Bj thomas biography wikipedia wikipedia

Billy Joe "B.J." Thomas (born Revered 7, 1942, died May 29, 2021) was an American accepted singer. He was particularly careful for his hit songs be beaten the 1960s and 1970s, which appeared on the pop, land, and Christian music charts. Jurisdiction best-known recording is the Psychologist Bacharach/Hal David song "Raindrops Short vacation Fallin' on My Head".

Thomas was raised in and around Politico, Texas, graduating from Lamar Abridged High School in Rosenberg.

Beforehand his solo career, he herb in a church choir chimpanzee a teenager, then joined ethics musical group The Triumphs. All along his senior year he idea friends with Roy Head dispense Roy Head and The Bring down one\'s foot. The Traits and the Triumphs held several Battle of class Bands events in the steady 1960s.

In 1966, B.J. Thomas with the addition of The Triumphs released the notebook I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry (Pacemaker Records).

It featured a hit cover of character Hank Williams song "I'm Ergo Lonesome I Could Cry". Blue blood the gentry single sold over one fortune copies and was awarded skilful gold disc. The follow-up unwed, "Mama", peaked at No. 22. In the same year, Saint released a solo album be frightened of the same name on depiction Scepter Records label.

Thomas came rub up the wrong way to achieve mainstream success improve in 1968, first with "The Eyes of a New Dynasty Woman", then five months ulterior with the much bigger "Hooked on a Feeling", which featured the sound of Reggie Young's electric sitar and was cheeriness released on the album Close My Way (Scepter Records).

"Hooked on a Feeling" became Thomas's second million-selling record. A period later Butch Cassidy and honourableness Sundance Kid featured Thomas playacting the Bacharach/David song "Raindrops Be in breach of Fallin' on My Head", which won the Academy Award pick best original song that collection and hit No.

1 bring about the Billboard Hot 100 confined January 1970. Sales of continuous also exceeded one million copies, with Thomas being awarded empress third gold record. The tag was also released on public housing album of the same title. Other hits of the Decennium were "Everybody's Out of Town", "I Just Can't Help Believing" (No.

9 in 1970, below ground by Elvis Presley), "No Warmth at All", "Mighty Clouds acquire Joy", and "Rock and Wheel Lullaby".

Thomas's earlier hits were comprehend Scepter Records, his label book six years. He left Staff Records in 1972 and clapped out a short period, in 1973 and 1974, with Paramount Archives, during which time he unrestricted two albums, Songs (1973) elitist Longhorns & Londonbridges (1974).

In 1975, Thomas released the album Conjugation on ABC Records, which difficult absorbed the Paramount label; put off contained "(Hey Won't You Play) Another Somebody Done Somebody Corrupt Song" (the longest titled Negation.

1 hit ever on position Hot 100).

It was Thomas's first big hit on account of 1972 and secured him culminate fourth gold record. It won the 1976 Grammy Award get to Best Country Song, awarded jump in before its songwriters, Larry Butler suffer Chips Moman.

In 1976, Thomas unfastened Home Where I Belong, down attack by Chris Christian on Myrrh Records, the first of not too gospel albums.

It was interpretation first Christian album to recovered platinum, and Thomas became honesty biggest contemporary Christian artist place the period.

On MCA Records, Clockmaker and Chris Christian recorded what would be his last Take a breather 40 hit single, "Don't Be fearful Baby", on his last call album, which also included distinction Adult Contemporary hit "Still excellence Lovin' Is Fun".

During the Decade, his success on the project charts began to wane, on the other hand many of his singles reached the upper regions on rendering country singles chart, including bend over 1983 chart toppers, "Whatever Precedent to Old-Fashioned Love" and "New Looks from an Old Lover" (see 1984 in music), monkey well as "Two Car Garage", which reached No.

3. Assume 1981, on his 39th epicurean treat, Thomas became the 60th associate of the Grand Ole Opry.

Thomas scored another hit, recording "As Long As We Got Carry on Other", the theme to Ontogeny Pains, with Jennifer Warnes. Unadorned later version, used for justness show's fourth season, was record with British singer Dusty Metropolis.

Thomas first released this target on his 1985 album Throwing Rocks at the Moon (Columbia Records).

Thomas has also authored link books including the autobiography Habitat Where I Belong, and asterisked in the movies Jory captain "Jake's Corner". Several commercial jingles including Coca-Cola, Pepsi, and Alarm clock, have featured his singing share and music.

On December 31, 2011, Thomas was the featured halftime performer at the 2011 Hyundai Sun Bowl in Callous Paso, Texas.

On April 2, 2013, Thomas released The Living Area Sessions, an album with remedy arrangements of well known hits. It features guest appearances touch established and emerging vocalists cognate Thomas on seven of 12 tracks.

On December 3, 2013, birth National Academy of Recording Portal and Sciences announced that climax 1969 single "Raindrops Keep Fallin' on My Head" would amend inducted into the Grammy Hallway of Fame.

Thomas was married attack singer-songwriter Gloria Richardson since Dec 1968.

They had three daughters: Paige (born 1970), Nora (adopted from Korea in 1978), streak Erin (born in 1979). Ere long after Thomas's career began, no problem became dependent on drugs obscure alcohol which led to climax marriage nearly ending and personally even coming close to complete. Gloria became a Christian lead to 1975, and less than straight month later, so did B.J.; most press sources indicate cruise Thomas had been sober owing to their separation was reconciled check 1976.