Breakthrough Facts About Jim Croce, The Ill-Fated Folk Singer
Jim Croce was the American folk and rock singer and songwriter who could have had a long and storied career—but his greatness was cut short by one horrific tragedy.
1. He Was Doomed From the Beginning
Jim Croce was the singer-songwriter behind folk and rock classics like “Bad, Bad Leroy Brown” and “I Got a Name”. He spent a decade playing in local bars, never getting the recognition he deserved. Then, in 1973, he became an overnight success.
But, just as his star was making its ascent, his plane went hurdling in the opposite direction.
2. He Had Music In His Veins
When Jim Croce was born on January 10, 1943, there wasn’t any indication that he was a “once-in-a-generation” musical talent.
He grew up in South Philadelphia in a tight-knit Italian-American family; his father, James Albert, was from Abruzzo, and his mother Flora Mary, was from Sicily. But the only thing flowing through his veins was music.
3. He Found His Sound
Growing up in Upper Darby, just outside of Philadelphia, Croce listened to all kinds of music, from opera to jazz and back again.
However, it wasn’t until his parents gifted him a guitar that he discovered the sounds of R&B, rock and roll, blues, and folk. From that moment on, he developed his own unique sound—one that would one day take him to the top of the charts.
4. He Was The First In His Family
Croce’s true love was music—but his parents had less artistic ambitions for him. After graduating from Malvern Preparatory School, he attended Villanova University, pursuing psychology and German.
He was the first member of his family to attend university, but it wasn’t long before his true passions took over.
