James Joseph Croce January 10, 1943 – September 20, 1973) was an American folk and rock singer-songwriter. Between 1966 and 1973, Croce released five studio albums and numerous singles. During this period, Croce took a series of odd jobs to pay bills while he continued to write, record, and perform concerts. After forming a partnership with songwriter and guitarist
Maury Muehleisen his fortunes turned in the early 1970s. His breakthrough came in 1972; his third album
You Don't Mess Around with Jim produced three charting singles, including "
Time in a Bottle", which reached No. 1 after his death. The follow-up album,
Life and Times, contained the song "
Bad, Bad Leroy Brown", which was the only No. 1 hit he had during his lifetime.
On September 20, 1973, the day before the lead single to his fifth album,
I Got a Name, was released, Croce and five others died in a plane crash. He was at the height of his popularity. Croce's music continued to chart throughout the 1970s following his death.