‘Oogum Boogum’ singer and soul legend Brenton Wood has died, aged 83

nme.com:

Variety the musician had died from natural causes and was surrounded by his family at his Moreno Valley home.Gallegos claimed Wood’s final words to his fans were, “Catch you on the rebound” – a reference to his 1967 song and 2024 tour of the same name.Wood, born Alfred Jesse Smith, adopted his stage name as a reference to his home county, and had recorded several singles before he signed with Double Shot Records in 1967 and scored one of his biggest hits in ‘The Oogum Boogum Song’.The Compton crooner considered the track his “abracadabra” moment, because it came at a time when his label was desperate for a hit from him.

Having spent six weeks reworking the track because he didn’t like what they had initially brought him, it went on to become one of his most successful releases.Brenton Wood wrote The Oogum Boogum song because he desperately needed a hit.

The meaning of the song was another way to say Abracadabra to those he believed were against him. Rest in Power So Cal legend.

pic.twitter.com/eg0R8U2WKt— Danny Deraney (@DannyDeraney) January 3, 2025It reached Number 19 on the Billboard R&B charts, and featured in several film and TV shows including Almost Famous and Don’t Worry Darling.