By: Associated Press Frazer Harrison/Getty Images
B.J. Thomas Singer B.J. Thomas performs during day 1 of Stagecoach: CaliforniaB.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. He was 78.
Thomas, who announced in March that he had been diagnosed with lung cancer, died from complications of the disease Saturday at his home in Arlington, Texas, his publicist Jeremy Westby said in a statement.
Thomas had continued to be a touring force in recent years, appearing at Stagecoach: California s Country Music Festival in 2010 as well as performing in A Celebration of the Music of Jimmy Webb at City Winery in New York in 2017. His last concert reported to
June 1, 2021
Country icon B.J. Thomas has died. The 78-year-old passed away at his home in Arlington, Texas on Saturday, May 29 after battling lung cancer. The Oklahoma native previously announced he’d been diagnosed with Stage Four lung cancer on March 23, saying:
“I just wanted to take this unique opportunity to share my gratitude to Gloria, my wonderful wife and my rock for over 53 years, my family, friends, and fans,” Thomas said. “
I’m so blessed to have had the opportunity to record and perform beautiful songs in pop, country, and gospel music, and to share those wonderful songs and memories around the world with millions of you. I ask all of you for your prayers during this time and that my music can live on with you.”
Since
Megadeth, there’s been speculation that former
Metallica bassist
Jason Newsted could take his place. But fans shouldn’t hold their breath, he’s piped up to shoot down the rumors.
Jason’s name has been thrown around online as a potential Megadeth replacement, and apparently, word has finally reached the rock veteran. He’s not on social media, so his wife
Nicole has responded instead… and she says it’s not happening.
“Hi, guys! Two things: 1. Jason is not joining Megadeth. Peace to them. Listen to metal,” she writes on Instagram. “2. Jason does not have social media accounts… If you are receiving DMs from the Jason Newsted music account or any other account claiming to be Jason please know this is not Jason, and proceed at your own risk.”
BJ Thomas poses for a portrait in circa 1975.
Forever No. 1 is a Billboard
series that pays special tribute to the recently deceased artists who achieved the highest honor our charts have to offer a Billboard Hot 100 No. 1 single by taking an extended look back at the chart-topping songs that made them part of this exclusive club. Here, we honor the late B.J. Thomas with a look at his second and final Hot 100 No. 1, the 1975 country meta-weeper (Hey Won t You Play) Another Somebody Done Somebody Wrong Song.
Listeners mostly familiar with B.J. Thomas as the performer of the better-remembered No. 1 hit Raindrops Keep Fallin on My Head or as the original singer of the breezy pop culture staple Hooked on a Feeling might be surprised to hear that his second No. 1 came with a country song. But Thomas roots in the genre ran deep, dating back to an early love of Hank Williams growing up in Texas that eventually led to a cover of the country legend s signature balla