Grammy Award winning entertainer BJ Thomas died May 29 in his Arlington, Texas home as a result of lung cancer at the age of 78.

Thomas burst on to the music scene in 1969 when he was tapped to perform “Raindrops Keep Falling on My Head” for the film “Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid”.  Thomas earned as Academy Award for the Burt Bacharach and Hal David penned song.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hziG9Nr6KHU

He went on to earn five Grammy Awards and release a number of other pop, country, and gospel hits including “Hooked on a Feeling”, ″(Hey Won’t You Play) Another Somebody Done Somebody Wrong Song”, and “I Just Can’t Help Believing”.  His gospel album “Home Where I Belong” wen t on to become the first such album to be certified platinum for selling one million copies.

Thomas also has two Dove Awards – Gospel Music Awards – to his credit.  He has sold over 70 million albums around the world.  He became a member of the Grand Ole Opry when he was 30 years old.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YkQoPfmUbY8

During his career, Thomas has performed with Dionne Warwick, Richard Marx, Vince Gill, Sara Niemietz, Keb Mo, Lyle Lovett, and Isaac Slade of The Fray.

Along with “Sundance”, Thomas’ music can be heard on dozens of productions including “Growing Pains”, “Bobby’s World”, “Forrest Gump”, “Chicago Hope”, “The In-Laws”, “Charlie’s Angels Full Throttle”, “Spider-Man 2”, “Cold Case”, “Mike & Mike”, “Family Guy”, and “Mrs. America”.

Billy Joe Thomas was born August 7, 1942 in Hugo Oklahoma but was raised in Houston, Texas where he loved to play baseball as a child.  He took the nickname BJ after several of his baseball mates had the same name.  He began singing in church as a teen-ager and went on to become a part of the locka rock band the Triumphs.  Saying that he “was raised in a fairly dysfunctional situation”, Thomas dealt with addiction issues for many years until his wife helped him to get clean in 1975.

Thomas is survived by his wife of over 50 years Gloria, daughters – Paige, Nora, and Erin – and four grandchildren.

BJ Thomas discography:
“I’m So Lonesome I Could Cry”
“Tomorrow Never Comes”
“On My Way”
“Raindrops Keep Falling on My Head”
“Young and in Love”
“Everybody’s Out of Town”
“Most of All”
“BJ Thomas Country”
“Billy Joe Thomas”
“Rock’n ‘Roll Lullaby”
“Songs “
“Longhorn & London Bridges”
“Help Me Make it (To My Rockin’ Chair)”
“Reunion”
“B.J. Thomas”
“Home Where I Belong”
“Everybody Loves  a Rain Song”
“Happy Man”
“You Gave Me Love (When Nobody Game Me a Prayer)”
“In Concert”
“Amazing Grace”
“Some Love Songs Never Die”
“Miracle”
“Peace in the Valley”
“Love Shines”
“New Looks”
“The Great American Dream”
“Shining”
“You Gave Me Love”
“Throwin’ Rocks at the Moon”
“All is Calm, All is Bright”
“Night Life”
“Hey Won’t You Play Another Somebody Done Somebody Wrong Song”
“Midnight Minute”
“As We Know Him”
“Jesus Hearted People”
“Back Against the Wall”
“Rock and Roll Lullaby”
“Still Standing Here”
“Precious Memories”
“Scenes of Christmas”
“B.J. Thomas Sings Hank Williams and Other Favorites”
“I Believe”
“Christmas is Coming Home”
“Sounds of Christmas”
“You Call that a Mountain”
“Greatest & Latest”
“Holiday Treasures
Series: Country Christmas”
“That Christmas Feeling”
“We Praise: Glorify Thy Name”
“Home for Christmas”
“Love to Burn”
“Christmas Live”
“The Living Room Sessions”
“Recollections”
“Lovin’ You”

feature photo credit: B J Thomas Dec 2012.jpg, [[File:B J Thomas Dec 2012.jpg|B_J_Thomas_Dec_2012]]