BJ Thomas Concert to Benefit Medford Boys & Girls Club

Legendary pop singer B.J. Thomas will make his first Boston-area appearance in two decades in December when he performs at Chevalier Theatre in a holiday season concert that will benefit the Medford Boys & Girls Club.

Thomas, a five-time Grammy Award winner, will perform all of his iconic pop, gospel and country hits, plus his Christmas favorites, in the benefit concert on Saturday, Dec. 3, at 8 p.m.

Best known for his 1960s-’70s No. 1 hits “Raindrops Keep Falling on my Head” and “(Hey Won’t You Play) Another Somebody Done Somebody Wrong Song,” Thomas’ memorable hits include two other gold records, “Hooked on a Feeling” and “I’m So Lonesome I Could Cry.” Other catchy fan favorites include “Whatever Happened to Old Fashioned Love?” and “I Just Can’t Help Believing.”

The Medford concert will also benefit the Boys & Girls Clubs of Somerville and Salem. In October 2015, Thomas performed a North Shore concert at the Cabot Theatre in Beverly that raised more than $17,000 for the Boys & Girls Club of Greater Salem.

“B.J. Thomas is a phenomenal performer!” said Joanne Scott, Executive Director of the Boys & Girls Club of Greater Salem. “His voice has the same beautiful quality we remember and the audience loved his interactions with them. He played everyone’s favorites as they swooned, sang and danced! People of all ages left the concert happy and energized. I cannot wait to see his performance again!”

The Chevalier concert will cap off an exciting year for the Boys & Girls Clubs of Middlesex County, which operates the Medford and Somerville clubs. Not only did its Inspiration Celebration raise a record $72,000 last spring, but in August, the organization moved into a new, larger office in Medford Square, a block away from the Medford club located in the Chevalier Theatre complex.

“We are extremely proud of the programs we offer at the Medford and Somerville Boys & Girls Clubs, and it’s a special treat to have a major concert at the beautiful Chevalier Theatre that allows us to showcase our clubs to both communities,” said Lindsay Smythe, Executive Director of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Middlesex County. “We are thrilled to be a beneficiary organization from this concert, and very much appreciate the opportunity the proceeds provide for our club to both increase the number of children we serve, and expand our programming.”

The Medford Boys & Girls Club provides essential after-school and summer programs for nearly 200 children and teens ages 6 to 18, providing a safe, fun and educational environment where club members can learn and grow. Its mission is to inspire and enable all young people, especially those most in need, to reach their full potential as caring, productive and responsible citizens. Daily programs in Education, Career Exploration, Healthy Lifestyles, The Arts, Leadership, and Sports and Recreation, create new opportunities, experiences and help develop lasting, positive friendships.

In order to keep the club accessible and affordable, dues are no more than $30 per year for any child, and there are no income restrictions on the household for the child to become a member. The Medford club receives no funding from the national Boys & Girls Club organization, so events such as the B.J. Thomas concert go a long way to providing additional funds to keep member fees low.

Tickets for the B.J. Thomas concert range from $35 to $65 and are available through chevaliertheatre.com. Chevalier Theatre is located at 30 Forest St. in Medford Square. For additional information, call 781-391-7469.

– Submitted by Ken Krause