Sad News for BJ Thomas

[sliderocker]

Singer B.J. Thomas has been diagnosed with stage four lung cancer. Stage four lung cancer is regarded as terminal, end of life illness, often with a very short life expectancy. Even with chemo treatment, the life expectancy is not very long. Thomas is 78 years old and has worked in all genres of music over the course of his career. Thomas had a hit and miss track record in the 60s and 70s, and yet almost always managed to find a way back to the charts. He isn't known for being a songwriter, but as an artist, he knew how to pick songs that would be hits: "I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry," "Billy and Sue," "Mama," "Eyes of a New York Woman," "No Love at All," "Rock and Roll Lullabye," and three songs that were his biggest hits, "Raindrops Keep Fallin' On My Head," "I Just Can't Help Believin'" and "(Won't You Play) Another Somebody Done Somebody Wrong Song." In 1968, Thomas recorded a song Elvis would later record, "It's Only Love." Thomas would record a version of "Suspicious Minds" after Elvis recorded his version. The two were friends and Thomas occasionally performed in a Memphis nightclub at Elvis' request.

Thomas was not a member of the Baby Boomer generation, although he was one of the biggest icons of the Baby Boomer generation. News of his illness is sure to shake those of us who are Baby Boomers, another remembrance of the mortality of those who came before us and are leaving at a rapid pace. And of our own mortality as well, and that many Baby Boomers have already left with the Greatest Generation. Many will offer prayers for B.J. and his family have asked for the prayers. So, in my prayers tonight for B.J.

www.msn.com/en-us/music/news/b-j-thomas-diagnosed-with-stage-4-lung-cancer/ar-BB1eTnjr?ocid=msedgntp

[erik]

It is a sad thing to see this happen to him, as he has had such a long career.

It should also be said that, along with the songs you mentioned such as "Eyes Of A New York Woman", "It's Only Love", and his post-Elvis cover of "Suspicious Minds", B.J. also had another hit song, "Hooked On A Feeling" that was written by the writer of those aforementioned songs, Mark James. It got up to #5 on the Hot 100 in January 1969.

As for "Raindrops Keep Falling On My Head"--I know people like to make a lot of hay out of the fact that no rain is falling in the scene in BUTCH CASSIDY AND THE SUNDANCE KID where it is used. No matter, of course, because the song got up to #1 for the first four weeks of 1970; and the film itself is, to my knowledge, still the highest-grossing box office success of any Western in history.

It hasn't been easy for those of us who follow these folks who have had an impact on our lives to seem them leave the scene; and given the nature of his illness, I think we will likely have to add B.J. to the list as well. But his was a life well lived.

[sliderocker]

Mar 23, 2021 23:13:43 GMT -5 erik said:

It is a sad thing to see this happen to him, as he has had such a long career.

It should also be said that, along with the songs you mentioned such as "Eyes Of A New York Woman", "It's Only Love", and his post-Elvis cover of "Suspicious Minds", B.J. also had another hit song, "Hooked On A Feeling" that was written by the writer of those aforementioned songs, Mark James. It got up to #5 on the Hot 100 in January 1969.

As for "Raindrops Keep Falling On My Head"--I know people like to make a lot of hay out of the fact that no rain is falling in the scene in BUTCH CASSIDY AND THE SUNDANCE KID where it is used. No matter, of course, because the song got up to #1 for the first four weeks of 1970; and the film itself is, to my knowledge, still the highest-grossing box office success of any Western in history.

It hasn't been easy for those of us who follow these folks who have had an impact on our lives to seem them leave the scene; and given the nature of his illness, I think we will likely have to add B.J. to the list as well. But his was a life well lived.

"Hooked on a Feeling" was one song of B.J.'s I missed and I knew I had missed it, but I couldn't remember the title and it bugged me because I remember it had been a big hit. I knew it had also been a song Elvis had reportedly tried out but never knew if it was tried out for his concerts or if he had tried it out in the studio - one of those songs which may be lost. After "Suspicious Minds," I think Elvis was looking for anything songwriter Mark James may have written for him or for B.J. I believe James also wrote (with Steve Tyrell) "No Love at All," which would've been a good song for him to have done. However, I think he also didn't want to do every song B.J. was recording and preferred the rarely heard songs.

As for "Raindrops," I would hope those who like to make a lot of hay out of the fact no rain was falling in the scene where was used would remember that had nothing to do with B.J. per se, but the director and or the producer. When the question of putting songs in movies come up, the scripts don't usually notate "a song must be used here." In Elvis's movies, the director would usually decide where a song was placed. The number of scenes also are not noted in the script, but again, that's something determined by the director.

It's surprising B.J. was never in the movies or had his own TV variety show, like so many other performers. He would've been a natural and more likely better at it than the many who did have their own TV shows. But, he was a laid back cat and his career at times seemed to be just as laid back as what he was.

With his stage four cancer, I suspect B.J. will not be with us much longer. And I have very mixed feelings about that. On the one hand, I would like for him to be with his family for as long as possible. On the other hand, I look at some we have lost, like Monkees member Peter Tork and Valerie Harper, both of whom dealt with their cancers for a super long time. Over a decade for each of them. I don't know if their cancer treatments and chemo therapies ever stopped in the ten plus years each fought their illness. The upside is they had more time to spend with their family and friends, but the downside is the treatments, especially the chemo is rough on a cancer victim.

And as one who has lost many family members to cancer, that is something you don't want to see them go through. It's emotionally and mentally devastating. Some family members didn't mind putting their loved ones through that, believing they were doing what was best for them. But, doing what's best is knowing when it's time to let go and let them go to wherever we go once we leave this world. I don't envy what B.J. and his family are going through right now and what they will be going through in the days ahead. And I wish it was something he and his family didn't have to go through.

[markm]

I saw BJ live in the mid-70s at the Main Point near Philly, a very intimate venue. He was a truly impressive singer, with so many tones in his voice, full of range and power.

I would add "Most of All, "Mighty Clouds of Joy, and "No Love at All" to the list - all excellent songs. Some of his best work is the least known. There's an album called Songs from the mid-70s full of great performances. Same with Billy Joe Thomas, an album on which Jimmy Webb, Stevie Wonder, and Carole King play on their songs. To me the definitive version of Webb's "Song for My Brother" is on that album is BJ's.