Van Nuys Millennium Event Snares Pop Singer B.J. Thomas

B.J. Thomas, best known for the song, “Raindrops Keep Fallin’ on My Head,” will headline the San Fernando Valley millennium celebration at Van Nuys Airport on New Year’s Eve, officials said Thursday.

The city Cultural Affairs Department also announced that tickets for the 13-hour event--and four others planned at other sites in the city--will be distributed starting Monday on a first-come, first-served basis at city libraries and select Ralphs and Food 4 Less grocery stores.

The city will host the five alcohol-free events as family-oriented celebrations to run from noon on Dec. 31 to 1 a.m. on Jan. 1.

Thomas said he is excited about playing the Valley millennium show.

“I’m looking forward to it. I think it’s so cool that I can be performing in Los Angeles for New Year’s,” Thomas said.

What can audiences expect? “I’ve been lucky. I’ve had a lot of hits in the business. I’ll do as many as I can,” said Thomas.

In other parts of the city, headliners include Los Lobos and the Emotions, according to Adolfo Nodal, general manager of the city Cultural Affairs Department.

“We’re really excited about all of the music we are providing citywide,” Nodal said. “We expect we’re going to have a full house throughout the day.”

Thomas emerged in the mid-1960s as a talent who went on to post 15 Top 40 Pop hits, 10 Top 40 Country hits, and win five Grammy Awards.

Popular Thomas songs include “Hooked on a Feeling,” “It’s Only Love,” “I Just Can’t Help Believing” and the country song “New Looks for an Old Lover.”

But he is best known for singing “Raindrops Keep Fallin’ on My Head,” for the film “Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid.” The song won an Academy Award for the songwriting team of Burt Bacharach and Hal David.

These days, Thomas still tours the country. In the month before headlining the Van Nuys celebration, Thomas is scheduled to perform at the Cincinnati Convention Center, the Civic Center in Jamestown, N.D, and the Turning Stone Casino in Verona, N.Y., and the Red Lake Casino in Minnesota.

With the Valley event having a country-western theme, including the appearance of 2,000 line dancers, Thomas’ country credentials brought him to the attention of city officials.

At the Van Nuys concert, Thomas will perform last, around 10:15 p.m., following sets by previously announced entertainment including the bands Canned Heat, Indigo Swing, Mambo Kings and the “original” Tierra.

The fenced Van Nuys festival site has a capacity for about 30,000 people, according to Susan Gordon, a spokeswoman for the city.

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Because city officials expect many people, including families with children, to attend only portions of the festival, about 92,000 tickets will be distributed, free of charge, for the Valley event, beginning Monday.

“They really feel there is no concern about overbooking,” Gordon said. People who show up with tickets when the festival is at capacity may have to wait in line outside the venue until someone leaves.

The tickets will allow people to leave and return, because some parents may want to take their children home after a 9 p.m. children’s millennium celebration and then return for midnight, when a large laser and fireworks show is planned.

Up to 10 tickets will be provided per person at any of the 18 city libraries in the Valley, as well as at 38 Ralphs and Food 4 Less grocery stores throughout the Valley.

A list of the ticket distribution sites and other event information is available on the Internet at lacelebrate2000.org.

Residents may also get information on the five city-sponsored celebrations by calling a hotline at 213-485-2787.

Tickets can also be ordered by mail. The city is requesting that a self-addressed stamped envelope be sent to “Millennium Celebration” care of the Los Angeles Cultural Affairs Department, 433 S. Spring St., Los Angeles 90013.

The Valley festival budget is $300,000. City officials refused to say what part of that will go to Thomas.