A.J. Croce will perform at the Tennessee Theater on March 14 at 8 p.m., presenting his own music alongside songs by his father, Jim Croce. A fifth-generation musician, A.J. Croce’s show will reflect on his father’s legacy as well as his own musical roots.

	A.J. Croce pays homage to his father's music in his show 'Croce plays Croce' at the Tennessee Theater.

Jim Croce had recorded five albums as well as a library of songs that included the #1 “Bad, Bad Leroy Brown”, “Photographs and Memories”, and the prophetic “Time in a bottle” about the transience of life and the fleeting moments of our existence. The song became a #1 single after Croce’s tragic death at the age of 30, when he and four others were killed in a plane crash in Natchitoches, Louisiana on Sept. 20, 1973. His career was just beginning to gain momentum at the time of his death.

“My show is a celebration of my father’s music as well as my own,” A.J. Croce, said. “I sing both his songs and mine with an emphasis on his music. The show will lean heavier toward him. But I don’t imitate him. I’ve been told that certain notes I hit sound like him.”

A.J. was only 2-years old when his father died. After the tragedy, he and his mother, Ingrid, moved from Pennsylvania to California. Several years later, Ingrid opened a restaurant named “Croce’s” and ran it successfully for 32 years before retiring due to health reasons.

A.J. Lost his eyesight at the age of 4 and didn’t regain partial sight until he was 10. Caught in a world of darkness he became influenced by the music that had stirred his mother and father’s passion. He soon began practicing piano as a youth and regained a portion of his sight in one eye by the time he was10. He was influenced by other blind performers notably Stevie Wonder and Ray Charles. “Ray Charles was my gateway drug,” A.J. reflected. “Years later I got to tour with him.”

A.J. began practicing piano at an early age and got his first gig in a jazz bar at the age of 12. He was paid $20 for a five-hour gig. At the age of 18, Ingrid wanted A.J. to go to college but, like his father, music was his destiny. B.B. King asked him to tour with him and the rest, as they say, is history. In the years that followed A.J. has recorded 12 albums and toured with numerous performers including King, Charles and Willie Nelson.

While playing in a blues club, A.J. Croce was heard by Mae Axton who was one of the co-writers of “Heartbreak Hotel” which was recorded by Elvis Presley. She recommended Croce to Cowboy Clement who hired him to fill in for Jerry Lee Lewis.

Croce’s bond with his father endures through music. “It’s very emotional bringing the past into the present,” Croce said. "It was powerful growing up with his music. I want his music to live on.”

Croce’s show involves audience participation. In a nod to his roots playing in bars where he took requests, Croce employs the same practice at his shows. “I want every night to be different,” he said. “I encourage the audience to get involved. I will ask them to shout out any requests. It can be my father’s music or any of the music I was raised up on.”

One can only imagine where Jim Croce’s career would have taken him had he lived. “My father’s career was only 18 months long,” A.J. said. “He created a lot of great music in that short time. If he had lived, he would likely have continued a long career in music and entertainment. He was offered a guest house role on the Tonight Show with Johnny Carson. But after he died Joan Rivers got the gig.

Tickets to Croce Plays Croce are on sale at the Tennessee Theater Website at www.tennesseetheater.com.