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Revision as of 14:58, 1 May 2017

B. J. Thomas
Thomas in 1972
Thomas in 1972
Background information
Birth nameBilly Joe Thomas
Born (1942-08-07) August 7, 1942 (age 82)
Hugo, Oklahoma, U.S.
OriginHouston, Texas
GenresCountry, pop, contemporary Christian, rock
OccupationSinger
InstrumentVocals
Years active1966–present
LabelsScepter, Myrrh, Columbia, ABC, Paramount, MCA
Websitebjthomas.com

Billy Joe "B.J." Thomas (born August 7, 1942) is an American popular singer. He is particularly known for his hit songs of the 1960s and 1970s, which appeared on the pop, country, and Christian music charts. His best-known recording is the Burt Bacharach/Hal David song "Raindrops Keep Fallin' on My Head" from the 1969 film Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid.

Career

Thomas was raised in and around Houston, Texas, graduating from Lamar Consolidated High School in Rosenberg. Before his solo career, he sang in a church choir as a teenager, then joined the musical group The Triumphs.[1] During his senior year he made friends with Roy Head of Roy Head and The Traits. The Traits and the Triumphs held several Battle of the Bands events in the early 1960s.

In 1966, B.J. Thomas and The Triumphs released the album I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry (Pacemaker Records). It featured a hit cover of the Hank Williams song "I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry". The single sold over one million copies and was awarded a gold disc.[2] The follow-up single, "Mama", peaked at No. 22. In the same year, Thomas released a solo album of the same name on the Scepter Records label.

Thomas came back to achieve mainstream success again in 1968, first with "The Eyes of a New York Woman", then five months later with the much bigger "Hooked on a Feeling", which featured the sound of Reggie Young's electric sitar and was first released on the album On My Way (Scepter Records). "Hooked on a Feeling" became Thomas's second million-selling record.[2] A year later Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid featured Thomas performing the Bacharach/David song "Raindrops Keep Fallin' on My Head", which won the Academy Award for best original song that year and hit No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 in January 1970. Sales of it also exceeded one million copies, with Thomas being awarded his third gold record.[2] The song was also released on an album of the same name. Other hits of the 1970s were "Everybody's Out of Town", "I Just Can't Help Believing" (No. 9 in 1970, covered by Elvis Presley), "No Love at All", "Mighty Clouds of Joy", and "Rock and Roll Lullaby".

Thomas's earlier hits were with Scepter Records, his label for six years. He left Scepter Records in 1972 and spent a short period, in 1973 and 1974, with Paramount Records, during which time he released two albums, Songs (1973) and Longhorns & Londonbridges (1974).

In 1975, Thomas released the album Reunion on ABC Records, which had absorbed the Paramount label; it contained "(Hey Won't You Play) Another Somebody Done Somebody Wrong Song" (the longest titled No. 1 hit ever on the Hot 100). It was Thomas's first big hit since 1972 and secured him his fourth gold record.[2]

In 1976, Thomas released Home Where I Belong, produced by Chris Christian on Myrrh Records, the first of several gospel albums. It was the first Christian album to go platinum, and Thomas became the biggest contemporary Christian artist of the period.[3]

On MCA Records, Thomas and Chris Christian recorded what would be his last Top 40 hit single, "Don't Worry Baby", on his last pop album, which also included the Adult Contemporary hit "Still the Lovin' Is Fun".

During the 1980s, his success on the pop charts began to wane, but many of his singles reached the upper regions on the country singles chart, including two 1983 chart toppers, "Whatever Happened to Old-Fashioned Love" and "New Looks from an Old Lover" (see 1984 in music), as well as "Two Car Garage", which reached No. 3. In 1981, on his 39th birthday, Thomas became the 60th member of the Grand Ole Opry.[4]

Thomas scored another hit, recording "As Long As We Got Each Other", the theme to Growing Pains. The first season theme was a solo for Thomas, but was re-recorded as a duet with Jennifer Warnes for the second and third seasons. It was re-recorded again for the show's fourth season with British singer Dusty Springfield, but the Thomas/Warnes version was reinstated for season five and most of season seven. Thomas first released this track on his 1985 album Throwing Rocks at the Moon (Columbia Records).

Thomas in December 2012

Thomas has also written two books including the autobiography Home Where I Belong, and starred in the movies Jory and Jake's Corner. Several commercial jingles including Coca-Cola, Pepsi, and Bell, have featured his singing voice and music. On December 31, 2011, Thomas was the featured halftime performer at the 2011 Hyundai Sun Bowl in El Paso, Texas.

On April 2, 2013, Thomas released The Living Room Sessions, an album with acoustic arrangements of well known hits. It features guest appearances with established and emerging vocalists accompanying Thomas on seven of twelve tracks.[5]

On December 3, 2013, the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences announced that his 1969 single "Raindrops Keep Fallin' on My Head" would be inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame.[6]

Personal life

Thomas has been married to singer-songwriter Gloria Richardson since December 1968.[7][8] They have three daughters: Paige (born 1970), Nora (adopted from Korea in 1978), and Erin (born in 1979).[9] Shortly after Thomas's career began, he became dependent on drugs and alcohol which led to his marriage nearly ending and he himself even coming close to death. Gloria became a Christian in 1975, and less than a month later, so did B.J.; most press sources indicate that Thomas has been sober since their separation was reconciled in 1976.[8][10][11][12]

Discography

Albums

Year Title Peak chart positions[13] Label
US US Country CAN
1966 I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry Scepter Records
Tomorrow Never Comes
1967 Sings for Lovers and Losers
1968 On My Way 133
1969 Young and in Love
Raindrops Keep Fallin' on My Head 12 10
1969 Greatest Hits, Vol. 1 90 1970
Everybody's Out of Town 72 71
Most of All 67 44
1971 Greatest Hits, Vol. 2 92
1972 B.J. Thomas Country 209
Billy Joe Thomas 145
1973 Songs 221 Paramount
1974 Longhorns & Londonbridges
1975 Reunion 59 2 40 ABC Records
Help Me Make It (To My Rockin' Chair) 26
1976 Home Where I Belong Myrrh
1977 B.J. Thomas 114 39 MCA
1978 Everybody Loves a Rain Song
1979 Happy Man Myrrh
You Gave Me Love Word
1980 The Best of B.J. Thomas Myrrh
For the Best MCA/Songbird
In Concert
1981 Amazing Grace Word
Some Love Songs Never Die MCA
1982 As We Know Him
Miracle Myrrh
Peace in the Valley
1983 Love Shines Priority
New Looks 193 13 Columbia
The Great American Dream 27
1984 ShiningA 40
1985 Throwin' Rocks at the Moon
You Gave Me Love (When Nobody Gave Me A Prayer) Myrrh
1986 Night Life Columbia
All Is Calm, All Is Bright
1987 Hey Won't You Play Another
Somebody Done Somebody Wrong Song 		MCA
1989 Midnight Minute Reprise
1991 As We Knew Him MCA
Jesus Hearted People
1992 Back Against the Wall Reprise
Rock & Roll Lullaby Trace
1993 Wind Beneath My Wings Sony Music
1994 Still Standing Here Laurie
1995 Precious Memories Warner Bros.
Scenes of Christmas Cross Three
1996 B.J. Thomas Sings Hank Williams and Other Favorites Buckboard
1997 I Believe Warner Bros.
Christmas Is Coming Home Warner Resound
1998 Sounds of Christmas Kardina
2000 You Call That a Mountain
2005 That Christmas Feeling Madacy
2006 We Praise: Glorify Thy Name Braun Media
We Praise: Just as I Am
2007 Home for Christmas Lifestyles
Love to Burn Raindrops Records
2009 Once I Loved Honeyman Music
2012 The Complete Scepter Singles Real Gone Music
2013 The Living Room Sessions 39 Wrinkled
  • AShining also peaked at No. 17 on the RPM Country Albums chart in Canada.

Singles

Note: Singles without indicated B-sides may have been only released as promotional copies with stereo and mono versions of the same song.

Year Titles (A-side, B-side)
Both sides from same album except where indicated

Peak chart positions[13] Album
US AC US US Country US Christian (CHR)[14] CAN AC CAN CAN Country
1966 "I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry"
b/w "Candy Baby" (from Tomorrow Never Comes) 		— 8 — — — 2 — I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry
"Mama"
b/w "Wendy" 		— 22 — — — 12 —
"Billy and Sue"
b/w "Never Tell" 		— 34 — — — 23 — The Very Best of B.J. Thomas
"Bring Back the Time"
b/w "I Don't Have A Mind of My Own" (from Tomorrow Never Comes) 		— 75 — — — 53 — I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry
"You'll Never Walk Alone"
b/w "Chains of Love" 		— — — — — — — The Very Best of B.J. Thomas
"Tomorrow Never Comes"
b/w "Your Tears Leave Me Cold" (Non-album track) 		— 80 — — — 89 — Tomorrow Never Comes
"Plain Jane"
b/w "My Home Town" 		— 129 — — — — —
1967 "I Can't Help It (If I'm Still in Love with You)"
b/w "Baby Cried" (from Tomorrow Never Comes) 		— 94 — — — — — B.J. Thomas Sings For Lovers and Losers
"Treasure of Love"
b/w "Just The Wisdom of a Fool" 		— — — — — — —
"Human"
b/w "Just The Wisdom of a Fool" (from B.J. Thomas Sings For Lovers and Losers) 		— — — — — — — Non-album tracks
"The Girl Can't Help It"
b/w "Walkin' Back" (from Tomorrow Never Comes) 		— — — — — — —
1968 "The Eyes of a New York Woman"
b/w "I May Never Get To Heaven" (Non-album track) 		— 28 — — — 29 — On My Way
"Hooked on a Feeling"
b/w "I've Been Down This Road Before" 		— 5 — — — 3 —
1969 "It's Only Love"
b/w "You Don't Love Me Anymore" (Non-album track) 		37 45 — — — 24 — Young and In Love
"Pass the Apple Eve"
b/w "Fairy Tale of Time" (Non-album track) 		— 97 — — — 78 —
"Skip a Rope"
b/w "You Don't Love Me Anymore" (Non-album track)( 		— — — — — — —
"Raindrops Keep Fallin' on My Head"
b/w "Never Had It So Good" (from Young and In Love) 		1 1 — — 1 1 — Raindrops Keep Fallin' on My Head
1970 "Everybody's Out of Town"
b/w "Living Again" (from Young and In Love) 		3 26 — — — 18 — Everybody's Out Of Town
"I Just Can't Help Believing"
b/w "Send My Picture To Scranton, PA" 		1 9 — — — 18 —
"Most of All"
b/w "The Mask" (from Everybody's Out of Town) 		2 38 — — 13 20 — Most Of All
1971 "No Love At All"
b/w "Have a Heart" (Non-album track) 		4 16 — — 12 16 —
"Mighty Clouds of Joy"
b/w "Life" 		8 34 — — 25 26 — Greatest Hits Volume Two
"Long Ago Tomorrow"
b/w "Burnin' a Hole in My Mind" (Non-album track) 		13 61 — — — 57 —
1972 "Rock and Roll Lullaby"
b/w "Are We Losing Touch" 		1 15 — — 8 7 — Billy Joe Thomas
"That's What Friends Are For"
b/w "I Get Enthused" 		38 74 — — — — —
"Happier Than the Morning Sun"
b/w "We Have Got To Get Our Ship Together" 		31 100 — — — — —
1973 "Sweet Cherry Wine"
b/w "Roads" 		— — — — — — —
"Songs"
b/w "Goodbye's a Long, Long, Time" 		41 — — — — — — Songs
"Early Morning Hush"
b/w "Sunday Sunrise" 		— — — — — — —
1974 "Play Something Sweet"
b/w "Talkin' Confidentially" (from Songs) 		— — — — — — — Longhorns & Londonbridges
1975 "(Hey Won't You Play) Another Somebody Done Somebody Wrong Song"
b/w "City Boys" 		1 1 1 — 1 3 2 Reunion
"Help Me Make It (To My Rockin' Chair)"
b/w "We Are Happy Together" 		5 64 37 — 9 67 — Help Me Make It (To My Rockin' Chair)
1977 "Home Where I Belong"
b/w "Hallelujah" 		— — 98 21 — — — Home Where I Belong
"Without A Doubt"
B-side unknown 		— — — — — — —
"Don't Worry Baby"
b/w "My Love" 		2 17 — — 1 12 — B.J. Thomas
"Still The Lovin' Is Fun"
b/w "Play Me A Little Traveling Music" 		8 77 — — 13 86 —
1978 "I Want To Be More Like Jesus"
B-side unknown 		— — — — — — — Happy Man
"Everybody Loves a Rain Song"
b/w "Dusty Roads" 		2 43 25 — 11 43 34 Everybody Loves A Rain Song
"Sweet Young America"
b/w "Aloha" 		— — — — — — —
1979 "We Could Have Been the Closest of Friends"
b/w "In My Heart" 		— — 86 — — — — Non-album tracks
"God Bless the Children"
b/w "On This Christmas Night" 		38 — — — — — — On This Christmas Night (Various artists)
"Happy Man" — — — 5 — — — Happy Man
"What a Difference You've Made" — — — 6 — — —
"He's Got It All In Control" — — — 18 — — —
"From the Start"
B-side of the above four tracks unknown 		— — — 20 — — —
1980 "Jesus on My Mind"
b/w "Using Things and Loving People" 		— — — 1 — — — You Gave Me Love (When Nobody Gave Me A Prayer)
"The Faith of a Little Child"
B-side unknown 		— — — 7 — — —
"Walkin' on a Cloud" / 30 — — — — — — For The Best
"Nothin' Could Be Better" — — — 19 — — —
"Everything Always Works Out for the Best"
b/w "No Limit" 		— — — 10 — — —
1981 "Unclouded Day"
b/w "Amazing Grace" 		— — — — — — — Amazing Grace
"Some Love Songs Never Die"
b/w "There Ain't No Love" 		34 — 27 — — — — Some Love Songs Never Die
"I Recall a Gypsy Woman"
b/w "The Lovin' Kind" 		— — 22 — — — 47
1982 "Satan, You're A Liar"
B-side unknown 		— — — 6 — — — Miracle
"But Love Me"
b/w "I Really Got the Feeling" 		27 — — — — — — As We Know Him
"I'm in Tune (Finding How Good Life Can Be)" — — — — — — — Miracle
1983 "Whatever Happened to Old-Fashioned Love"
b/w "I Just Sing" 		13 93 1 — — — 1 New Looks
"New Looks from an Old Lover"
b/w "You Keep the Man in Me Happy" 		— — 1 — — — 6
"Pray For Me"
B-side unknown 		— — — 4 — — — Love Shines
"Two Car Garage"
b/w "Beautiful World" 		44 — 3 — — — 1 The Great American Dream
1984 "The Whole World's in Love When You're Lonely"
b/w "We're Here To Love" 		— — 10 — — — 15 Shining
"The Girl Most Likely To"
b/w "From This Moment On" 		— — 17 — — — 5
1985 "The Part of Me That Needs You Most"
b/w "Northern Lights" 		— — 61 — — — 57 Throwin' Rocks at the Moon
1986 "America Is"
b/w "Broken Toys" 		— — 62 — — — —
"Night Life"
b/w "Make the World Go Away" 		— — 59 — — — — Night Life
1988 "As Long As We Got Each Other" (with Dusty Springfield) 7 — — — — — — Midnight Minute
1989 "Don't Leave Love (Out There All Alone)"
b/w "One Woman" 		39 — — — — — —
2000 "You Call That a Mountain" — — 66 — — — — You Call That a Mountain
2013 "I Just Can't Help Believing" (with Vince Gill) — — — — — — — The Living Room Sessions

Guest singles

Year Single Artist Chart positions Album
US Country CAN Country
1984 "Rock and Roll Shoes"[15] Ray Charles 14 15 Friendship

Other album appearances

Awards and nominations

Year Association Category Work Result Ref.
1970 Grammy Awards Best Male Pop Vocal Performance "Raindrops Keep Fallin' on My Head" Nominated [13]
1975 Country Music Association Single of the Year "(Hey Won't You Play) Another Somebody Done Somebody Wrong Song" Nominated [16]
1976 GMA Dove Awards Album by a Secular Artist Home Where I Belong Won [17]
1977 Grammy Awards Best Inspirational Performance Home Where I Belong Won [13]
1978 Best Inspirational Performance Happy Man Won [13]
1979 Best Inspirational Performance You Gave Me Love (When Nobody Gave Me a Prayer) Won [13]
1980 Best Gospel Performance, Contemporary
With Reba Rambo, Dony McGuire, The Archers, Cynthia Clawson, Andrae Crouch, Tramaine Hawkins & Walter Hawkins 		The Lord's Prayer Won [13]
1981 Best Inspirational Performance Amazing Grace Won [13]
1981 GMA Dove Awards Album by a Secular Artist Amazing Grace Won [17]
2014 NARAS Grammy Hall of Fame Award "Raindrops Keep Fallin' on My Head" Won [6]

References

  1. ^ Wirt, John (February 9, 2007). "The music never gets old for Thomas". The Advocate (Online). p. 2. Retrieved February 20, 2007.
  2. ^ a b c d Murrells, Joseph (1978). The Book of Golden Discs (2nd ed.). London: Barrie and Jenkins Ltd. pp. 213, 250, 268 & 365. ISBN 0-214-20512-6.
  3. ^ Uncredited, Profile of B.J. Thomas Archived March 7, 2016, at the Wayback Machine; www.xentel.com.
  4. ^ Gary James, Interview with B.J. Thomas Archived March 3, 2016, at the Wayback Machine, 2005; www.classicbands.com.
  5. ^ Erlewine, Stephen Thomas (2013). "B.J. Thomas The Living Room Sessions". The Living Room Sessions. AllMusic. Retrieved December 3, 2013.
  6. ^ a b "2014 Grammy Hall of Fame". Raindrops Keep Fallin' on my Head. The Recording Academy. December 3, 2013. Archived from the original on December 3, 2013. Retrieved December 3, 2013.
  7. ^ "Gloria Thomas". AllMusic. Retrieved August 7, 2014.
  8. ^ a b Jenkins, B.J. Thomas as told to Jerry B. (1982). Home where I belong ([Repr.] ed.). Waco, Texas: Word Books. ISBN 0849929059.
  9. ^ "Billy Joe Thomas: From Then to Now".
  10. ^ Kennedy, John W. "Conversation: B.J. Thomas". Archived from the original on March 13, 2014. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  11. ^ Rick, Coates (August 22, 2011). "BJ Thomas". Northern Express. Retrieved August 7, 2014. Recommitting himself to his religious upbringing in 1976 Thomas pursued Christian music, finding success on the charts but challenges on the road. Often blending his concerts with his Christian and pop songs, his secular music didn't sit well with some in the audience.
  12. ^ Howard, Kerbel (August 6, 2014). "A Conversation With BJ Thomas: Love, Near Tragedy And A Song That Saved". The Huffington Post. Retrieved August 7, 2014.
  13. ^ a b c d e f g h "Awards: B.J. Thomas". Allmusic. Retrieved April 19, 2016. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  14. ^ "Christian CHR National Airplay". The Nielsen Company. Retrieved July 9, 2012.
  15. ^ "The top 20 pop singles, based on Billboard's survey..." UPI. October 12, 1984. Archived from the original on December 20, 2016. Retrieved April 19, 2016. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |dead-url= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  16. ^ "Top CMA Award Nominees" (PDF). Academy of Country Music. p. 99. Archived from the original (PDF) on April 27, 2013. Nominated 1975 Single of the Year
  17. ^ a b "Artist"s Bio: BJ Thomas". Grand Ole Opry. Archived from the original on April 19, 2016. Retrieved April 19, 2016.
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