Introduction
Billy Joe Thomas, widely known by his stage name B.J. Thomas, was one of the most distinctive voices in pop, country, and gospel music during the second half of the 20th century. He was born on August 7, 1942, in Hugo, Oklahoma, but grew up in Houston, Texas. During his years at Lamar Consolidated High School, Thomas began showing a deep passion for music—first by singing in a church choir and later by joining the band The Triumphs. These early experiences laid the foundation for his remarkable career.
In 1966, together with The Triumphs, he released the album I’m So Lonesome I Could Cry, which included a cover of Hank Williams’s timeless classic. The single sold over one million copies, earning Thomas his very first gold record. Just two years later, he broke through as a solo artist with a string of hits, most notably “Hooked on a Feeling,” which stood out for its unique arrangement featuring Reggie Young’s electric sitar.
The pinnacle of B.J. Thomas’s career arrived in 1969 with “Raindrops Keep Fallin’ on My Head,” featured in the classic film Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid. The song not only won the Academy Award for Best Original Song but also climbed to the No. 1 spot on the Billboard Hot 100 in early 1970. From that point on, Thomas became synonymous with heartfelt pop-country ballads.
Throughout the 1970s, he continued to shine with memorable songs such as “I Just Can’t Help Believing,” “Rock and Roll Lullaby,” and “(Hey Won’t You Play) Another Somebody Done Somebody Wrong Song”—the longest-titled track ever to top the Billboard Hot 100. Around this time, Thomas also ventured into gospel music with his groundbreaking album Home Where I Belong (1976), which became the first Christian album to be certified platinum.
In the 1980s, while his popularity on the pop charts declined, he found success on the country charts with several hits. Television audiences also fondly remember his voice on the theme song of the sitcom Growing Pains.
Over the course of a decades-long career, B.J. Thomas left behind a rich musical legacy that transcended the boundaries of pop, country, and gospel. Though he passed away on May 29, 2021, at the age of 78, his warm and sincere voice continues to resonate in the hearts of fans around the world.