Jim Croce was just 30 years old when he died in a plane crash on September 20, 1973. His heartfelt ("I'll Have To Say I Love You In A Song"), poignant ("Operator") and often humorous songs ("Bad, Bad Leroy Brown") earned him a legacy as one of the great singer/songwriters of his era.

Croce is survived by his wife Ingrid, who spoke with us a few years ago about Jim's life and songs. She has had a book in the works for a while, and in 2012, it was released as I Got a Name: The Jim Croce Story. The book provides insight into their loving, but often turbulent relationship, chronicles Jim's adventures that often provided inspiration for his songs.

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More Fact or Fiction

Comments: 26

• Todd Beebe from Mokena, IlLove Jim and Maury! Both huge heroes of mine!
• Mary Muehleisen from Nj100% ~ go figure. Regarding Leroy Brown, sometimes Jim said Fort Jackson and sometimes he said Fort Dix. Jim did not have a dangerous drug habit and I don't believe he had trysts with groupies. I'm not sure about Jim mentoring Don McLean. Don only attended Villanova for one semester.
• Darlene Straway from PaTechnically Jim was not Jewish his wife was..just because he converted did not make him Jewish genetically!
• Jamie from New Haven, CtI have been a walking Rock and Roll Almanac since a young child, and I’m only 33 years old (as of 2021). Keep loving music!
• Sharon from Annapolis MarylandI saw Jim in concert in a small auditorium at James Madison University in the early 70s. He sat by himself on the stage with a guitar and performed one of the best concerts I have ever been too. He sang quite a few songs that were off color and never on his albums. Does anyone have recordings of some of those unpublished songs?
• John Baswell from Eatonton,gaHe was a terrific artist
• Ariel Herrera from ArgentinaI love croce´s music
• Teddy Quinones from Williamsville, N.y. Being famous makes you have your wish to make it happen fast enough till it catches up to you.
• Ann B from Poplarville Mississippi I think I did pretty good considering
• Alan from Middle River MdI sucked with the answers to this fact or fiction. I usually do well with trivia.
• Debra from Woodbury,njI did pretty good
• Ckcraven from Raleigh, North CarolinaWondering who the original inspiration was for the Rapid Roy song(?)
• Shane Bynum from Trinity TexasBoth them songs stand out and will stand the test of time.
• Joshua from The NetherlandsI am 17 and about two years ago i discovered Don McLean's music, and about one year ago i discovered my love for Croce's music, and i just learned that Jim mentored Croce!
• Jeff from Greencastle, PaPlease help us get Jim and Maury inducted into the Rock n Roll Hall of Fame. Please "LIKE" our facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Induct-Jim-Croce-Maury-Muehleisen-into-the-Rock-Roll-Hall-of-Fame
• Richard from Nsw, AustraliaI'm 34- and his music strikes a big chord with me... My dad has been a fan for years.
• Natalie from Moncure,ncMen have emotions. Jim states that "I have to say I love you in a song.
• Tony from The Beachhe got a tatoo on his arm "baby" a nother one one that just says ,"hey'. that rapid roy that stock car boy, he too much to believe.............
• Allen Purvis from Myrtle BeachHis music will live forever, Thank God
• Charlie from Lincoln Park MiJim Croce was an incredible story teller. His lyrics touched an emotional cord with me. Many my favorites were not hits but I loved them even more. Salon and Saloon, Lovers Cross, and Hard Way Every Time made me reflective of my own life. He died too young.
• Muhammad M Faizi from BangladeshJim Croce Is One of My Favorite Singer Since Mid Seventies. The First Song I ever heard was "Time In A Bottle" As Ending Song of a Film "She Lives!.I thing I did not know that he died in a Plane Crush in 1973. God Bless Him! If anybody has the Film "She Lives"! may realize how matching the Song ('Time In A Bottle") was.
• Camille from Toronto, Oh2012 and Jim Croce's songs are still as relevant today as they were back then. I've Got A Name is my favorite. Time in a Bottle is simply timeless. Gone too soon.
• Roann from Apalachin, NyI remember seeing him in concert at SUNY @ Binghamton (now Binghamton University) when I was sophomore in September of 1973. He was the opening act for Billy Joel. What a great concert. A few days later, he was gone. We all cried when we heard the news. I will never forget the concert or the day I heard the news.
• Danny from Mowah, NjI remember the day I was riding down a mountain wooded hilly road (a two lane yellow divided interstate, Route 202)headed downward, in my (old type) Ford Mustang car...when the news hit over the radio, that Jim Croce had died in a small airplane crash. I thought of the great loss it was...because...I knew, there would be so many more songs by him...and I was waiting for them! Like so many people...I remember this day so well, just like it was yesterday when I heard this terrible news. I loved all his songs!
• Saul from Knoxville, TnJim Croce was is one of my favorites. I went to the reataurant/club/bar in San Diego.
• Rodney S Metcalf from Baltimore,marylandi love jims music!

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