| B.J. Thomas | |
|---|---|
| Origin | Hugo, Oklahoma |
| Genre(s) | Country, Pop |
| Years active | 1966 - current |
Career
Born Billy Joe Thomas on 8/7/1942 in Hugo, Oklahoma and raised around Houston, Texas, and is an alumnus of Lamar Consolidated High School in Rosenberg, Texas. Before his solo career, Thomas sang in the church choir as a teenager then joined the musical group The Triumphs[1]. In 1966, B. J. Thomas and The Triumphs released the album, I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry (Pacemaker Records). The album featured a hit cover of the Hank Williams song, "I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry". In the same year, Thomas released a solo album of the same name (Scepter Records). Thomas achieved mainstream success again in 1968, with the single "Hooked on a Feeling", which featured the sound of an electric sitar. "Hooked on a Feeling", was first released on the album On My Way (Scepter Records). The 1969 film Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, featured Thomas performing the (Burt Bacharach and Hal David) song "Raindrops Keep Fallin' on My Head". "Raindrops Keep Fallin' on My Head" was the number one song on the Billboard Hot 100 in January 1970. The song was also released on the album of the same name. In 1975, Thomas released the album Reunion (ABC Records), which contained what would become his second number one hit single, "(Hey Won't You Play) Another Somebody Done Somebody Wrong Song." Earlier hits include, "Just Can't Help Believing" (Billboard #9 in 1970) and "Mighty Clouds of Joy". Noted tracks of the 1980s, include, "Two Car Garage", "Whatever Happened to Old Fashioned Love" and "New Looks from an Old Lover" (see 1984 in music). Thomas scored another hit, recording "As Long As We Got Each Other", the theme to Growing Pains with Jennifer Warnes. A later version, used for the show's fourth season, was recorded with the British singer Dusty Springfield. Thomas first released this track on his 1985 album Throwing Rocks At The Moon (Columbia Records). Thomas has also authored two books and starred in the movie "Jory". Several commercial jingles, to include Coca-Cola, Pepsi, and Bell phone systems, featured his voice and music. Thomas has continued to record and tour, maintaining a smaller but loyal fan base. He has also found some new fans in Contemporary Christian Music. In 2002 he charted his first single since the late 1980s, with "You Call That A Mountain" from the album of the same name. In October 2007 B.J. Thomas released "Love To Burn" an album of all new material.
References
- ^ Wirt, John. "The music never gets old for Thomas", The Advocate (Online), Feb 9, 2007, pp. 2. Retrieved on 2007-02-20.
