B.J. Thomas Holiday Concert to Benefit Ronald McDonald House

BUFFALO, N.Y. -- The Center for the Arts at the University at Buffalo will hold a Holiday Benefit Concert featuring B.J. Thomas at 8 p.m. on Dec. 8 in the Mainstage Theatre in the Center for the Arts on the UB North (Amherst) Campus.

With more than 70 million records sold, Thomas' vocal versatility is as apparent today as it was when he recorded his first hit, "I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry," in 1967. Since the mid-1960s, Thomas has become one of the most recognized and respected voices of the American musical landscape. He has impacted many areas of popular music with 15 Top 40 pop hits, 10 Top 40 country hits, five Grammys, two Dove awards and 15 Gold and Platinum Records. He is the only artist to successfully move to the top of three music genres not as a crossover and also have crossover success.

By 1968, he had recorded four gold records. The first three hits were "The Eyes of a New York Woman," "Hooked on a Feeling" and "It's Only Love," followed by "Raindrops Keep Falling On My Head." Label mate Dionne Warwick, who had been working with the Burt Bacharach/Hal David songwriting team, recommended Thomas for "Raindrops Keep Falling On My Head," which was written for the motion picture "Butch Cassidy & the Sundance Kid."

In 1976, he released the first of several gospel albums, "Home Where I Belong," which went platinum, making him the biggest contemporary Christian artist of the period.

Moving back to country music, Thomas hit the Top 40 10 times with hits like "What Ever Happened To Old Fashioned Love," "New Looks From an Old Lover" and "The Whole World's in Love When You're Lonely." His country success led him to become the 60th member of the Grand Ole Opry on his 40th birthday.

As the tours and records keep coming, Thomas maintains his reputation as one of popular music's all-time greatest singers.

In celebration of its 25th anniversary, the Derico of East Amherst Corporation and its employees, a locally owned nine-outlet McDonald's organization, are bringing the talented songwriter and performing artist B.J. Thomas to the Center for a special holiday concert. Event/concert proceeds benefit the families of the Ronald McDonald House. The employees of Derico are spearheading this effort in hopes of creating a unique and beneficial event for the community and the Ronald McDonald House will become an annual event.

Since opening the doors to families of seriously ill or injured children more than 24 years ago, the Ronald McDonald House of Buffalo has provided comfortable, affordable lodging for 17,000 families from Western New York and around the world. The Ronald McDonald House is a family's "home-away-from-home" when a child requires specialized medical care at a Buffalo hospital.

Tickets for the B.J. Thomas -- Holiday Benefit Concert are $39 and $31. Tickets are available from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday in the Center for the Arts Box Office and all Ticketmaster locations, including ticketmaster.com. To charge tickets, call 852-5000; in Canada, call 1-416-870-8000. For more information, call 645-ARTS.