who sang raindrops are falling on my head

Thomas continued to make albums and tour into the 2000s. In 1977, following a year or so in recovery, he sang at the memorial service for Presley, whose death that year had largely been attributed to his excessive use of prescription medications. He started on the path to recovery after converting to Christianity in the mid-70s, a period in which he also reconciled with his wife, Gloria, after repeated separations. Thomas had enjoyed an extended run at the Copacabana in New York, brought about by the runaway success of “Hooked on a Feeling.” “Rock and Roll Lullaby,” a Top 40 hit in 1972, featured Duane Eddy on guitar and backing vocals from Darlene Love and the Blossoms. Thomas’s recordings remained a constant on the pop chart for the next decade. 1 country singles over the ensuing decade and winning five Grammy Awards in gospel categories.ĭespite the persistence and severity of his alcohol and drug use, Mr. After getting clean in the mid-70s, he enjoyed parallel careers as a country and gospel singer, releasing three No. He struggled for the better part of 10 years with a dependence on drugs and alcohol that almost destroyed his marriage and his life. Thomas came by his sense of redemption the hard way. His command of musical dynamics is especially impressive on the chorus, where, lifting his voice heavenward, he goes from a hushed whisper to a flurry of ecstatic wailing before bringing his vocals back down to a murmur for the next verse. Wilson’s stamp is evident on “Mighty Clouds of Joy,” a rapturous, gospel-steeped anthem that reached the pop Top 40 for Mr. I’ve always tried to do more with a note than just hit it, because I remembered how he could sing so high and so right, really putting something into it.”

“I couldn’t believe what he could do with his voice. “We all loved Elvis and Hank Williams, but I think Wilson had the biggest influence on me,” he said in his memoir.

Who sang raindrops are falling on my head