Angeles enclave of Brentwood or the historic Bretton Woods.
RELATED STORIES
Wood’s career took off in the late 1960s with his unique fusion of R&B and pop. After several early singles failed to chart, he signed with Double Shot Records, where his breakout hit, “The Oogum Boogum Song,” reached No. 19 on the US Billboard R&B chart and No. 34 on the Hot 100 in 1967. That same year, his biggest hit, “Gimme Little Sign,” soared to No. 9 on the pop charts and achieved international success, selling over a million copies and earning a gold disc.
Throughout the decades, Wood continued to make an impact on the music scene. In 1972, he co-founded his own record label and collaborated with industry icons like George Semper and Earth, Wind & Fire’s Al McKay on the Funk-Soul classic “Sticky Boom Boom.” His career saw a resurgence in the 1980s with the album Out of the Woodwork and later works, including his 2001 release This Love Is for Real.
In 2014, Wood revisited his iconic “Gimme Little Sign” with a reimagined version alongside William Pilgrim & The All Grows Up. His music remained culturally relevant, with “The Oogum Boogum Song” featured in a 2019 commercial for Kinder Joy products.
In 2024, Wood embarked on his farewell tour, Catch You On The Rebound: The Last Tour, which was interrupted by a hospitalization in May.
Brenton Wood’s timeless contributions to music have left an indelible mark on the soul and R&B genres. He will be remembered not only for his iconic hits but also for his enduring influence on generations of musicians.
May his soul rest in peace.
