Singer B.J. Thomas passed away Saturday at the age of 78. He announced back in March that he diagnosed with stage 4 lung cancer.
B.J. was best known for singing the “Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid” song “Raindrops Keep Fallin' on My Head.” The tune, written by Burt Bacharach and Hal David, became his first number one song.
He also had a hit with his 1968 cover o fHank Williams’ “I’m So Lonesome I Could Cry,” which spent 13 weeks on the Hot 100, as well as “Hooked On A Feeling,” which landed in the Top Five. He also is known for singing the “Growing Pains” theme song with Jennifer Warnes.
He is the winner of five GRAMMY Awards, all for religious-themed music. He transitioned into gospel music after becoming a born-again Christian in 1976.
5 Things You Didn’t Know About B.J. Thomas.
- BJ was one of the biggest selling artists of ALL TIME!He sold 70 million albums in his career!Out selling artists like: Aerosmith, The Rolling Stones, Bruce Springsteen, U2, Metallica, Whitney Houston, Barbara Streisand, Neil Diamond, and Fleetwood Mac
- Despite being one of the biggest selling artists of all time…he didn’t write his biggest song, “Rain Drops Keep Falling On My Head”…that was written by Burt Bacharach and Hal David.He did write the songs: Another Somebody Done Somebody Wrong Song, and Hooked on a Feeling.
- In 1976, BJ switched from Pop Music to Christian Music. Home Where I Belong was his first Christian album…which was the first Christian album to go platinum.
- B. J.Thomas is the ONLY artist to have the 'Song of the Year' on the pop, country, and gospel charts.
- Remember the sit-com from the 80’s called “Growing Pains?”(HINT: It starred Alan Thicke and Kirk Cameron)He sang the theme song with Jennifer Warnes.
Source:CNN
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