You're staring at the grid. The black and white squares are mocking you, and the clue "It's Raining singer Thomas" is just sitting there with five empty boxes. You know the voice. It's that warm, slightly raspy, quintessential 1960s and 70s baritone. Your brain is screaming "Raindrops Keep Fallin' on My Head," but for some reason, the name doesn't just pop out.
It happens to the best of us.
Crossword puzzles like the New York Times, LA Times, or the USA Today love these sorts of clues because they bridge the gap between "gimme" answers and tricky trivia. The answer you are almost certainly looking for is BJ THOMAS. Or, if the grid demands it, just THOMAS. But usually, it’s that two-letter prefix that throws people off.
Billy Joe Thomas, known to the world as B.J. Thomas, wasn't just a one-hit wonder who happened to sing about precipitation. He was a powerhouse. He navigated pop, country, and gospel with a fluidity that few artists—save maybe Elvis or Glen Campbell—could ever really manage. When a puzzle editor drops "It's Raining singer Thomas" into a Monday or Tuesday crossword, they aren't just testing your music knowledge; they're testing your ability to recall a specific era of American soft rock that defined the transition from the late sixties into the early seventies.
Why the It's Raining Singer Thomas Crossword Answer is Always B.J.
If you’ve got five letters, it's BJTHOMAS. If you've got five letters and the clue is specifically "Raindrops singer," it’s THOMAS. But why is he the go-to?
The song "Raindrops Keep Fallin' on My Head," written by the legendary duo Burt Bacharach and Hal David for the 1969 film Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, is essentially part of the global DNA at this point. It won an Oscar. It topped the Billboard Hot 100 for four weeks in January 1970. It’s the kind of song that gets stuck in your head for three days after hearing three seconds of the intro.
But there’s a nuance here that crossword solvers often miss.
Thomas actually had a laryngitis-strained voice when he recorded the version used in the movie. He’d been sick. His voice was raw. Bacharach liked that rasp. It felt real. Later, Thomas recorded a "clean" version for the single release, which is the one we usually hear on the radio today. When you see a crossword clue about him, you're tapping into that specific slice of pop culture history.
Other "Thomas" Singers to Watch Out For
Don't get cocky. Sometimes the editor is being a jerk.
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While B.J. Thomas is the gold standard for "It's Raining" clues, the world of music is crowded with Thomases. If the letters don't fit, you might be looking at ROB Thomas (of Matchbox Twenty fame), or perhaps CARLA Thomas, the "Queen of Memphis Soul." There’s also IRMA Thomas, the "Soul Queen of New Orleans," who actually has a very famous song called "It's Raining."
Wait.
Let’s pause there.
If your crossword clue is "It's Raining singer" and the answer is four letters, it is almost certainly IRMA.
Irma Thomas recorded "It's Raining" in 1962. It’s a haunting, beautiful ballad, totally different from B.J. Thomas’s upbeat Oscar-winner. This is where crosswords get messy. You have to check the crossing words. If the vertical clue is "Onetime Egyptian leader" (NASSER) or "Prefix with skeleton" (EXO), you’ll know if you need the 'I' from Irma or the 'B' from B.J.
The Versatility of B.J. Thomas Beyond the Rain
Honestly, it’s a bit of a shame that we boil his whole career down to a crossword clue about rain. B.J. Thomas was a titan. "Hooked on a Feeling"—the original version, before Blue Swede added the "ooga chaka"—was his. It’s a 1968 masterpiece featuring an electric sitar.
Then you’ve got "(Hey Won't You Play) Another Somebody Done Somebody Wrong Song." That's a mouthful. It also holds the record for being one of the longest titles to ever hit number one on the charts. He moved into gospel in the late 70s, winning five Grammys in that field. He was the first artist to ever have a record go platinum in the gospel genre.
When you're filling in those squares, you're looking at a guy who sold 50 million records. He wasn't just a "crossword name" like Oona O'Neill or Esai Morales. He was a legitimate superstar.
Identifying the Pattern in Crossword Clues
Crossword construction is a craft. Editors like Will Shortz or Patti Varol use B.J. Thomas because his name is "vowel-rich" and has common consonants.
- B-J-T-H-O-M-A-S gives you an A, an O, and a T. Those are gold for constructors.
- I-R-M-A is even better. It’s a "four-letter-word" staple.
If the clue mentions "Butch Cassidy," it’s 100% B.J. Thomas. If the clue mentions "New Orleans" or "Soul," lean toward Irma. If the clue mentions "Smooth" or "Matchbox Twenty," you’re looking for Rob.
It’s about context clues. You’ve got to read between the lines—or in this case, between the squares.
How to Solve Music Clues Faster
If you're tired of getting hung up on these, start building a mental "Crossword Singer" database. Most puzzles rely on a rotating cast of characters.
Think about ENO (Brian Eno). He appears in puzzles constantly because his name is three letters and all vowels. Same with YOKO (Ono).
B.J. Thomas fits into that sweet spot of being famous enough that your grandma knows him, but "vintage" enough that a 20-year-old might struggle. That’s the "difficulty curve" crossword editors love. They want you to feel that "aha!" moment when the memory finally clicks.
Common Variations of the Thomas Clue
- "Raindrops..." singer: THOMAS
- Singer of "Hooked on a Feeling": BJTHOMAS
- 1970 Oscar-winning singer: THOMAS
- "It's Raining" R&B singer: IRMA
Notice how the phrasing changes the game. "Raindrops" is the dead giveaway for Billy Joe. "It's Raining" (without the raindrops) is the trap that leads you to Irma.
The Legacy of the Song
B.J. Thomas passed away in 2021, but his presence in the "puzzledom" is eternal. "Raindrops Keep Fallin' on My Head" was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 2014. It has been in countless movies, from Spider-Man 2 (the famous "Peter Parker is happy" montage) to Forrest Gump.
When you solve the "it's raining singer thomas crossword," you’re interacting with a piece of music history that refuses to evaporate. It’s a testament to Bacharach’s melody and Thomas’s relaxed, Everyman delivery.
Actionable Tips for Your Next Puzzle
Don't just guess. Cross-reference.
If you are stuck on the first letter of _JTHOMAS, look at the 1-Across or 1-Down. Is it a common abbreviation? Is it a short word like "BE" or "BY"?
- Check the Year: If the puzzle has a theme about the 60s, it's B.J.
- Count the Letters: Four is IRMA. Five is THOMAS (surname). Eight is BJTHOMAS (full professional name).
- Look for "Soul" vs. "Pop": This is the quickest way to differentiate between the two "It's Raining" singers.
The next time you sit down with a cup of coffee and the Sunday paper, or open your favorite crossword app, keep these distinctions in mind. You won't just be filling in boxes; you'll be navigating the history of American pop music with precision.
Go look up Irma Thomas's "It's Raining" on YouTube right now. Then listen to B.J. Thomas's "Raindrops." You'll never mix them up again. The difference between a soulful New Orleans plea and a breezy California pop tune is huge, even if they both started with a little bit of bad weather.
Focus on the crossing vowels. Use the 'A' and the 'O' as your anchors. If you can land a couple of those, the rest of the name—and the rest of the corner of the puzzle—will usually fall into place like clockwork. Happy puzzling.