b. Billy Joe Thomas, 7 August 1942, Hugo, Oklahoma, USA. B.J. Thomas maintained a sturdy career in the USA in both the pop and country fields from the mid-60s into the late 80s. After getting experience by singing in church during his youth, Thomas joined the Triumphs in Houston, Texas, who released a number of unsuccessful singles on small labels. Collaborating with songwriter Mark Charron, a member of the Triumphs, the group recorded an original song, ‘Billy And Sue’, and released it on the Bragg label without national success (it was re-released on Warner Brothers Records in 1964 but again failed to take off).
Thomas then recorded a cover version of Hank Williams’ ‘I’m So Lonesome I Could Cry’ for Texas producer Huey P. Meaux. It was released on Scepter Records, a New York company and vaulted to number 8 on the national singles chart in the USA. Thomas enjoyed further Top 40 hits with ‘Mama’ (also recorded successfully by Dave Berry), ‘Billy And Sue’ and ‘The Eyes Of A Woman’. In 1968, Thomas returned to the US Top 10 with the soft rock ‘Hooked On A Feeling’, written by Mark James, who also penned ‘Suspicious Minds’ and ‘Always On My Mind’ for Elvis Presley. In late 1969, Thomas reached number 1 in the USA with ‘Raindrops Keep Fallin’ On My Head’, a song by Burt Bacharach and Hal David that was featured in the hit movie Butch Cassidy And The Sundance Kid. The following year ended with another Top 10 success, ‘I Just Can’t Help Believing’, written by Barry Mann and Cynthia Weil. Thomas’ last significant single for Scepter was 1972’s ‘Rock And Roll Lullaby’, another Mann and Weil composition, which reached number 15 and featured Duane Eddy on guitar and the Blossoms on backing vocals. After that, the company folded, and it was not until 1975, now signed to ABC Records (after a brief, unproductive stint at Paramount), that Thomas enjoyed another hit. ‘(Hey Won’t You Play) Another Somebody Done Somebody Wrong Song’ provided his second number 1 and also topped the country charts.
That record provided a second career for Thomas as a country star. Although he switched record company affiliations frequently, moving from ABC to MCA in 1978, to Cleveland International in 1983, and to Columbia Records in 1985, Thomas maintained his status in that field until the late 80s. Featuring gospel material in his act as well as straight country, he drew a new audience and continued to sell records. Thomas enjoyed a particularly strong string of country singles in 1983-84, beginning with two number 1 records, ‘Whatever Happened To Old Fashioned Love’ and ‘New Looks From An Old Lover’. ‘Two Car Garage’ and ‘The Whole World’s In Love When You’re Lonely’ also made the Top 10, while a duet with Ray Charles, ‘Rock And Roll Shoes’, reached number 15. Simultaneous with his country career, Thomas recorded a number of gospel-inspired albums for the Myrrh label. He was firmly seen as a Christian artist in the following decades.
