A.J. Croce Brings “Croce Plays Croce” Tribute Show to Knoxville’s Tennessee Theatre
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- 4 min read
Jim Croce’s son honors his father’s legacy and shows off his own musical prowess in Knoxville.
Story and Photos by Casey Nicholson.
Downtown Knoxville felt like the cultural center of the region last Saturday.
The city was buzzing for a number of reasons. Throughout the weekend, Knoxville was hosting the Bassmaster Classic—often called the “Super Bowl of Fishing”—held this year on the Tennessee River.
The city also celebrated its annual St. Patrick's Day parade earlier in the day. As we walked down Gay Street toward the historic Tennessee Theatre, there were still plenty of revelers dressed in green enjoying the festivities. Some had no doubt just come from Boyd's Jig & Reel. The Old City pub was hosting a weekend-long St. Patrick’s Day celebration.
Others were finding food in Market Square before heading across town, where comedian Jerry Seinfeld was performing at the Knoxville Civic Auditorium.
In short, there were plenty of entertainment options in town.
But we stuck to our roots and opted to spend the evening with live music.
A Son Honors a Musical Legacy
The night’s entertainment was “Croce Plays Croce,” a tour by A.J. Croce celebrating the music of his father, the legendary singer-songwriter Jim Croce.
The elder Croce died tragically in a plane crash in 1973, just nine days before his son A.J.’s second birthday. He was only 32 years old, yet in a short career, he left an enormous imprint on American music. Across five albums, Jim Croce produced a catalog of songs that have become part of the American musical canon.
A.J. Croce’s show pays tribute to that legacy while also telling the story behind the music.
Before Saturday night, I wasn’t particularly familiar with A.J. Croce or his personal story. During the show, he shared that he lost his sight at a young age. A quick search after the concert reveals that he was blind from roughly age four through eleven.
During those years, he immersed himself in music—not only his father’s songs but also the artists who inspired the elder Croce. On stage Saturday, A.J. mentioned influences ranging from Sonny Terry to Ray Charles. Those early listening sessions exposed him to a broad palette of mid-20th-century blues, jazz, and folk.
That immersion led him to begin playing instruments as a child, and ultimately to develop into a formidable musician in his own right.
Today, A.J. Croce is 55. He began performing his father’s songs for audiences in 2012, and over the years, “Croce Plays Croce” has evolved into a rich and heartfelt tribute.
Two Hours of Familiar Classics
Backed by a tight band featuring bass, drums, lead electric guitar, and two backing vocalists, Croce moved effortlessly between piano, organ, acoustic guitar, and electric guitar throughout the evening.
The two-hour set opened with “You Don't Mess Around with Jim" and quickly settled into a steady stream of familiar favorites. A.J. started the night off on piano, soon delivering a masterful performance on the keys in the midst of a surprise entry on the setlist: a cover of Billy Preston’s “Nothing From Nothing”.
Songs like “Operator (That's Not the Way It Feels)” and “I'll Have to Say I Love You in a Song” brought the audience into reflective territory, while upbeat numbers like "Bad, Bad Leroy Brown” reminded the crowd of the storytelling humor that helped define Jim Croce’s songwriting.
One of the evening’s most powerful moments came when Croce played what was said to be his last song of the night, “I Got a Name”, a fitting closer that left the audience on its feet.
But the real finale came a few minutes later, when A.J. came back out to play “Time in a Bottle”, perhaps Jim Croce’s most enduring ballad. A video montage of a young A.J. Croce and his father played in the background as the band closed out with this wonderful encore. The Tennessee Theatre’s near-perfect acoustics allowed the song to fill the room in a way that felt intimate despite the large audience.
More Than Nostalgia
What made the show particularly compelling was that it never felt like mere nostalgia.
A.J. Croce clearly reveres his father’s work, but he approaches the music not as an imitator but as a steward of the songs. His arrangements occasionally stretch beyond the familiar folk-rock sound into touches of blues, gospel, and piano-driven soul—reflecting the broader musical influences that shaped both father and son. The full band coupled with A.J.'s talents on keyboard made the performance come to life, transforming a catalog that many associate with acoustic folk music into an upbeat and energetic experience.
The result is a performance that feels both reverent and alive. I went into the show a fan of Jim Croce, a man who died before I was born. I left the show a fan of A.J. Croce, a man who carries his late father’s legacy with respect and reverence, even as he makes the show lively, humorous, and entertaining.
On a night when Knoxville offered a full menu of entertainment—from fishing championships to comedy legends—those in attendance at the Tennessee Theatre chose to spend their evening celebrating a musical family whose songbook has become the soundtrack of America.
Judging by the standing ovation at the end of the night, it was a choice well made.
Further Reading
Readers interested in exploring more about the artists, venues, and events mentioned in this article may find the following resources useful:
A.J. Croce — Official website and tour information.
Jim Croce — Biography, discography, and history of one of America’s most enduring singer-songwriters.
Tennessee Theatre — The historic Gay Street venue that hosted the concert.
Knoxville Civic Auditorium — Major performance venue in Knoxville hosting touring acts and comedians.
Bassmaster Classic — Read coverage from WATE Knoxville of one of the most prestigious tournaments in professional bass fishing.
St. Patrick's Day — Read coverage from WVLT of St. Patrick's Day celebrations in downtown Knoxville.
Boyd's Jig & Reel — Popular Old City pub known for its Irish music and holiday celebrations.
Jerry Seinfeld — Legendary comedian who performed in Knoxville the same evening.
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