Wood’s manager and assistant, Manny Gallegos, confirmed his death to Variety, revealing that he passed away from natural causes while surrounded by family at his home in Moreno Valley, California. Gallegos shared that Wood’s parting words to his fans were, “Catch you on the rebound,” referencing his 1967 hit song.
Born Alfred Jesse Smith in Shreveport, Louisiana, Wood moved with his family to San Pedro, California, during his childhood. He later attended Compton College, where his passion for music began to flourish. Taking inspiration from artists like Sam Cooke and Jesse Belvin, he adopted the stage name "Brenton Wood" as a tribute to his home county and pursued songwriting and piano.
Brenton Wood recorded several singles before joining Double Shot Records in 1967, where he achieved his greatest success. His hit "The Oogum Boogum Song" reached No. 19 on the Billboard R&B charts, while "Gimme Little Sign" climbed to No. 9 on the pop charts. In 1972, Wood launched his own label, Prophesy Records, and continued releasing music for decades through his imprint, Mr. Wood Records.
In early 2024, Brenton Wood embarked on his farewell tour, Catch You on the Rebound: The Last Tour, but the tour was put on hold after he was hospitalized.
Over the years, Wood’s timeless hit “The Oogum Boogum Song” gained renewed popularity, featuring in films and TV shows like The Umbrella Academy, Almost Famous, and Don’t Worry Darling. Additionally, his single “Great Big Bundle of Love” was prominently featured in the second season of Big Little Lies.
0 Comments