Brenton Wooden, the soul singer finest identified for his 1967 hit “The Oogum Boogum Track,” has died. He was 83.
Wooden handed away on Friday, at his residence in Moreno Valley, California, surrounded by household and mates, in accordance with his supervisor and assistant, Manny Gallegos, TMZ reviews.
Gallegos confirmed to The New York Put up that Wooden died of pure causes. “He went in his sleep peacefully. The love that he gave us, God took him the identical method,” Gallegos mentioned.
The supervisor additionally shared a closing message from Wooden to his followers: “He mentioned, ‘Catch you on the rebound,’” referring to a 1967 tune and the title of his closing tour, which wrapped up over Valentine’s Day weekend in 2024. Wooden started feeling in poor health shortly after the tour and was hospitalized final Might.
Born Alfred Jesse Smith in Shreveport, Louisiana, Wooden relocated together with his household to San Pedro, California, within the Fifties. He later attended faculty in Southern California, the place he started nurturing his ardour for music, drawing inspiration from artists like Jesse Belvin and Sam Cooke. A self-taught pianist, Wooden wrote songs and harmonized with neighborhood mates. He adopted the stage title Brenton Wooden, drawing inspiration from the Brentwood neighborhood of Los Angeles.
After signing with Double Shot Information in 1967, Wooden launched three of his greatest hits that very same yr: “The Oogum Boogum Track” (which reached No. 34 on the Billboard Sizzling 100), “Gimme Little Signal” (peaking at No. 9 on the Sizzling 100) and “Child You Received It” (hitting No. 34 on the Sizzling 100). “The Oogum Boogum Track” and “Gimme Little Signal” each peaked at No. 19 on the Billboard‘s Sizzling R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart, whereas “Child You Received It” reached No. 30 on that chart.
In 1972, he based his personal label, Prophesy Information, and later launched music underneath Mr. Wooden Information.
Over time, “The Oogum Boogum Track” has reached new audiences by way of its inclusion in fashionable TV exhibits and flicks reminiscent of The Umbrella Academy, Virtually Well-known and Don’t Fear Darling, amongst others.
“It’s onerous to be in a nasty temper after you hear the ‘Oogum Boogum Track,’” NPR wrote in 2023. “Most likely not well worth the effort.”
“It’s a foolish title and has foolish lyrics, too. However there’s one thing in regards to the feeling. That just about playful falsetto, the drums bouncing alongside, the jangly guitar hits.”
Throughout his profession, Wooden believed in “giving again” and incessantly carried out at colleges and neighborhood outreach occasions all through Southern California, in accordance with his web site. Throughout these appearances, the musician would share his private {and professional} challenges and successes, providing a message of empowerment with an emphasis on training and a “can do” perspective to encourage youth, the location states.
The story first appeared on Billboard.com.
