‘80s Country Chart Topper Razzy Bailey Passes

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Razzy Bailey. Photo: Courtesty Robert K. Oermann

Singer-songwriter Razzy Bailey, who placed more than 30 singles on the country charts in 1976-89, died at his home in Goodlettsville on Wednesday, Aug. 4, at age 82.

Bailey had 13 top-10 hits and five No. 1 smashes, including “Midnight Hauler,” “Lovin’ Up a Storm” and “She Left Love All Over Me.” He was named Billboard’s No. 1 country chart artist of 1981.

Born Erastus Michael Bailey, he was raised in rural poverty in Alabama. The performer was named for his father, “Rasie” (he later changed the spelling so people would pronounce his name correctly). The elder Bailey was a farmer who played guitar and banjo and was an amateur songwriter. Razzy Bailey was also influenced by the blues music played by the Black farmhands he worked alongside as a youth.

He formed his first country band at age 15 and began recording four years later in 1958. Bailey’s career was characterized by decades of dogged determination. For the next 20 years, he recorded for such labels as B&K, Peach, Lowery, ABC, Boblo, 123 (distributed by Capitol), Aquarian, MGM, Capricorn and his own Erastus imprint, all without success.

At one point on his journey, he became utterly disillusioned, frustrated and discouraged. He dropped out of music and tried working as a delivery-truck driver, insurance salesman, butcher and furniture seller. He had married as a teenager and was desperate to support a young and growing family. His wife, Sandra, urged him to continue pursuing his music dreams. They went to a psychic who predicted that his fortunes would soon change.

They did. In 1976, Dickey Lee scored a major country hit with Bailey’s song “9,999,999 Tears.” The following year, Lee also hit the charts with Bailey’s “Peanut Butter.” These successes reawakened Music Row’s interest in him.

Producer/publisher Bob Montgomery had been behind the board during Bailey’s stint on Capricorn. He brought the singer-songwriter to RCA Records. With Montgomery producing, Razzy Bailey debuted on the label with the top-10 hit “What Time Do You Have to Be Back To Heaven” in 1978.

Montgomery’s staff songwriters provided Razzy Bailey with the subsequent hits “Tonight She’s Gonna Love Me (Like There Was No Tomorrow),” “If Love Had a Face,” “I Can’t Get Enough of You,” and the bluesy “I Ain’t Got No Business Doing Business Today” in 1979.

Bailey scored his first No. 1 hit with “Loving Up a Storm” in 1980 when he was 41 years old. This was the first of five successive chart toppers of 1980-82 – “I Keep Coming Back,” “Friends,” “Midnight Hauler,” and “She Left Love All Over Me” being the others.

During the early 1980s, he also scored with “True Life Country Music,” “Love’s Gonna Fall Here Tonight,” “Scratch My Back,” “Every Time You Cross My Mind (You Break My Heart)” and his own composition “Anywhere There’s a Jukebox.” By the time of his third RCA album, he was also recording songs co-written with his father, a unique composing partnership in country music.

Razzy Bailey earned top-newcomer awards from Cash Box and Record World, as well as an ACM nomination. His humility, good-time energy and warmth endeared him to audiences at concerts. He headlined overseas in England at the Wembley Festival, as well as at shows in Australia, Croatia and New Zealand.

He showcased his distinctive, sandpapery vocals on Austin City Limits, Hee Haw, That Nashville Music, The CMA Awards, The John Davidson Show, The Mike Douglas Show (which he co-hosted), Nashville Now, Solid Gold, Nashville After Hours, Church Street Station, Pop Goes the Country, Farm Aid ’94, Nashville On the Road, Country Comes Home and other national telecasts.

In 1984, Razzy Bailey switched to MCA Records and began emphasizing his r&b influences. He issued country singles of the soul songs “In the Midnight Hour,” “Knock On Wood” and “Starting All Over Again.” His homage Blues Juice album of 1989 capped this phase.

He’d started producing his own albums in the mid-1980s and also began recording more of his own compositions. These included “After the Great Depression” (1983), “Modern Day Marriages” (1985), “Old Blue Yodeler” (1986), “Rockin’ in the Parkin’ Lot” (1986) and “Unattended Fire” (1988). His last charted single was 1989’s “But You Will,” which he co-wrote.

After turning 50, Bailey recorded for smaller labels, including his own SOA (Sounds of America) imprint. The year after he recorded his 1992 collection Fragile Handle With Care, his wife Sandra committed suicide. Hoping to find a fresh start, they had moved to Decatur, AL. In the wake of her death, Razzy Bailey returned to Music City.

In 1997, his obscure, 20-year-old recording of “The Love Bump” became a hit in Japan. In 2008, a Thai artist named Bird Thongchai had an overseas dance-mix hit with Bailey’s “9,999,999 Tears.”

Razzy Bailey resumed his own recording career with such collections as Razzy Unwrapped (1998), Your Cheating Heart (1999), Damned Good Time (2008) and Whiskey California (2009). During the later years of his career, he recorded with Johnny Cash, Charlie Daniels, Mickey Gilley, Delbert McClinton, Willie Nelson and Dobie Gray, among others.

Bailey was noted for mentoring new songwriters and aspiring country performers. This kept him active as a record producer well into the 2000s. He was involved in a car accident last November that broke his back in two places.

Razzy Bailey is survived by his wife and manager, Faye Bright Bailey, by daughters Tammy, Jenita, Jenevra, Teressa and Paula, by sons Rasie and Douglas and by 13 grandchildren and six great- grandchildren as well as by his sister Vanda and a host of extended family members.

Visitation will be on Thursday, Aug. 12 from 4-8 PM at Spring Hill Funeral Home in Nashville. A celebration of life service will take place on Friday, Aug. 13 at 1 PM at the funeral home with the family receiving friends and visitors for two hours prior to that. Burial will follow in Spring Hill Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in Razzy Bailey’s name to Music Health Alliance.

Beloved Songwriter & Producer Jim Femino Passes

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Grammy nominated singer, songwriter, producer, publisher, educator, speaker, and author Jim Femino passed away on Tuesday (Aug. 3). He was 69.

Before becoming a music industry executive, Femino spent twenty-five years as a country, rock and soul recording artist, touring the eastern hemisphere for crowds big and small. Along the way, he built Road Records, an independent record label, and its accompanying merchandising and sponsorship arms.

After his career as an artist, Femino launched his own publishing company and recording studio in Nashville, and he began to write songs professionally for Music City’s recording artists. Among artists who have recorded his songs are Toby Keith, Ronnie Milsap, Craig Morgan, Jamie O’Neal, John Michael Montgomery, Steve Azar, and others.

His biggest hit was James Otto’s 2008 single, “Just Got Started Lovin’ You.” The song boasted a list of achievements, including a nomination for Best Male Country Vocal Performance at the 51st Annual Grammy Awards, Billboard‘s 2008 Most Played Country Song of the Year, and being named to Billboard‘s Greatest 100 of All-Time Country Songs.

For the last 30 years Femino was President of Songstarters!, Inc., an award-winning publishing, production, artist development, and online songwriter/music education company. He was a board member of the CMA, The Recording Acadmey and various other trade organizations.

Earlier this year, Jim’s wife, Leslie Thola Femino, passed away at the age of 69 due to cancer. Femino is survived by his children Kristie Weidner (Tom Rhoads), Arthur Femino (Michelle), Adam Holcomb (Nicole Nocito) and Matthew Femino; five granchildren Kaitlin Weidner (Keegan Kling), Jacob Weidner, Tori Femino, Sarah Femino, and Jimmy Femino; and one great grandchild Kinsley Kling.

Funeral arrangements for Jim Femino have not yet been announced.

James Otto, who recorded Femino’s biggest hit, posted a tribute to the songwriter, saying that Femino had recently survived a heart attack.

 

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Australian Country Great Tom LeGarde Dies At Age 90

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Tom LeGarde, who performed in Nashville for decades with brother Ted, passed away on Friday (July 30) in Hendersonville. He was 90 years old.

Billed variously as “The LeGardes,” “The LeGarde Twins” or “Australia,” the siblings were top country showmen who charted with four titles between 1978 and 1988. Tom LeGarde sang lead and usually did the gospel recitations. His identical twin Ted LeGarde, who died in 2018, sang flawless, pinpoint high harmony vocals. Both played guitar and were prominent ambassadors of Australian country music in Nashville.

Born March 15, 1931, the LeGardes were raised on a farm in Queensland, Australia. At age 15, they quit school and became rodeo riders. Influenced by Canada’s Wilf Carter (Montana Slim) and by their homeland’s Tex Morton, they were soon singing for the rodeo audiences, billed as “Australia’s Yodelling Stockmen.”

By age 17, they’d added rope stunts, whip cracking, rifle marksmanship and card tricks to their yodeling act. This reflected their lifelong commitment to audience-pleasing showmanship.

Tom and Ted LeGarde honed their act in Brisbane, Melbourne and Sydney. The handsome, clean-cut siblings launched their Australian recording career with a string of successful singles in 1950-57. These were in a very traditional brother-duet style and included such country standards as “They Cut Down the Old Pine Tree,” “Nobody’s Darlin’ But Mine,” “I Don’t Hurt Anymore” and “There Stands the Glass.”

They migrated to North America in 1957. Following a stint in Canada, the LeGardes landed in Hollywood. They appeared on Doye O’Dell’s Western Varieties TV shows and hosted their own TV series on KTLA in Los Angeles.

In 1958, they relocated to Nashville. The duo recorded for Dot (“Freight Train Yodel”), Liberty (“Baby Sister”) and Bel Canto (“Rock and Roll That Hula Hoop”) and made waves with their colorful costumes and stagecraft. The LeGarde Twins debuted on the Grand Ole Opry with their own tune, “Cooee Call.”

They returned to Sydney, where television and disc stardom continued in 1963-65. Three LPs were released during this period.

Then they returned to the U.S. and were signed to a management contract by Elvis impresario Col. Tom Parker. The LeGardes became casino stars in Las Vegas and also appeared on a 1967 episode of Star Trek portraying androids.

Resettling in Nashville, the twins became ground breakers in bringing the country sounds of their homeland to Music City. Tom and Ted LeGarde worked with Marty Robbins, Buck Owens, Johnny Cash, Chet Atkins, Roy Rogers, Lassie, Groucho Marx, Dale Robertson, Barbara Mandrell, Nat King Cole, Hopalong Cassidy and Randy Travis as they entertained across the subsequent decades.

In 1978, The LeGardes debuted on the charts with their harmony version of the Cole Porter standard “True Love.” Their other charted titles were “I Can Almost Touch the Feelin’” (1979), “Daddy’s Makin’ Records in Nashville” (1980) and “Crocodile Man” (1988).

They became popular visitors to TNN’s Nashville Now and other TV shows. In 1987, The LeGarde Twins were honored by country Hall of Fame induction at Tamworth in Australia. During the 1980s, the brothers also became popular in Great Britain, becoming favorites at the Wembley Festival.

During the 1990s, they operated their own LeGarde Twins Country Music Theatre at Twitty City. Following Conway Twitty’s 1993 death, they relocated to the Best Western/Quality Inn Hall of Fame motor inn adjoining Music Row.

Tom and Ted LeGarde blazed a trail for Keith Urban, Jedd Hughes, Jamie O’Neal, Olivia Newton-John, Kasey Chambers, Catherine Britt, James Blundel, Diana Trask, Sherrie Austin, Morgan Evans and the other Australians who have had an impact on the American country charts.

Funeral arrangements for Tom LeGarde have not been announced.

ZZ Top’s Dusty Hill Passes

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Photo: Courtesy Bob Merlis

Joseph Michael “Dusty” Hill, bassist of legendary rock group ZZ Top, passed away in his sleep at home in Houston, Texas on July 27. He was 72.

Born in Dallas, Hill, his brother Rocky, and future ZZ Top member Frank Beard got their start playing in local Dallas bands the Warlocks, the Cellar Dwellers, and American Blues. In 1968, the band relocated to Houston where Rocky left the band and Dusty and Beard joined guitarist/vocalist Billy Gibbons in ZZ Top, just after they released their first single in 1969. Playing bass and keyboards in the band, Hill also provided vocals as well, and sang lead on “Tush,” the band’s first Top 20 hit and one of its most popular songs.

ZZ Top racked up dozens of hits through the decades and packed arenas with their hard-driving mix of Southern rock and blues. In the 80’s they hit pay dirt when they released a series of albums that added funky synthesizer sounds to their hard-driving guitars, yielding massive hits like “Legs,” the quintessential “Sharp-Dressed Man,” and “Gimme All Your Lovin,'” which sold 10 million copies and remained on the Billboard charts for 183 weeks.

Hill and the band were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2004. He played with ZZ Top for over 50 years until his death.

“We are saddened by the news today that our Compadre, Dusty Hill, has passed away in his sleep at home in Houston, TX,” a statement from surviving members Frank Beard and Billy Gibbons, said. “We, along with legions of ZZ Top fans around the world, will miss your steadfast presence, your good nature and enduring commitment to providing that monumental bottom to the ‘Top.’ We will forever be connected to that ‘Blues Shuffle in C.’ You will be missed greatly, amigo.”

Music-Video Mainstay Martin Kahan Passes

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Martin Kahan

Prominent and prolific music-video maker Martin Kahan has died at age 74.

Noted for his work with top country stars, Kahan passed away in Lakewood, New Jersey on Sunday (July 18) following a battle with cancer. The director’s career began during the dawn of the music-video era and endured into the new millennium. He was particularly noted for his work with Kenny Chesney, Sawyer Brown and Neal McCoy.

Martin Samuel “Mendel” Kahan was born in Miami. The son of a rabbi, he began his film career in documentaries. Actor Lorne Greene narrated his film about “frog-gigging” in the Florida Everglades. Kahan also created a documentary about rockabilly legend Ronnie Hawkins.

Moving to Toronto, then New York, he gravitated to working in the then-emerging field of music videos in the early 1980s. MTV went on the air as a pop-music outlet for videos in 1981, and CMT followed suit for country clips in 1983.

Kahan’s early clients included rock stars such as Rush, Scandal, Ian Hunter, Clarence Clemons, Bon Jovi, Loverboy, Michael Bolton, Motley Crue, Kiss, The Scorpions and Eddie Money.

By the mid-1980s, he was working in Nashville. His early country videos included career-establishing 1985-88 hits by Sawyer Brown—“Betty’s Bein’ Bad,” “Heart Don’t Fall Now,” “Out Goin’ Cattin’” and “Shakin.’”

The two 1984 clips he created for Ricky Skaggs on the streets of Manhattan drew particular acclaim—“Honey (Open That Door)” (which featured a cameo by New York Mayor Ed Koch) and “Country Boy” (with Bill Monroe in a prominent role). Another ‘80s effort was John Anderson’s “Countrified” (1986).

As the decade continued, Martn Kahan became increasingly associated with country music. He eventually established a residence in Nashville.

Some of the most iconic country videos of the 1990s were directed by him. These included the award-winning “Chattahoochie” by Alan Jackson (1993) and “Sold (The Grundy County Auction Incident)” by John Michael Montgomery (1995), plus “Then What” by Clay Walker (1998), “Hog Wild” by Hank Williams Jr. (1995) and “High Powered Love” by Emmylou Harris (1993).

Among his more than 30 country-music clients were David Ball, Billy Dean, T.G. Sheppard, Emilio, Ty England, The Gibson Miller Band, John & Audrey Wiggins, Kieran Kane, Dude Mowery, Andy Childs, The Buffalo Club and Rick Trevino.

Kahan directed multiple videos for Confederate Railroad, including “Trashy Women,” “Daddy Never Was the Cadillac Kind” and “When You Leave That Way You Can Never Go Back.” His many clips for Neal McCoy included “Wink,” “No Doubt About It” and “Then You Can Tell Me Goodbye.”

In 1997, he created the “She’s Got it All” and “That’s Why I’m Here” videos for Kenny Chesney. In 2000, Chesney’s “I Lost It” became Kahan’s final music video.

Four months after completing it, Martin Kahan fell down a flight of stairs at a friend’s home in Nashville, suffering severe brain damage. He remained a lively raconteur about events from his past, but was unable to retain new information.

His declining health sidelined him professionally, and he eventually became homeless. His rabbinical family stepped in to provide long-term care at a facility in Lakewood.

Final arrangements have not been announced.

Industry Member Ben Ewing Passes

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Ben Ewing

Music industry member Ben Ewing passed away on Sunday (June 27), according to a post on his Facebook. He was 67.

He was General Manager at Plowboy Records, the Nashville-based label established in 2012 to promote and further the legacy of the late singer Eddy Arnold. Plowboy has released projects by Country Music Hall of Fame member Bobby Bare, as well as JD Wilkes & The Dirt Daubers, Buzz Cason, The Ghost Wolves and more. Ewing most recently oversaw management of punk artists The Dead Boys/Cheetah Chrome and The Bad Signs, and guided Plowboy Records releases from The Kentucky Headhunters, Chuck Mead, Paul Burch, Smoky White Devils and Richard Lloyd of Television.

Before joining Plowboy Records, he owned and operated Ewing Management, where he managed the careers of Brandon Jenkins, Johnny Solinger, Michael Lattanzi, and more. Prior to that Ewing was General Manager at the artist management, music publishing, and record distribution company, Red Dirt Music Company.

He also spent time at Progression Music Group and Artist Envoy Agency in Nashville, and was CEO of the radio and television broadcasting company South Eastern Communications in Bowling Green, Kentucky for 10 years.

Ewing was a veteran of the Vietnam War and got his start in the music business working for Phil Walden at Capricorn Records.

A memorial service will be held Monday, July 12 at 6 p.m. at Sellars Funeral Home at Mt. Juliet. Visitation with the family will be held on Monday, July 12 from 4-6 pm.

Music Row Veteran Larry Sheridan Passes

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Larry Sheridan

Music industry member Larry Sheridan died on Saturday, June 19, 2021 at age 69. He died of adrenocortical carcinoma, an aggressive and rare form of cancer, according to his wife Robin Ruddy Sheridan.

Larry was born on Oct. 31, 1951 in Rockville Centre, New York. He grew up on Long Island, where he worked on the family farm. In high school he was one of three co-captains of the gymnastics team and went on to join the Regional Champions team, The New York Athletic Club, as a gymnast where his specialty was the rings.

A talented musician, in the ’70s Larry acted as a solo artist, playing in clubs around New York City and Long Island.

He and his wife moved to Nashville in 1986 and bought, renovated and added on to a bungalow on Music Row and created The Parlor, and Parlor Productions, a recording studio and production facility. Through their work at The Parlor, Larry became a mentor to many music industry professionals, spawning many successful artists, song pluggers, artist managers and hit songs. Well-known artists such as Vince Gill, Amy Grant, John Michael Montgomery and Kenny Chesney recorded at the studio. Robin and Larry took part in the Grammy winning album, Beautiful Dreamer: Songs of Steven Foster, having recorded “Old Folks at Home (Swanee River),” at The Parlor.

Larry was the President of the Nashville Publisher’s Network for a time, working to preserve the integrity and financial well-being of singers and songwriters. He also served on the boards of the YMCA and the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences. He was a leader in the historic preservation and redefinition efforts of the Music Row Neighborhood Association. Caring deeply about protecting the rights and future of the songwriting community, he was a mentor and a sponsor of the National Songwriters Association International (NSAI) for over a decade.

A man of many talents, Larry was also formerly a licensed general contractor and a cabinetmaker.

Larry and Robin co-founded Music Row Realty in 2006, developing an additional business that specializes in the entertainment industry’s real estate needs. His background in general contracting helped his clients envision the possibilities of an improved property.

Larry is survived by his wife of 34 years, Robin Ruddy Sheridan, two sisters Pat Rini and Betty Lange, 7 nieces and nephews, and 8 grand nieces and nephews.

There will be a celebration of life for Sheridan held on Aug. 10 from 4-6 p.m. at 3rd & Lindsley in Nashville.

Donations can be sent in his name to MusicCares and Music Health Alliance, or to the family’s GofundMe to help cover the expense of the studio on Music Row, the home, and all the funeral expenses. Cards and letters can be sent to Woodlawn-Roesch-Patton Funeral Home (660 Thompson Ln., Nashville, TN 37204).

Veteran Reporter Jim Bessman Passes

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Noted music journalist Jim Bessman died Tuesday, June 22, at age 68 following years of declining health.

His death in New York was due to an aneurysm, according to publicist Bob Merlis, a longtime friend. In recent years, Bessman had battled cancer, heart failure, COVID-19 and other ailments.

Jim Bessman is best known as a reporter for Billboard magazine. He freelanced for that publication for more than 25 years. He was also a former contributor to MusicRow. His monthly MusicRow column was titled “Gotham Gossip” and chronicled Nashville artists’ activities in Manhattan.

He was born in Milwaukee and raised in Madison, Wisconsin. Bessman dropped out of school to write for alternative rock periodicals, then became a stringer for Variety. He moved to New York to work for Cashbox magazine.

By the mid-’80s, he was writing for Billboard, publishing concert reviews, artist profiles, retail stories and a regular column about songwriters and publishers. This is also when he began making regular visits to Music City.

He became particularly fond of Grand Ole Opry artists, including Alison Krauss and Bill Anderson. His Nashville experiences always included a backstage Opry visit, where he was invariably welcomed by all of the acts.

Bessman also loved the annual Fan Fair festival, now known as the CMA Music Fest, and seldom missed one. His country-music friends were numerous and included Kris Kristofferson, Jo-El Sonnier, Steve Popovich and Carlene Carter.

In New York, Bessman was particularly close to Lisa Loeb, Ashford & Simpson, Tony Bennett, Sandra Bernhardt and The Ramones. He was a champion of genres such as polka, zydeco, Cajun, blues, opera and rockabilly. He embraced independent artists.

He made an annual pilgrimage to Los Angeles, and on those occasions Merlis threw large celebrity “Bessman Bash” parties in his honor. As was the case in New York and Nashville, he knew hundreds of stars there.

Bessman was a fixture at the annual Rock & Roll Hall of Fame ceremonies. He was heavily involved in New York’s annual Songwriters Hall of Fame inductions, handling the archival backstage honoree interviews, writing the official bios and assisting with press releases.

He was the author of two books, The Ramones—An American Band and John Mellencamp —The Concert at Walter Reed. He was also the writer of more than 80 album liner-note essays. His works appeared in dozens of music publications, including Spin and Country Rhythms. His online blogs were titled CenterlineNews.com and JimBessman.com.

Despite his vast contacts and many accomplishments, Bessman was very self effacing and always humble. Merlis eulogized his late friend by saying, “To say he will be missed is an understatement of the highest magnitude….We celebrate him now and let every day be a reminder that the Bessman Bash continues in our hearts. He knew he was loved, even though he couldn’t admit it.”

Jim Bessman is survived by a brother and a sister. Funeral arrangements have not been announced.

Beasley Media Group Founder George Beasley Passes

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George Beasley was inducted into the Country Radio Hall of Fame in 2020.

Beasley Media Group Company Founder and Executive Chairman of the Board George G. Beasley passed away on Wednesday, June 2, 2021, in Naples, Florida. He was 89 years old.

Born on April 9, 1932, Beasley grew up working in the tobacco fields in his hometown of Ararat, Virginia. He enlisted in the Army, graduated from Appalachian State University, and moved to North Carolina in the late 1950s to become a high school principal and coach.

He built his first radio station (WPYB-AM) in Benson, North Carolina in December 1961. Over the next 60 years, his hard work and vision paved the way for what Beasley Media Group has become today – one of America’s premiere publicly traded media companies, consisting of 62 radio properties located in 15 large and medium-sized markets. Beasley stepped back from his role as Chief Executive Officer in 2016, but continued to serve as Executive Chairman of the Company’s Board of Directors.

An avid philanthropist, he served on the board of the North Carolina Association of Broadcasters (NCAB), and received numerous awards and accolades throughout his life. In 2020, he was inducted into the Country Radio Broadcasters Hall of Fame and received the Broadcasters Foundation of America Lifetime Achievement Award.

He is survived by his wife of 67 years Ann, five children, 16 grandchildren and 12 great grandchildren.

While best known for his many trailblazing achievements in the radio broadcasting industry, he will also be remembered for his kindness, integrity and work-ethic.

“George’s unconditional love for our mother, Ann and our family, along with his passion for the radio industry, helped to guide him throughout his lifetime,” said Beasley Media Group Chief Executive Officer Caroline Beasley. “A loving father, mentor, and friend, I will especially miss his incredible wisdom, keen insight and gentle smile.”

A memorial service will take place for family and friends in Naples, Florida. Details will be forthcoming. A private burial service will be held for the family in Ararat, Virginia. In lieu of flowers, the Beasley family requests donations be made in his name to The Broadcasters Foundation of America, 125 West 55th Street, 4th Floor New York, New York 10019. Online donations may also be made at www.broadcastersfoundation.org.

B.J. Thomas Dead At 78

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B.J. Thomas

Five-time Grammy award winner and Grammy Hall of Fame inductee, B.J. Thomas, died May 29 at home in Arlington, Texas from complications due to stage four lung cancer. He was 78.

Thomas’ expansive career crossed multiple genres, including country, pop, and gospel, earning him CMA, Dove, and Grammy awards and nominations since his emergence in the 1960s.

His career was anchored by numerous enduring hits, among them his million-selling cover of Hank Williams’ “I’m So Lonesome I Could Cry,” the Grammy-winning “(Hey Won’t You Play) Another Somebody Done Somebody Wrong Song” and the iconic “Raindrops Keep Fallin’ on My Head,” which won the Academy Award for best original song. A five-time Grammy award winner and Grammy Hall of Fame inductee, Thomas has sold over 70 million albums worldwide, scoring eight No. 1 hits and 26 Top 10 singles over his 50+ years in the music industry. His lengthy chart history led to him being named one of Billboard’s Top 50 Most Played Artists Over The Past 50 Years. Such memorable hits as “I Just Can’t Help Believing,” “Don’t Worry Baby,” “Whatever Happened To Old Fashioned Love,” “New Looks From An Old Lover” and “Hooked on a Feeling” have made him a staple on multiple radio formats over the years.

He was born Billy Joe Thomas in rural Hugo, Oklahoma, before he moved to Houston, Texas with his family. He began singing in church as a child and in his teens joined the Houston-based band the Triumphs.

Thomas’s first taste of success came in 1966 when he recorded “I’m So Lonesome I Could Cry” with producer Huey P. Meaux. Released by Scepter Records, it peaked at No. 8 on the pop charts and became his first million-selling single. He released the follow-up single, “Mama,” and delivered his first solo album that same year.

Thomas’ second million-selling hit came in 1968 with the release of “Hooked on a Feeling” from On My Way, his sophomore album for Scepter. During his days with the New York label, he became friendly with Ronnie Milsap and Dionne Warwick, who were also on the roster at the time. It was Warwick who introduced him to songwriter-producer Burt Bacharach. In January 1970, Thomas topped the charts with “Raindrops Keep Fallin’ on My Head.” Penned by Bacharach and Hal David, the song was featured in the classic Paul Newman/Robert Redford film Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, earning the Oscar for best original song. Sales quickly exceeded two million copies and it has remained one of the most enduring pop hits of all time, reoccurring in such films as Forrest Gump, Charlie’s Angels: Full Throttle, Clerks II, and Spider-Man 2 as well as multiple TV shows over the years. He followed that career-defining single with a string of pop/rock hits, including “Everybody’s Out of Town,” “I Just Can’t Help Believing,” “No Love at All” and “Rock and Roll Lullaby.”

After six years with Scepter Records, Thomas signed with Paramount Records where he released two albums—1973’s Songs and 1974’s Longhorns & Londonbridges. In 1975, Thomas released the album Reunion on ABC Records, featuring “(Hey Won’t You Play) Another Somebody Done Somebody Wrong Song,” which holds the distinction of being the longest titled No. 1 hit ever on Billboard’s Hot 100.

Like many successful pop/rock artists, Thomas fell into drugs and battled substance abuse. His wife Gloria became a born-again Christian and the turning point in Thomas’ life came when he became a believer in 1976. He immediately quit drugs and found an avenue for expressing his faith in gospel music. Thomas signed with Myrrh Records and released the album Home Where I Belong in 1976. Produced by Chris Christian, the project won Thomas a Grammy and became the first of two Dove Award wins. The album became the first gospel record to sell a million copies. The warmth and emotional timbre of Thomas’ voice was well suited to the genre and he became one of gospel music’s most successful artists. His rendition of “Amazing Grace” is considered one of the most poignant of the classic hymn’s many covers.

In addition to his country and gospel success, Thomas also enjoyed a healthy run on the country charts in the 1980s with such hits as “Whatever Happened to Old Fashioned Love,” “New Looks from an Old Lover Again,” “The Whole World’s in Love When You’re Lonely” and “Two Car Garage.” “(Hey Won’t You Play) Another Somebody Done Somebody Wrong Song” was No. 1 on both the Billboard Hot 100 and the Hot Country Songs charts. It won the Grammy for Best Country Song in 1976 and was nominated for CMA Single of the Year. On his 39th birthday in 1981, Thomas became the 60th member of the Grand Ole Opry.

Beyond populating multiple radio formats with so many beloved hits, Thomas also voiced the theme song, “As Long As We’ve Got Each Other,” for the popular TV series Growing Pains, and has lent his voice to numerous commercials, including campaigns for Coca-Cola and Pepsi. He can also be seen on television hosting Time Life Music’s Forever 70s infomercial. As an actor, he also appeared in the films Jory and Jake’s Corner. Thomas authored two books, including his autobiography Home Where I Belong.

In 2013, he released The Living Room Sessions, an acoustic album, which celebrated Thomas’ nearly six decades in the music industry. The project featured Thomas dueting with other high profile artists on his most beloved hits, which included teaming with Richard Marx for “(Hey Won’t You Play) Another Somebody Done Somebody Wrong Song,” Vince Gill on “I Just Can’t Help Believing,” Sara Niemietz on “Hooked on a Feeling,” Keb’ Mo’ on “Most of All,” Lyle Lovett on “Raindrops Keep Fallin’ On My Head” and The Fray’s Isaac Slade on “I’m So Lonesome I Could Cry.” The album was well-received with critics praising it as a reminder of just how engaging his voice remained after decades of recording and touring.

Though Thomas will be remembered as one of this generation’s premiere vocalists and a consummate entertainer, the humble artist was most proud of his family. He’s survived by his wife of 53 years Gloria, their three daughters Paige Thomas, Nora Cloud, and Erin Moore, and four grandchildren, Nadia Cloud, Keira Cloud, Ruby Moore, and Billy Joe Moore.

A quote from his website exemplifies Thomas’ humble attitude and appreciation for life. “All I am is just another guy. I’ve been very lucky,” he shared. “I’ve had a wonderful life, I’ve been a husband and a father who cherishes his children and now I’m a grandfather, and I’m motivated like all these teachers and preachers and mothers and fathers to help my kids grow up with character and self-respect. I hope that doesn’t sound too grandiose, but that’s what it comes down to. It’s what I’ve tried to do with my music and with the majority of my life.”

Funeral arrangements are forthcoming and will remain private. In lieu of flowers, in-memoriam donations will be accepted by Mission Arlington, Tarrant Area Food Bank, and the SPCA of Texas.