B.J. Thomas - On My Way

Born on August 7, 1942 at his grandmother’s home in Hugo, Oklahoma, Billy Joe Thomas was raised in the Houston area. Known for his amazing singing voice and a string of hits including “Hooked on a Feeling” and “Raindrops Keep Fallin’ on My Head,” B.J. Thomas sold more than 50 million records, released more than 30 studio albums and recorded multiple platinum and gold records during his impressive career.  In addition, the chart-topper has made his mark across a variety of genres including pop, country and gospel.  In fact, his No. 1 hit “(Hey Won’t You Play) Another Somebody Done Somebody Wrong Song” has the distinction of topping both the Billboard Hot 100 and the Hot Country Songs charts. 

B.J. Thomas spent his childhood around Houston playing baseball - he actually adopted the nickname “B.J.” because there were five boys already named Billy on his Little League baseball team.  As a teenager, B.J. Thomas began singing in his church and school choirs, but was soon influenced by country and blues artists including fellow Oklahomans Roger Miller and Roy Clark.  The first record B.J. ever purchased was “Miss Ann” by Little Richard.

Thomas joined his first band, The Triumphs, at the age of 15.  At the time he joined just for kicks, but it ignited a love of music within him that would last a lifetime.  “They needed a guy to sing, so my brother took me over there,” Thomas said in an interview with The Examiner. “It kind of surprised me to be honest. I got up and sang a few songs with them, and that was really the first time I ever thought, ‘Am I going to do this professionally?’ I was basically just doing it for fun.”

In 2007, the Oklahoma State Senate declared February 21 as B.J. Thomas Day.

While performing at an Independence Day event at a state park in Houston, The Triumphs caught the attention of Charles Booth, owner of Pacemaker Records, who signed the band to their first label. Their debut album featured a cover of the Hank Williams song “I’m So Lonesome I Could Cry.” After a local radio station gave the song some air time, the single was picked up by Scepter Records and distributed nationally. The single went on to peak at No.8 on the Hot 100 in 1966.

B.J. Thomas’ next big break came in 1968 with the hits “Eyes of a New York Woman” and “Hooked on a Feeling,” which made it to No. 5 on the charts and sold more than a million copies.  In 1969, Dionne Warwick recommended to producers Burt Bacharach and Hal David that B.J. sing “Raindrops Keep Fallin’ on My Head” for the upcoming film Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, starring Robert Redford and Paul Newman.  B.J. lent his vocals to the song, which became an instant hit.  The song won an Academy Award and propelled B.J. further into the national spotlight.

In 1975, after scoring four gold records in the 1960s, Thomas switched to ABC Records and began recording country-style tunes.  His first single for ABC, “(Hey Won’t You Play) Another Somebody Done Somebody Wrong Song,” won the 1975 Grammy for Best Country Song and has the distinction of being the longest titled No. 1 hit.

http://www.travelok.com/rhythm-and-routes/artists/b-j-thomas

01. B.J. Thomas - The Eyes Of A New York Woman

02. B.J. Thomas - Mr. Businessman

03. B.J. Thomas - Light My Fire

04. B.J. Thomas - Gone

05. B.J. Thomas - Hooked On A Feeling

06. B.J. Thomas - Smoke Gets In Your Eyes

07. B.J. Thomas - Four Walls

08. B.J. Thomas - Sandman

09. B.J. Thomas - I've Been Down This Road Before

10. B.J. Thomas - I Saw Pity In The Face Of A Friend

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