Musician and singer A.J. Croce performed at the Luhrs Performing Arts Center as part of his “Croce Plays Croce” tour, delivering a soulful mix of hits that shaped his childhood alongside the timeless classics of his father, Jim Croce. The performance blended storytelling, nostalgia and expert musicianship, as A.J. Croce honored his early inspirations and his father’s legacy while showcasing his own signature bluesy piano style.

Jim and A.J. Croce are both PA natives, but before he turned two years old, A.J. Croce lost his father to a plane crash in 1973. Jim Croce’s death occurred months after “Bad, Bad Leroy Brown” topped the Billboard charts, which was his first single to do so. 

“As a kid, I lost my sight at four years old, and Ray Charles was a real amazing influence,” A.J. Croce said.

He recalled how artists like Chet Atkins and Sam Cooke from his father’s record collection sparked his lifelong love of music across genres, from rock to folk and country. 

“For me as a kid, it was my refuge,” he said.

For nearly two hours without an intermission, A.J. Croce moved seamlessly between piano and guitar, joined by backup singers, violists and an audience full of lifelong fans. The audience sang along to favorites from his father like “Operator” and “Time in a Bottle,” while A.J. Croce showed off his newest album like the tango “Complications of Love.” 

Between songs, A.J. Croce slipped into short stand-up routines, mixing laughter with memories of his childhood and the stories behind his father’s songs.

While A.J. Croce may have been born into musical fame, he reminded the audience that his father’s path was far less certain. 

“My father spent most of the ‘60s taking odd jobs to avoid steady employment-kind of like working for the government now,” A.J. Croce joked, reminiscing of his father’s charisma during tough work like trucking. He said that Jim Croce “was able to see the beauty in everyday people and make heroes out of them in his songs.”

Even after 50 years, all it took was one familiar riff for the crowd to erupt, proving that Jim Croce’s songs still live deep in people’s memories. A.J. Croce even took song requests so listeners cou hear any songs they may have missed in his very long discography.

Each song was followed by a brief but heartfelt “thank you.” A.J. Croce kept a lighthearted mood throughout the show, yet there was unmistakable emotion in his voice whenever he played music connected to his father while slideshows of family portraits and home videos played behind him on screen.

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