B. J. Thomas Biography, Photos and Posters

B. J. Thomas

Biography

Born: Aug 7, 1942
City and Country of Origin: Houston, Texas
Music Training: performed in church as a child
Awards:
Top Recordings: "I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry," "Hooked on a Feeling," "Raindrops Keep Fallin' on My Head," "(Hey Won't You Play) Another Somebody Done Somebody Wrong Song," "Don't Worry Baby"
B. J. Thomas Biography: Billy Joe Thomas is an American country singer whose music straddles the line between country, pop and rock. Although there seems to be some debate over exactly where he was born, some say Hugo, Oklahoma, there is no question that he grew up around Houston, Texas. He started his career as more of a rock and roller in the late 60 and early 70s, but moved closer to country after that.

After having performed in church as achild he joined a Houston based band called the Triumphs while in his teens. Together they released a number of independent singles including "Billy and Sue," which like the others was a flop. After this Thomas began his solor career, recording a version of Hank Willima's "I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry." The song was released on Scepter Records in early 1966 and rose all the way to number 8 on the pop charts. After a couple of moderately successful releases Thomas released "Hooked on a Feeling, in 1968, which earned him a gold record. The following year he had his biggest hit with the Burt Bacharach and Hal David song "Raindrops Keep Fallin' on My Head," taken from the hit film Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid. the song made it all the way to the top of the pop charts and catapulted Thomas into international stardom.

Thomas followed his success with a handful of soft rock hits "Everybody's Out of Town," "I Just Can't Help Believing," "No Love at All," and "Rock and Roll Lullaby." After this Scepter Records went out of business and Thomas moved over to Paramount Records where he failed to chart. This led him to ABC Records where he once again found the magic touch with "(Hey Won't You Play) Another Somebody Done Somebody Wrong Song," which became his second number 1 pop hit.

Thomas was a big recording star, but he had a secret. He had been addicted to drugs since he was fifteen. After a near fatal overdose, his wife convinced him to seek help. He became a Born Again Christian and kicked the drug habit cold turkey. After this he continued to record mostly country music, but a few managed to cross over, most notably "Don't Worry Baby." During this time he bounced around from one label to another. He hit his peak as a country recording artist in 1983-84 with "Whatever Happened to Old Fashioned Love" and "New Looks From an Old Lover," as well as the Top Ten hits "The Whole World's in Love When You're Lonely" and "Two Car Garage." During the 80s he also recorded a number of gospel songs.

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