Jim Croce, sometimes known as James Joseph Croce, was a folk and rock singer from the United States. He published five studio albums over his career, along with a number of top singles, including “Bad, Bad Leroy Brown” and “Time in a Bottle,” which peaked at number one on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart. He also released the hits “You Don’t Mess Around With Jim” and “I’ve Got a Name” as singles. Croce was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, to an Italian American working class family. He began playing the guitar after learning how to play the accordion at a young age. Despite enrolling at Villanova University to study psychology, he used to spend the most of his time playing in bands or singing solos. Throughout his career, he participated in hundreds of concerts and appeared as a guest on numerous TV programs. Croce, in a cruel turn of events, died at the age of thirty in a plane crash.
Career of Jim Croce
When Jim Croce was a student at Villanova University, he first began to take music seriously. He started bands and played at events, coffee shops, and even at other colleges. His band was soon chosen for a foreign exchange tour of Yugoslavia, the Middle East, and Africa. In 1966, he issued his debut album, “Facets.” Only $500 was used to pay for the album. In the hopes that it wouldn’t be a commercial success and he would give up his musical career, his parents funded the CD. Nevertheless, the album was a hit with each copy that was sold. Ingrid Jacobson, his wife, and he were married at this time as well. The couple performed as a duo for a number of years. Together with his wife, he recorded their second album, “Jim & Ingrid Croce,” in 1967.
In 1972, ABC Records and Croce agreed to a three-record deal. His third album, “You Don’t Mess Around With Jim,” was soon made available. The album was a big success, reaching the top spot on both the Canadian RPM 100 and the US Billboard 200. One of the biggest hits of his entire career was the tune “You Don’t Mess Around.”
His subsequent album, “Life and Times,” was likewise a huge hit. It appeared on a number of charts, peaking at number one on the Canadian RPM 100 and number seven on the US Billboard 200. The song “Bad, Bad Leroy Brown” rose to the top of many charts and enjoyed great success.
I’ve Got a Name, Jim Croce’s fifth and final album was released in December 1973 as a posthumous release. Like his earlier albums, it was well received and made appearances on numerous charts, including the US Billboard 200, where it reached number 2, and the Canadian RPM chart, where it reached the same place. The album’s top three songs, “I’ve Got a Name,” “Washing at the Car Wash Blues,” and “Age,” were all hits.
Individual Life of Jim Croce
Jim Croce was born in South Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on January 10, 1943. James Albert Croce and Flora Mary were his parents. He attended Malvern Preparatory School before continuing his education at Villanova University, where he majored in psychology and minored in German. His senior year was 1965.
In 1963, he encountered Ingrid Jacobson, the woman who would become his wife. They were wed in 1966. He became a Jew since his wife was one.
On September 20, 1973, as the plane he was traveling in took off from Natchitoches Regional Airport, it crashed into a tree and he perished as a result. A large number of people, including the pilot, died in the collision. Adrian James Croce, Jim Croce’s son, and his wife are all that are left.
Jim Croce’s Net Worth
After accounting for inflation, Jim Croce’s net worth at the time of his death in 1973 was $5 million. He was an American folk and rock singer and songwriter.