He eventually became a devoted Christian in 1976 and credited his spirituality for helping him become sober. Thomas battled drug use and substance abuse. What followed was a long list of chart-topping releases, 'Everybody's Out of Town,' 'I Just Can't Help Believing,' 'No Love at All,' and 'Rock and Roll Lullaby' among them.īut his life in the spotlight was not without its struggles. The performer's career took a significant turn in 1970 when his pal Dionne Warwick introduced him to songwriter-producer Burt Bacharach, with who he later collaborated (along with Hal David) for 'Raindrops Keep Fallin' on My Head.' The beloved song was featured in the film Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid and became a 2014 inductee into the Grammy Hall of Fame. He unveiled his first solo album that same year and in 1968, 'Hooked on a Feeling' - from his sophomore record On My Way - became his second million-selling release. It went on to become his first million-selling single. Thomas broke onto the music scene in 1966 with the track 'I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry,' which peaked at No. As a child, he sang as part of his local church service and later joined the Houston-based band the Triumphs. 1 hits and 26 Top 10 singles.īorn in Hugo, Okla., Billy Joe Thomas grew up in Houston, Texas, where he derived much of his early musical influences from traditional country tunes.

Named as one of Billboard's Top 50 Most Played Artists Over the Past 50 Years, Thomas has sold over 70 million albums worldwide, scoring eight No.

B j thomas hooked on a feeling