James Joseph Croce (born January 10, 1943), better known as Jim Croce, was an Italian-American composer, guitarist, and performer of folk rock music. He is known for numerous hits such as Time in a Bottle, Operator (That’s Not the Way It Feels), I Got a Name, and is perhaps best known for the hit songs Bad Bad Leroy Brown and You Don’t Mess Around with Jim. He had also written songs with his wife Ingrid Croce.

On September 20, 1973, Jim, his lead guitarist Maury Muehleisen, and several others were tragically killed in a plane crash. Jim Croce was only 30 years old.

Jim’s son A.J. Croce has followed his father’s footsteps and has launched a successful music career of his own.