Musician A.J. Croce, son of the late Jim Croce, will perform his father’s song, as well as his own, at the Count Basie Center for the Arts Oct. 30. Courtesy The Basie
By Mary Ann Bourbeau
RED BANK – Over the past three decades, A.J. Croce established his reputation as a piano player with a New Orleans, jazz, blues and soul style. The Billboard-charting singer/songwriter toured with B.B. King and Ray Charles before he even turned 21, and over the years has performed with the likes of Willie Nelson, the Neville Brothers, Bela Fleck and Ry Cooder.
For years, he resisted numerous offers to perform the music of his father, the late Jim Croce. In fact, he didn’t even learn to play guitar until he was in his 30s. But a few years ago, he decided to throw the popular Jim Croce tune, “Operator,” into a performance. He found that the audience response was overwhelming and deeply emotional. In 2019, he embarked on a Croce Plays Croce tour that featured the songs of his father as well as his own.
Now after 10 albums and 30 years of touring with his own music, A.J. Croce is embarking on a Croce Plays Croce 50th Anniversary Tour, in honor of what would have been Jim Croce’s 80th birthday. It also marks 50 years since the September 1973 plane crash that ended his father’s life at the height of his career. The tour stops at the Count Basie Center for the Arts on Monday, Oct. 30. The performance will include a moving, multimedia experience that includes stories and songs from Jim Croce’s iconic albums, “Life and Times,” “I Got a Name” and “You Don’t Mess Around With Jim.” Photographs and videos will play on a screen, showing the audience images of Jim Croce as a child with his parents, as well as scenes of him and his wife Ingrid performing together.
“The fact that these songs are still loved after 50 years is a testament to the songwriting,” said the Nashville-based Croce. “Every songwriter endeavors to write songs that are timeless, and these really stand up.”
The show also coincides with the Oct. 13 release of the three CD/LP compilation project, “The Definitive Croce,” which includes all the iconic songs, including “Operator,” “I Got a Name,” “Time in a Bottle,” “Bad, Bad Leroy Brown” and “I’ll Have to Say I Love You in a Song.”
A.J. Croce was not even 2 years old when his father died, so his memories are cloudy. But he recalls hearing Jim’s songs on the radio throughout his childhood.
“I’d walk into a store and hear one of his songs, so it felt like he never truly left,” said A.J. “I’m proud of all he accomplished in such a short time. It’s pretty astounding.”
A surprising connection between father and son came when A.J. found a demo tape that Jim had recorded, on which he covered songs by the likes of Fats Waller, Bessie Smith and Mississippi John Hurt.
“I was archiving his music and I found this tape,” said A.J. “There were a dozen songs I have played my while life. These were deep cuts by rare artists that we had in common. When I heard that we chose the same exact songs without knowing, I realized we had a much deeper connection musically.”
Croce Plays Croce features the songs of both father and son, plus songs by the artists that connected them. A.J. Croce brings along an all-star band, including drummer Gary Mallaber (Van Morrison, Steve Miller Band), bassist/singer David Barard (Dr. John), guitarist/violinist James Pennebaker (Delbert McClinton) and backup singers Jackie Wilson and Katrice Donaldson.
“It’s a stage full of Grammy-winning musicians,” said A.J., who added that he also takes audience requests. “Some people come for the sake of nostalgia, but the show is very energetic and feels so alive. Every night is different. People will leave hearing what they hoped for and so much more.”
The Croce Plays Croce 50th Anniversary show will take place at 7:30 p.m. Monday, Oct. 30 at the Count Basie Center for the Arts, 99 Monmouth St. in Red Bank. Tickets are $25 to $59. For more information, call 732-842-9000 or visit thebasie.org.
This article originally appeared in the October 19 – 25, 2023 print edition of The Two River Times.
