ENTERTAINMENT INSIDER Backstage with The Arcada Theatre's Ron Onesti Raindrops always make me think of B.J. Thomas It's been almost three years already since we lost our good friend, B.J. Thomas. I remember him smoking regularly, until he was diagnosed with stage four lung cancer. It was a quick exit for him, and a huge blow to all who loved him and the gift of his music. It seems almost everywhere you turn these days, dark clouds loom. But thanks to the guy who gave us "Raindrops Keep Fallin' On My Head", we can remain with posi- tive outlook. Growing up and absolutely lov- ing music, I have so many memo- ries of just simply hanging out in my room staring at album covers and listening to the pop/rock stars of the seventies. The memories consist of bands and songs, but some memories are of the voices themselves. One of those distinc- tive voices for me was that of B.J. Thomas. Although he was born in Okla- homa, B.J. (Billy Joe) Thomas was brought up a Texan. His main stream singing career began as B.J. Thomas and the Triumphs, but when Dick Clark asked him to be a part of his "Caravan of Stars" tour, Thomas went on his own. "I was part of this tour with people like Roy Orbison and The Four Seasons," said B.J. "It was kind of a grind-very little sleep and we never really ate well. But the back-of-the-bus stories were incredible!" One of his first singles was a cover of the Hank Williams' clas- sic I'm So Lonely I Could Cry. The record went gold and he was on his way. A couple years later, he broke out again with his time- less hit and his second million record seller, Hooked On A Feel- ing. That is when I got "hooked." Soon after, his fellow Scep- tor Records recording artist and friend, Dionne Warwick intro- duced B.J to her intimate friend, songwriting kingpin of the day, Burt Bachrach. He tapped Thomas to sing "Raindrops Keep Fallin' On My Head" for a film he was writing a score for entitled "Butch Cassidy And The Sun- dance Kid." B.J. became a world- wide sensation...everybody was singing that song! The song won an Academy Award and he actu- ally performed it on the Oscars in 1970. He went on to earn five Grammy Awards and continued with hit records, including another classic, Another Somebody Done Somebody Wrong Song, but then he fell into the common enter- tainer abyss of the day, drugs and alcohol. "We really didn't understand. what we were doing, or how dan- gerous it was," B.J. said during a recent interview for WGN.FM. "It was something that happened and nearly killed me and I almost lost my wife (singer/songwriter Gloria Richardson)." B.J. and Gloria stuck together, found God, and they have been happy ever since. "I have a fabulous life now," he said. "I have great fans, a great wife and three grandkids! God has definitely intervened, but it's not like I am extremely religious, just living right." I found B.J to be a very humble and sincere person who re- ally loves his fans. He did four encores for a very appreciative standing ovation crowd and ev- erybody was loving it. He shared stories and songs that took the audience through his life of rock, pop, Christian and country mu- sic. But ironically, as he had hits in all those genres of music, his biggest influences came from early R&B artists. "My idol was Jackie Wilson, and I toured with James Brown. The label I was on had Dionne, The Shirelles and several other R&B artists. I loved Presented by Onesti Entertainment guys like Ray Charles and I tried to convey that soulful sincerity that they had. Many people early on actually thought I was a black performer!" B.J Said. "So that was who I toured with mostly." As I was standing backstage watching him touch his audience, I couldn't help but think about the fifty-year career of this talent- ed fellow. I thought of the places he has performed from the high school rock shows in Houston to those eventful bus tours, The Ed Sullivan Show to the Grand Ole Opry...to The Arcada! And as he sang song after song, that light in his eyes was still there. He gave it his all and I really felt the sincere love he had for his fans. The voice was still very much there, and I STILL have those songs stuck in my head! Rain- drops keep...Hooked on a...Done somebody wrong song...ah! The feeling we all were hooked on was the one B.J. Thomas gave us with hit after hit after hit. And as the song "Raindrops..." boldly states, "But there's one thing, I know, the blues they send to meet me, won't defeat me..." Pretty profound, B.J., pretty profound. ARCADA (97) YEARS If you enjoy reading this feature, please let me know! I want to see who is out there! Check out the ever-changing, incredible lineup at the historic Arcada Theatre by calling 630.962.7000 or at www.oshows.com ENTERTAINMENT INSIDER Backstage with The Arcada Theatre's Ron Onesti Raindrops always make me think of B.J. Thomas It's been almost three years already since we lost our good friend , B.J. Thomas . I remember him smoking regularly , until he was diagnosed with stage four lung cancer . It was a quick exit for him , and a huge blow to all who loved him and the gift of his music . It seems almost everywhere you turn these days , dark clouds loom . But thanks to the guy who gave us " Raindrops Keep Fallin ' On My Head " , we can remain with posi- tive outlook . Growing up and absolutely lov- ing music , I have so many memo- ries of just simply hanging out in my room staring at album covers and listening to the pop / rock stars of the seventies . The memories consist of bands and songs , but some memories are of the voices themselves . One of those distinc- tive voices for me was that of B.J. Thomas . Although he was born in Okla- homa , B.J. ( Billy Joe ) Thomas was brought up a Texan . His main stream singing career began as B.J. Thomas and the Triumphs , but when Dick Clark asked him to be a part of his " Caravan of Stars " tour , Thomas went on his own . " I was part of this tour with people like Roy Orbison and The Four Seasons , " said B.J. " It was kind of a grind - very little sleep and we never really ate well . But the back - of - the - bus stories were incredible ! " One of his first singles was a cover of the Hank Williams ' clas- sic I'm So Lonely I Could Cry . The record went gold and he was on his way . A couple years later , he broke out again with his time- less hit and his second million record seller , Hooked On A Feel- ing . That is when I got " hooked . " Soon after , his fellow Scep- tor Records recording artist and friend , Dionne Warwick intro- duced B.J to her intimate friend , songwriting kingpin of the day , Burt Bachrach . He tapped Thomas to sing " Raindrops Keep Fallin ' On My Head " for a film he was writing a score for entitled " Butch Cassidy And The Sun- dance Kid . " B.J. became a world- wide sensation ... everybody was singing that song ! The song won an Academy Award and he actu- ally performed it on the Oscars in 1970. He went on to earn five Grammy Awards and continued with hit records , including another classic , Another Somebody Done Somebody Wrong Song , but then he fell into the common enter- tainer abyss of the day , drugs and alcohol . " We really didn't understand . what we were doing , or how dan- gerous it was , " B.J. said during a recent interview for WGN.FM. " It was something that happened and nearly killed me and I almost lost my wife ( singer / songwriter Gloria Richardson ) . " B.J. and Gloria stuck together , found God , and they have been happy ever since . " I have a fabulous life now , " he said . " I have great fans , a great wife and three grandkids ! God has definitely intervened , but it's not like I am extremely religious , just living right . " I found B.J to be a very humble and sincere person who re- ally loves his fans . He did four encores for a very appreciative standing ovation crowd and ev- erybody was loving it . He shared stories and songs that took the audience through his life of rock , pop , Christian and country mu- sic . But ironically , as he had hits in all those genres of music , his biggest influences came from early R & B artists . " My idol was Jackie Wilson , and I toured with James Brown . The label I was on had Dionne , The Shirelles and several other R & B artists . I loved Presented by Onesti Entertainment guys like Ray Charles and I tried to convey that soulful sincerity that they had . Many people early on actually thought I was a black performer ! " B.J Said . " So that was who I toured with mostly . " As I was standing backstage watching him touch his audience , I couldn't help but think about the fifty - year career of this talent- ed fellow . I thought of the places he has performed from the high school rock shows in Houston to those eventful bus tours , The Ed Sullivan Show to the Grand Ole Opry ... to The Arcada ! And as he sang song after song , that light in his eyes was still there . He gave it his all and I really felt the sincere love he had for his fans . The voice was still very much there , and I STILL have those songs stuck in my head ! Rain- drops keep ... Hooked on a ... Done somebody wrong song ... ah ! The feeling we all were hooked on was the one B.J. Thomas gave us with hit after hit after hit . And as the song " Raindrops ... " boldly states , " But there's one thing , I know , the blues they send to meet me , won't defeat me ... " Pretty profound , B.J. , pretty profound . ARCADA ( 97 ) YEARS If you enjoy reading this feature , please let me know ! I want to see who is out there ! Check out the ever - changing , incredible lineup at the historic Arcada Theatre by calling 630.962.7000 or at www.oshows.com