B.J. Thomas, the Grammy-winning singer who enjoyed success with hits like Raindrops Keep Fallin on My Head has died at the age of 78 following complications from lung cancer.
Thomas would later say the phenomenon of Raindrops exacerbated an addiction to pills and alcohol which dated back to his teens, when a record producer in Houston suggested he take amphetamines to keep his energy up. He was touring and recording constantly and taking dozens of pills a day. By 1976, while (Hey Won t You Play) Another Somebody Done Somebody Wrong Song was hitting No. 1, he felt like he was number 1,000. I was at the bottom with my addictions and my problems, he said in 2020 on The Debby Campbell Goodtime Show. He cited a spiritual awakening, shared with his wife, Gloria Richardson, with helping him to get clean.
B.J.Thomas, the Grammy-winning singer who enjoyed success on the pop, country and gospel charts with such hits as “I Just Can t Help Believing,” “Raindrops Keep Fallin On My Head” and “Hooked on a Feeling,” has died.