<div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>American singer-songwriter Brenton Wood has died at the age of 83, </span><em><span>Variety</span></em><span> have reported.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Born Alfred Jesse Smith, the entertainer is best known for the 1967 hit </span><em><span>The Oogum Boogum Song,</span></em><span> which has been featured in a range of popular films and TV shows.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The performer's manager, Manny Gallegos, confirmed the news to the US media outlet.</span></div></div><div><div id="adspot-mobile-medium"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/world/mystery-volcano-that-erupted-and-cooled-earth-in-1831-has-finally-been-identified/6b313a3e-08b6-492a-a8c1-09c24d75e35e"><strong><span>'Mystery volcano' that erupted and cooled Earth in 1831 has finally been identified</span></strong></a><span></span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Gallegos said Wood died from natural causes and was surrounded by his family at his home in California.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>According to a statement from Gallegos, the performer's last words were "Catch you on the rebound", which was a reference to one of his hit songs.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Wood was born in the city of Shreveport in Louisiana on July 26, 1941.</span></div></div><div><div class="OUTBRAIN" data-reactroot="" data-src="//www.9news.com.au/world/brenton-wood-singer-and-songwriter-behind-hit-oogum-boogum-song-dies/6150c969-fefa-4fa0-819e-c1da50eb0add" data-widget-id="AR_5"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>When he was a child, his family moved to the neighbourhood of San Pedro in Los Angeles.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>After his high school graduation, he went to East Los Angeles College and started to perform under the stage name Brenton Wood, which some have speculated was inspired by the wealthy Los Angeles neighbourhood of Brentwood.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>He developed a strong interest in music and honed his songwriting skills.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Wood also became a competent pianist as he continued his musical journey.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>While his earlier singles failed to chart, his persistence in the music industry paid off when he signed with Double Shot Records and novelty single </span><em><span>The Oogum Boogum Song</span></em><span> reached No.19 on the Billboard charts.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Wood's biggest hit came a few months later when his song </span><em><span>Gimme Little Sign</span></em><span> hit No.9 on the US pop chart. </span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The single was later covered by Australian singer Peter Andre in 1993, peaking at No. 3 on the ARIA charts and became the 12th highest-selling single of the year.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Wood's single </span><em><span>Baby You Got It</span></em><span> also peaked on the charts. He released a number of studio albums and formed his own record label.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Woods was hospitalised in May 2024, which put a stop to his farewell tour.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/how-to-follow-9news-digital/29855bb1-ad3d-4c38-bc25-3cb52af1216f" target="_blank"><strong><em><span>DOWNLOAD THE 9NEWS APP</span></em></strong></a><strong><em><span>:</span></em></strong><span> </span><em><strong><span>Stay across all the latest in breaking news, sport, politics and the weather via our news app and get notifications sent straight to your smartphone. 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