B.J. Thomas, 'Hooked on a Feeling' Singer, Dead at 78 from Lung Cancer
The five-time Grammy winner and Hall of Fame inductee has died from complications due to stage 4 lung cancer following his March diagnosis
By JD Knapp May 29, 2021 07:40 PM
B.J. Thomas, '''Hooked on a Feeling''' Singer, Dead at 78 from Lung Cancer | PEOPLE.com
Just two months after his initial diagnosis, legendary musician B.J. Thomas has died at the age of 78. He passed away due to complications from stage 4 lung cancer at his home in Arlington, Texas, on Saturday, his family has confirmed.
The "Raindrops Keep Fallin' on My Head" and "Hooked on a Feeling" singer was a 5-time Grammy Award winner as well as a Grammy Hall of Fame inductee.
He is survived by wife Gloria, three daughters Paige Thomas, Nora Cloud, and Erin Moore, and four grandchildren, Nadia Cloud, Keira Cloud, Ruby Moore, and Billy Joe Moore.
Always humble, Thomas used the news of his cancer to praise his beloved family and fans back in March, 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."
"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," he continued. "I ask all of you for your prayers during this time and that my music can live on with you."
Following his emergence in the 1960s, Thomas' iconic songs proved their staying power in films like Forrest Gump, Charlie's Angels: Full Throttle, Clerks II, and Spider-Man 2, to name a few.
Thomas even effectively provided his own eulogy on his website, writing:
"All I am is just another guy. I've been very lucky. 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."
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Personal life
Thomas married singer-songwriter Gloria Richardson in December 1968.[12][13] They had three daughters: Paige (born 1970), Nora (adopted from North Korea in 1978), and Erin (born in 1979).[14] Shortly after Thomas's career began, he became dependent on drugs and alcohol, which led to his marriage nearly ending. On January 28, 1976, Thomas became a Christian,[15] less than a month after Gloria did. Most press sources indicated that Thomas had been sober since he and Gloria reconciled in 1976.[13][16][17][18]
On March 23, 2021, Thomas announced on his official Facebook page that he had stage IV lung cancer and was being treated in Texas.[19] He died approximately nine weeks later on May 29 at his home in Arlington, Texas, at the age of 78.[2][20]
B. J. Thomas - Wikipedia
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