The Oklahoma-born, Texas-reared singer died Saturday at age 78.
Sad news out of the Lone Star State: Five-time Grammy Award-winner and Grammy Hall of Fame inductee B. J. Thomas passed away Saturday at his home in Arlington, Texas from complications due to stage four lung cancer. He was 78.
With his smooth, rich voice and unerring song sense, Thomas crossed multiple genres, including country, pop, and gospel during his decades long career. He earned CMA, Dove, and Grammy awards and nominations since his emergence in the 1960s, making an indelible impression with numerous enduringly popular hits, including his million-selling cover of Hank Williams’ “I’m So Lonesome I Could Cry,” the Grammy-winning “(Hey Won’t You Play) Another Somebody Done Somebody Wrong Song,” his exuberantly romantic 1968 hit “The Eyes of a New York Woman” — and, of course, his signature song, “Raindrops Keep Fallin’ on My Head.”
Thomas sold over 70 million albums worldwide, scoring eight No. 1 hits and 26 Top 10 singles over his 50-plus years in the music industry. His lengthy chart history led to him being named one of Billboard’s Top 50 Most Played Artists Over The Past 50 Years. Such memorable hits as “I Just Can’t Help Believing, “Don’t Worry Baby,” “Whatever Happened To Old Fashioned Love,” “New Looks From An Old Lover” and “Hooked on a Feeling” have made him a staple on multiple radio formats over the years.
Born in rural Hugo, Oklahoma, Billy Joe Thomas moved with his family at an early age to Houston, where he grew up absorbing a variety of musical influences, from the traditional country of Ernest Tubb and Hank Williams to the soulful sounds of Little Richard (whose “Miss Ann” was the first single Thomas ever bought) and Jackie Wilson. He began singing in church as a child, and in his teens joined the Houston-based band The Triumphs. Thomas’ first taste of success came in 1966 when he recorded “I’m So Lonesome I Could Cry” with producer Huey P. Meaux. Released by Scepter Records, it peaked at No. 8 on the pop charts and became his first million-selling single. He released the follow-up single, “Mama,” and delivered his first solo album that same year.
Thomas’ second million-selling hit came in 1968 with the release of “Hooked on a Feeling,” from On My Way, his sophomore album for Scepter. During his days with the New York label, he became friendly with Ronnie Milsap and Dionne Warwick, who were also on the roster at the time. It was Warwick who introduced him to songwriter-producer Burt Bacharach. In January 1970, Thomas topped the charts with “Raindrops Keep Fallin’ on My Head.” Penned by Bacharach and Hal David, the song was featured in the classic Paul Newman/Robert Redford film Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, and earned the Academy Award for Best Original Song. Sales quickly exceeded two million copies and it has remained one of the most enduring pop hits of all time, reoccurring in such films as Forrest Gump, Charlie's Angels: Full Throttle, Clerks II, and Spider-Man 2 as well as multiple TV shows over the years. He followed that career-defining single with a string of pop/rock hits, including “Everybody's Out of Town,” “I Just Can't Help Believing,” “No Love at All” and “Rock and Roll Lullaby.”
After six years with Scepter Records, Thomas signed with Paramount Records where he released two albums—1973’s Songs and 1974’s Longhorns & Londonbridges. In 1975, Thomas released the album Reunion on ABC Records, featuring “(Hey Won't You Play) Another Somebody Done Somebody Wrong Song,” which holds the distinction of being the longest titled No. 1 hit ever on Billboard’s Hot 100.
According to his publicist, however, Thomas endangered his career — and his life — during the 1970s with a period of substance abuse. But this sad story had a happy ending: “His wife Gloria became a born-again Christian and the turning point in Thomas’ life came when he became a believer in 1976. He immediately quit drugs and found an avenue for expressing his faith in gospel music. Thomas signed with Myrrh Records and released the album Home Where I Belong in 1976. Produced by Chris Christian, the project won Thomas a Grammy and became the first of two Dove Award wins. The album became the first gospel record to sell a million copies. The warmth and emotional timbre of Thomas’s voice was well suited to the genre and he became one of gospel music’s most successful artists. His rendition of ‘Amazing Grace’ is considered one of the most poignant of the classic hymn’s many covers.”
Beyond looming large on multiple radio formats with so many beloved hits, Thomas sang the theme song “As Long As We’ve Got Each Other” for the popular TV series Growing Pains, and lent his voice to numerous commercials, including campaigns for Coca-Cola and Pepsi. As an actor, he appeared in the films Jory and Jake's Corner. He also authored two books, including his autobiography Home Where I Belong.
In 2013, he released The Living Room Sessions, a well-received acoustic album that celebrated Thomas’ nearly six decades in the music industry. The project featured Thomas duetting with other high profile artists on his most beloved hits, including Richard Marx for “(Hey Won't You Play) Another Somebody Done Somebody Wrong Song,” Vince Gill on “I Just Can’t Help Believing,” Sara Niemietz on “Hooked on a Feeling,” Keb’ Mo’ on “Most of All,” Lyle Lovett on “Raindrops Keep Fallin’ On My Head” and The Fray’s Isaac Slade on “I’m So Lonesome I Could Cry.”
A quote from his website reflects Thomas’ humble attitude and appreciation for life: “All I am is just another guy. I’ve been very lucky. I’ve had a wonderful life, I’ve been a husband and a father who cherishes his children and now I’m a grandfather, and I’m motivated like all these teachers and preachers and mothers and fathers to help my kids grow up with character and self-respect. I hope that doesn’t sound too grandiose, but that’s what it comes down to. It’s what I’ve tried to do with my music and with the majority of my life.”
Thomas is survived by Gloria, his wife of 53 years; their three daughters Paige Thomas, Nora Cloud, and Erin Moore; and four grandchildren, Nadia Cloud, Keira Cloud, Ruby Moore, and Billy Joe Moore. Funeral arrangements are forthcoming and will remain private. The family has requested that, in lieu of flowers, in-memoriam donations be sent to Mission Arlington, Tarrant Area Food Bank, and the SPCA of Texas.
Here is B.J. Thomas performing “Raindrops Keep Fallin’ on My Head” with Ray Stevens in 2019 at Stevens’ CabaRay in Nashville.