Singer BJ Thomas, who had hits including Raindrops Keep Fallin’ On My Head and Hooked On A Feeling, has died at the age of 78 after a battle with lung cancer

Singer BJ Thomas has passed away at the age of 78, following a battle with stage four lung cancer.
The American crooner, whose songs were wildly popular during the 1960s and 1970s, was best known for his renditions of Hooked On A Feeling and Raindrops Keep Fallin’ On My Head.
The father of three’s death was announced via his Twitter page with a photo of the late star beside a message that read: “It is with profound sadness we confirm the passing of BJ Thomas.”
BJ passed away due to complications from stage four lung cancer, at his home in Arlington, Texas yesterday (May 29).
It was made public knowledge in March this year that he had received his diagnosis and he was receiving treatment at the time of his death.
His hit Raindrops Keep Fallin’ On My Head won him an Oscar (Image: Getty Images)
BJ had revealed his hope that his “music can live on”with his fans at the time.
The singer was a five-time Grammy Award winner, who sold millions of records across multiple genres, worldwide.
His career took off in 1966 with his gospel-style cover of Hank Williams’ I’m So Lonesome I Could Cry.
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He then went on to score a No. 1 in 1976 with (Hey Won´t You Play) Another Somebody Done Somebody Wrong Song.
His most famous song was the hit Raindrops Keep Fallin’ On My Head, which won him an Oscar for Best Original Song in 1969 for Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid and topped the charts for an entire month.
BJ wasn’t originally the first choice to perform the song, with Robert Redford originally doubting the song’s place in the film.
The singer is said to have hoped that his “music can live on” (Image: Michael Ochs Archives)
Speaking to USA Today in 2019, Robert said: “When the film was released, I was highly critical – how did the song fit with the film? There was no rain.
“At the time, it seemed like a dumb idea. How wrong I was.”
The tune has also been featured in several other Hollywood films including Forrest Gump and Spider-Man 2.
BJ is survived by his wife Gloria Richardson, and their three daughters, Paige, Nora, and Erin.