‘60s Singer Brenton Wood Dead At 83
via ABC7 / Youtube
Brenton Wood, the iconic ’60s singer known for his catchy hits like “The Oogum Boogum Song,” “Gimme Little Sign,” and “Baby You Got It,” passed away at 83 on January 3. His death was confirmed by his representative, who shared that he died of natural causes at his home in Moreno Valley, California, surrounded by his family. In his final message to fans, Wood left a signature phrase, “Catch you on the rebound,” a nod to his 1967 hit of the same name.
A Long and Rewarding Career
Wood’s music career spanned decades, with nine albums released between 1967 and 2009. Even in his later years, he continued working, though a health-related postponement in May halted his farewell tour. His songs, especially “The Oogum Boogum Song,” found new life in popular TV shows and movies like The Umbrella Academy, Almost Famous, Don’t Worry Darling, and a commercial for Kinder Joy candy.
“I taught myself piano by watching this other person play… picking it up and taking it a step further,” Wood once said in a 2004 interview with Classic Bands. “I started getting into those songs that were on the radio and I started copying them. After I started playing, I started having girlfriend problems. So, I started writing about that stuff.”
From Steel Mill to Stardom
Before finding success, Wood worked in a steel mill, where he earned more than he did from songwriting. “I was starting to get paid pretty good to run those heavy equipment machines,” he explained. But everything changed when “Gimme Little Sign” became a hit. “It made a drastic change to my life,” he said. “I went from working in the steel mill to out on the road… I was on the same bill with The Young Rascals, Gladys Knight and The Pips, The Temptations, Smokey Robinson [and] I had shows with Janis Joplin, Big Brother and The Holding Company.”
Wood’s career also included frequent appearances on the Dick Clark TV show and a six-week tour during a tumultuous period in American history, when riots broke out across the country. His impact on the music world is undeniable, and his songs will continue to be remembered and loved.
