Buck kept vow to bring singer to town
| Wednesday, Feb 03 2010 04:22 PM
Last Updated Wednesday, Feb 03 2010 04:22 PM
B.J. has so many hits to his credit, including: 1968's "Hooked on a Feeling," the Oscar-winning "Raindrops Keep Fallin' on My Head" and ("Hey Won't You Play) Another Somebody Done Somebody Wrong Song."
"I Can't Help Believing" is a song recorded first by Elvis Presley. B.J. remembers Elvis telling him he didn't like the way B.J. did the song, to which B.J. replied: "You didn't get the gold record for your recording, and I did."
I love listening to all these songs, but there are others he recorded that didn't get released as singles that are just as impressive, such as "Badnews" (the personalized license plate on my car for the last 20 years isBADNEWZ).
B.J. was performing a gospel song in his live shows, "You Gave Me Love," that made the fine hairs on the back of my neck stand up because he would hold the notes so long. Then on one of the anniversaries of Presley's death, B.J. sang "Love Me Tender" in his friend's memory.
His performance brought tears to several eyes.
We go to his shows wanting to hear songs he recorded and made famous, but he throws in an unexpected bonus every now and then.
MY FAVORITE SONGS BY B.J. THOMAS
GO & DO
What: B.J. Thomas
When: 7 p.m. Feb. 11
Where: Buck Owens' Crystal Palace, 2800 Buck Owens Blvd.
Admission: $21.50-$31.50 plus fee.
Information: Vallitix.com or 322-5200.
I consider myself B.J. Thomas' biggest fan, and I owe it all to a chance encounter with him at the 1985 Kern County Fair. And I owe B.J.'s upcoming concert in Bakersfield to Buck Owens, a man so honorable that he kept his word to me even after his death.
I remember that trip to the fair so vividly: B.J. was performing and though we loved his music and had an eight-track of his 1970s hits, we didn't plan to attend because we had our two young sons with us. We were standing across from the rear gate by the hog pens, hoping to hear B.J. sing, when he saw us. He came to the gate and motioned us over. I turned to see if someone was standing behind us. He talked to us and invited us in to watch his show. Afterwards, he invited us on his bus. From that moment on, we were hooked.
That show was free, but since then we have traveled all over California and Nevada to see him. I even went to a couple of shows in Texas. I have every vinyl album, cassette and CD of his music.
B.J.'s voice is as breathtaking as the first time we heard him live. When we attended his casino shows in Reno, he had us leave our sons Teddy and Andrew backstage since they couldn't be in the show room. My sons grew up going to every B. J. Thomas show with mom and dad. When Andrew was 5, he came into our bedroom in the dark, startling us. He was supposed to be asleep. To avoid getting in trouble he started singing "Raindrops Keep Fallin' on My Head." I just laughed. Now they are 32 and 29 years old.
When Buck built the Crystal Palace, I felt it would be an excellent place to see B.J. perform. In 2000, I wrote Buck a letter asking that he book B. J. (Buck was always so gracious to me, giving me a lot of credit for getting Pierce Road changed to Buck Owens Boulevard). He responded that I could bet the bank on it happening. A few months before Buck died, I mentioned it again. One day while I was working at the bank, I got a call from Buck telling me the details of booking B.J. Thomas. He said that when B.J.'s tour brought him this way, the Crystal Palace would book him. A few weeks ago, I finally got the news I had waited so long for when Jerry Hufford from the Crystal Palace called: "Carol, this is the call you have been waiting 10 years to receive." I was shocked. Then I remembered Buck keeps his promises.
And if you think you're too young to have heard of B.J., you might be wrong: While purchasing tickets at the Crystal Palace, I asked the very young lady who was helping me if she knew who B.J. Thomas was. She didn't. I told her he sang "Raindrops Keep Falling On My Head." I thought she would say, "Oh yeah, that was in 'Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid' or perhaps "I heard that in 'Forrest Gump.' But, no. She excitedly responded: "He sang it in 'Spider Man 2.'"
The timing of B.J.'s show on Feb. 11 is great for a romantic Valentine's dinner and show. His performance sure sets the mood. I personally lost five pounds the week after we first met him in 1985.
