Posted on 03/24/2021 8:52:39 PM PDT by nickcarraway
B.J. Thomas, the acclaimed singer best known for hits like "Raindrops Keep Fallin' on My Head," "Hooked on a Feeling" and "(Hey Won't You Play) Another Somebody Done Somebody Wrong Song," announced his diagnosis of stage four lung cancer.
“I just wanted to take this unique opportunity to share my gratitude to Gloria, my wonderful wife and my rock for over 53 years, my family, friends and fans,” he said in a statement released on his social media.
Thomas also said he's currently receiving treatment in Texas.
“I’m so blessed to have had the opportunity to record and perform beautiful songs in pop, country and gospel music, and to share those wonderful songs and memories around the world with millions of you," he wrote. "I ask all of you for your prayers during this time and that my music can live on with you.”
Thomas' chart-topping career launched in 1966 when his cover of Hank Williams' "I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry" sold more than a million copies. In 1968, "Hooked on a Feeling" sold another million copies, reaching No. 5 on the Hot 100 chart.
Just a year later, it was Dionne Warwick who convinced songwriters Burt Bacharach and Hal David, who were working on music for the 1969 movie Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, to consider having Thomas sing the main theme, "Raindrops Keep Fallin' on My Head." Bacharach had already asked Bob Dylan and Ray Stevens and been turned down by both, so he offered it to Thomas, who stepped in and made the song an enormous hit. It shot to No. 1 and earned Thomas a Grammy in 1970 for Best Male Pop Vocal Performance. He gathered another four performance Grammys in the span of three years between 1977-80 and a Grammy Hall of Fame Award in 2014.
Through the next several decades, he released multiple country and gospel albums. His most recent LP, The Living Room Sessions, an unplugged, acoustic record arrived in 2013 and reached No. 39 on the Top Country Albums chart. Thomas has continued to perform regular shows in recent years, noting that he's not quite ready for retirement.
"If I reach a point where I don’t feel like I’m performing as well, I guess that could happen," he told the Arizona Republic in 2019. "I am getting older; it's inevitable my throat is aging as well. Maybe there will come a time at some point, but, you know, as long as I'm really having fun and I still do have a major motivation to do it, I just want to do it."
BJ Thomas Sings "Hooked On A Feeling" | Good Night America (May 1st, 1974)
RIP say hello to Rush keep the raindrops falling
Sad news.
Probably went to MD Anderson
I sing all his songs at Karaoke and people love it
I try to imagine what a live version would be and sometimes if another artist sang it how it turn out
Hope he makes it.
What a storied life
crap
in the league with John’s “grandma’s feather bed”
good stuff
RIP
Handsome man and great voice, even into his later years.
Oh, great, thanks a lot for that earworm.
“Raindrops Keep Fallin’ on My Head,”
I like that song.
“Raindrops Keep Fallin’ on My Head,”
I like that song.
I never knew who sang those songs.
Sad news.
great songs, great singer!
and prayers sparking up for you and your family BJ. Father we ask for healing and continued good health for BJ. cancer doesn’t have the final word Lord, You do! please send him and his family all the Comfort and strength they need to go on with Your Joy through this trial. mostly Lord give him Your presence. Father God Your will be done and thank You so much for your will!
We lift him, his loving wife and family up and place him in Your loving, healing hands Lord Jesus. Bless him with a feeling of joy and confidence for his continued faith in You. let him and all of us live out Your plan to the end of our journey here, looking forward to the great gift of Heaven. For His Name’s sake we pray and for BJ’s (and our) forgiveness and healing, though Jesus’ cleansing Blood. Amen.
Yeah, I really like both but give Blue Swede the edge too.
Love a lot of Thomas other songs though.
way back we learned “Raindrops” for orchestra back in the 7th grade. yes we had a middle school full orchestra back then. man we were blessed as kids and had no idea.
“Hooked on a Feeling”
One of favorite tunes of all time. Thanks for the link.
“Hooked on a Feeling”
One of favorite tunes of all time. Thanks for the link.
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