B.J. Thomas, one of the most recognized and respected voices of the American musical landscape, and Billy Joe Royal, best known for his country-flavored rock hit “Down In The Boondocks,” are bringing their “Raindrops to Boondocks” tour to Branson’s Welk Resort Theatre on Saturday, September 23rd at 8:00 p.m. Tickets range from $35.50 to $40.50 and are available at the Welk Resort Theatre Box Office or by phone at 417-337-7469.
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| B.J. Thomas |
With over 70 million records sold, B. J. Thomas’ vocal versatility is as apparent today as it was when he recorded his first hit in 1967, “I’m So Lonesome I Could Cry.” By 1968, he recorded four gold records: “The Eyes Of A New York Woman,” “Hooked On A Feeling,” “It’s Only Love” and “Raindrops Keep Falling On My Head,” from the movie “Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid” starring Paul Newman and Robert Redford. More recently, movie-goers have heard the B.J. Thomas rendition of “Raindrops…” in the movie soundtracks of “Forrest Gump” and “Spider Man 2.”
Thomas has impacted many areas of popular music with 14 Top-40 pop hits; 10 Top-40 country hits including “(Hey Won’t You Play) Another Somebody Done Somebody Wrong Song,” “Whatever Happened To Old Fashioned Love,” and “New Looks From An Old Lover;” five Grammy awards, two Dove awards and 15 Gold and Platinum records.
Thomas became the 60th member of the Grand Ole Opry on his 40th birthday and in 1989 he recorded “As Long As We Got Each Other,” the theme song for the ABC sitcom “Growing Pains.” He is the only artist to successfully move to the top of three music genres — not as a crossover — but to also have crossover success.
Billy Joe Royal
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| Billy Joe Royal |
With success in both the pop and country fields, and hits that stretch from the ‘60s to the ‘90s, Billy Joe Royal continues to thrill radio listeners and concert-goers with his R&B-tinged tenor. By the age of 14, the Georgia native was a regular on the Georgia Jubilee with the likes of Ray Stevens, Jerry Reed, Joe South, Freddy Weller and regular guest stars from the Grand Old Opry. His 1965 hit, “Down In The Boondocks,” made him a teen idol and he enjoyed additional hits on the pop charts including “I Knew You When” and “Cherry Hill Park.” In the ‘80s, Royal began making his mark on country music with six well-received albums and more than a dozen hit singles including “I’ll Pin A Note On Your Pillow,” “Tell It Like It Is,” “Till I Can’t Take It Anymore,” “Love Has No Right,” and “It Keeps Right On Hurtin’.”
Throughout his career, Royal has masterfully blended the musical styles that first excited him and his fans – a combination of influences ranging from hometown country radio shows and black gospel to Motown and the rest of the ‘60s pop explosion. His instantly-recognizable voice is still fresh and delivers the hits with flair and sincerity that make for high-powered showmanship that audiences love.