The iconic “Raindrops Keep Fallin’ on My Head” singer B.J. Thomas has died at the age of 78.
The five-time Grammy award winner and Grammy Hall of Fame inductee died Saturday at his home in Arlington, Texas, from complications due to stage four lung cancer.
With his smooth, rich voice and unerring song sense, Thomas’s expansive career crossed multiple genres, including country, pop, and gospel, earning him CMA, Dove, and Grammy awards and nominations since his emergence in the 1960s.
Thomas is most remembered for his enduring hits such as the million-selling cover of Hank Williams‘ “I’m So Lonesome I Could Cry,” the Grammy-winning “(Hey Won’t You Play) Another Somebody Done Somebody Wrong Song” and the iconic “Raindrops Keep Fallin’ on My Head,” which won the Academy Award for best original song.
Thomas’ career-defining “Raindrops Keep Fallin’ on My Head,” featured in the classic film Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, earned the Oscar award for best original song. Sales quickly exceeded two million copies and it has remained one of the most enduring pop hits of all time.
One of Billboard’s Top 50 Most Played Artists Over The Past 50 Years, Thomas has sold more than 70 million albums worldwide, scoring eight No. 1 hits and 26 Top 10 singles over his 50+ years in the music industry.
As an actor, he also appeared in the films Jory and Jake’s Corner. Thomas authored two books, including his autobiography “Home Where I Belong.”
Thomas fell into drugs and battled substance abuse. His wife Gloria became a born-again Christian and the turning point in Thomas’ life came when he became a believer in 1976. He immediately quit drugs and found an avenue for expressing his faith in gospel music.
He’s survived by his wife and their three daughters Paige Thomas, Nora Cloud, and Erin Moore, and four grandchildren.
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