Croce Plays Croce at The Town Hall in Times Square

By Sheryl Aronson / Photography by Sasaphotos (Sheryl Aronson & Sherman Alford)

A.J. Croce brought his unique artistry to The Town Hall in Times Square on Oct. 24, 2025, blending his humor, warmth and storytelling with the legacy of his father, Jim Croce. Through a thoughtfully crafted narrative and a mix of original songs and his father’s classics, A.J. guided the audience on an intimate journey through generational musical history, highlighting both the connections and distinctions between father and son.

This connection between past and present was evident not only in his performance but also during an interview in March. On March 7, 2025, while promoting his newest album, “Heart of the Eternal,” A.J. reflected on performing his father’s music.

“I realized the sweetness of playing his songs, and I also discovered that if I was going to perform his music, it was time to create an entire show. What I needed to do was figure out how to write a show that would incorporate my father and myself — and the influences that shaped us both as artists,” he said.

“I had to create a skeleton for this piece — a framework for everything to fit in that had a beginning, middle and end. But also one that was very flexible and let me be creative every night.”

With this approach in mind, A.J. opened the concert with dazzling piano work, pounding the keys in a honky-tonk version of Billy Preston’s “Nothing From Nothing.” His raspy, bluesy voice revealed jazzy New Orleans roots before twisting into a down-home country feel as he performed “Better Day.”

A.J. showcased his versatility on a variety of instruments, including three guitars (two electric and his father’s refurbished acoustic), a standup piano and a sparkly silver-coated electric piano. After the first two songs, he moved center stage, picking up a cherry-colored Gretsch electric guitar over his shoulder to perform two new tracks — the upbeat, rock ’n’ roll “I Got a Feeling” and the romantic, tango-like “The Complications of Love,” both from the “Heart of the Eternal” album.

Throughout the evening, A.J. deepened the audience’s connection to his family’s legacy through evocative visuals and stories. Black-and-white photographs projected behind him illustrated his father’s life. Anecdotes about Jim’s experiences as a trucker, soldier and pool player provided context for songs such as “Speedball Tucker,” “Operator” and “New York’s Not My Home.” While performing “Operator,” A.J. strummed his father’s refurbished 1933 Gibson L-00 acoustic guitar, which had survived a house fire in the 1970s. His voice settled into a soft, folksy croon as he closed his eyes and tilted his head upward, in a dreamy state.

A.J. spoke about his father’s songwriting: “My father loved making heroes of everyday people. Plus, he riffed on other people’s tragedies, which made for character-building experiences to write a great song.”

These glimpses into Jim’s life were complemented by A.J.’s own journey, marked by hardship and inspiration. Though tragedy haunted his story — his father died when he was two, childhood abuse caused temporary blindness for six years and his house burned down when he was 15 — A.J. shared his path to becoming a musician with humor and joy. He also noted that top musicians such as B.B. King, Ray Charles, Willie Nelson and the Neville Brothers recognized and nurtured his talent.

A.J. recounted memorable experiences with these legends, including riding on Nelson’s bus, writing songs with Leon Russell — who initially didn’t know who his father was — and working with Allen Toussaint, who produced the honky-tonk track “Rollin’ On” at his New Orleans studio. He also recalled performing keyboards in front of 65,000 people, encouraged by Rod Stewart, Santana and Jeff Beck.

As the evening drew to a close, A.J. invited audience participation, creating a sense of shared nostalgia and celebration. The perfect ending to the “Croce Plays Croce” concert came when A.J. opened “request time,” his voice, distilled like fine wine, pouring over the hall as he sang his father’s classic melodies, including “Lover’s Cross,” “Dreamin’ Again” and “Photographs and Memories,” accompanied by family photographs spanning generations. Interspersed were two of A.J.’s newer songs, “Turned Around” and “Hey Margarita,” which rocked the house.

The bookends of A.J.’s music career were captured in the final two songs: “Time in a Bottle,” which his father wrote when his mother was pregnant with him, foretelling their relationship reaching out into eternity, and “I Got a Name,” with the lyric, “I carry it with me like my daddy did.”

A.J. has certainly carried his own name as an artist as he journeyed down the road of his musical destiny. In these final moments, the enduring bond between father and son resonated throughout the hall, leaving a lasting impression.