B.J. Thomas

Born on August 7, 1942, B.J. Thomas was an American singer from Hugo, Oklahoma. As a teenage, Thomas sang in a church choir. He joined a musical group called The Triumphs. In 1966, Thomas and the Triumphs released "I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry." That same year, Thomas released a solo album. In 1975, Thomas released "Reunion" on ABC Records. In 1976, Thomas released "Home Where I Belong," the first of several gospel albums. In 1981, Thomas became the 60th member of the Grand Ole Opry. Thomas wrote two books, including an autobiography titled "Home Where I Belong." He also starred in "Jory" (1973) and "Jake's Corner" (2008). On December 31, 2011, Thomas was the featured halftime performer at the 2011 Hyundai Sun Bowl in El Paso, Texas. On December 3, 2013, the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences announced that Thomas' 1969 single, "Raindrops Keep Fallin' on My Head," would be inducted into the 2014 Grammy Hall of Fame. On March 23, 2021, Thomas announced that he had stage IV lung cancer on his Facebook page. B.J. Thomas passed away on May 29, 2021, at the age of 78.