A.J. Croce, son of legendary singer-songwriter Jim Croce, has lived a life shaped by immense talent, profound loss and a deep love of music. A piano prodigy and multi-instrumentalist, A.J. was gigging with B.B. King at 18 and has since forged a sound all his own – equal parts soul, blues, rock and pop. Now, he’s on the road performing songs from his recently released new album Heart of the Eternal and honoring his father’s legacy with Croce Plays Croce, a powerful and personal tribute coming to the Musical Instrument Museum for three nights: June 29 and 30, and July 1. We sit down with him in anticipation of his mini residency at the MIM to chat about the time James Brown showed him a different type of dry heat and where he hopes to finally snag a slice in the Valley.
Welcome to Phoenix! Do you have any favorite memories of Arizona or anything you’re looking forward to while you’re here?
Thank you for inviting me back. I’ve made some great memories in Arizona, from Tucson and Bisbee to Sedona, though the most memorable was when I opened for James Brown at the Orpheum and was able to watch him work with his band for a rehearsal. It was a real experience. After the show, he invited me into his dressing room where he was stripped down to his boxers and nothing else and sitting under a salon hairdryer. It was a little awkward at first, but we had a great conversation about music and, in particular, an artist named Little Willie John, who had helped to get James Brown his record deal with King Records back in the ’50s. In all the many times I’ve played in Phoenix, I’ve never been able to get to Pizzeria Bianco. So, hopefully this time I’ll make it there.
After this stop, you’ve got a short break. How are you planning to spend your downtime?
After my shows at the MIM, I’m looking forward to visiting family in Southern California and then returning to Nashville, where I’ll be collaborating with a number of great writers and musicians. I’m always planning ahead for the next tour and the next album.
You’ve faced some heavy losses – your father at age 2, your eyesight at 4, a fire at 15, and the tragic passing of your wife in 2018. How has all of that shaped your music and creativity?
Character building experiences, as my father called them, do exactly that – they teach you gratitude for what you have, and hopefully teach humility and humor. Life is a series of challenges for all of us. It’s universal, just like a good song. The greater our trials, the deeper our well of understanding. I do my best to apply all of those facets into my music and my performance.
You’ve said you didn’t start playing your dad’s songs until recently. What led you to embrace that part of your legacy? Has this tour been healing in any way?
As a kid, I was inspired by my father’s record collection, which was very diverse. Ray Charles was my gateway drug. I practiced six to eight hours a day. I knew I wouldn’t have self-respect or the respect of peers if I took the easy way. I needed to find my identity as an artist and create my own musical legacy before I could truly embrace performing my father’s music. Also, playing his music in public is a bit like opening Pandora’s Box. I’ve had some truly amazing and cathartic experiences performing my dad’s music, though it took time until I was ready, because now that I’ve opened that box, his music will likely be a part of my concerts for the rest of my life. I needed to be ready for that.
Are there any of his songs that hit especially close to home for you?
Listening to and performing music is very much driven by emotion. The mood that I’m in will inform my choice of songs in a set list or my choice of what to listen to. I’ve worked behind the scenes as a publisher of my father’s music for nearly 30 years. Making sure his legacy is celebrated has been a big part of my life. To answer your question, there are many of his songs that are very important to me, it’s just that which ones they are depends on the day.
Your style is so wide-ranging – blues, jazz, rock, even a little psychedelia. Is there a genre you secretly love that might surprise us?
I love Latin music of all styles, eras and genres. I started to recognize that the left-hand bass lines (on the piano) of Salsa music were nearly the same as New Orleans piano parts. Music is such a beautiful way to connect with people everywhere. We all have so much more in common than we have differences. But the bottom line is I like music that has soul. It could be a tango or gospel, bluegrass or metal, if it’s played with everything that an artist has in their heart, I’m going to respect it.
You’ve played with some serious legends – Ray Charles, Willie Nelson, John Oates, the Neville Brothers. Is there still someone on your musical bucket list?
Most of my bucket list collaborators are no longer with us, but I’d love to play piano with the Stones or McCartney, I’d love to write with Beck or Fiona Apple or Cécile McLorin Salvant… I could go on for an hour.
Your mom, Ingrid Croce, was also a musician – and, later, a restaurateur. Do you have any other creative passions beyond music?
I love to be in nature. I love to travel and to experience new things. I walk about 5 miles a day in every city I’m performing in. I love to cook, and I’ve been a collector of records since I was very young, so entertaining in that way, sharing food and music, is always great.
What can fans expect from Croce Plays Croce at the MIM?
Every night is different. I do have the framework of a set, a beginning, a middle and an end, though as I mentioned, my mood and the mood of the audience will vary each night. I bring all my heart to every show, so there’s a lot of energy, and I open up the request line every night, so just shout out what you came to hear, and my band and I will play it. I have a great band and the singers are wonderful. Everyone is capable of traveling through many eras and genres on the turn of a dime, which makes every night unique.
Will we get to see you back in Arizona soon? Maybe with a set of A.J. originals?
If Croce Plays Croce was just an evening of my father’s songs, I wouldn’t be very interested in performing it or seeing it, from the audience’s perspective. The thing that makes the show special to me is that I’ve found a way to share my music, my father’s music and the many artists that inspired us both into every concert. Of course I will play the hits, but I’ll play songs from my albums as well as the roots of where my father and my music came from. This is a family legacy, one in which two generations are present through stories and music. I’ve never seen anything like it and I’m proud to be able to share it every night.
