A.J. Croce will present “Croce Plays Croce,” 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, June 24 at Santa Barbara’s Lobero Theatre.

“‘Croce Plays Croce’ starts where the songbook ends, and the story begins by delivering a new chapter in a musical odyssey of father and son to fans of both Croces,” according to the Lobero.

A.J. Croce, pictured playing a guitar, combines his father Jim Croce's timeless music along with his own songs in 'Croce Plays Croce,' at the Lobero Theatre. (Courtesy photo)
A.J. Croce plays his father Jim Croce’s timeless music along with his own in ‘Croce Plays Croce,’ at Lobero Theatre. (Courtesy photo)

The performance features the timeless songs of Jim Croce, along with stories of the life and times of the legendary singer-songwriter, told through the eyes of his son.

Accompanied by his band, A.J. Croce will offer his personal performance of his father’s life work, along with songs from his own catalogue.

A piano virtuoso who started playing as a child and toured with B.B. King at just 18 years old, A.J. Croce has since collaborated and performed with musical icons such as Willie Nelson, Ray Charles, Leon Russell, Allen Toussaint, Neville Brothers, Bela Fleck and Ry Cooder, all while building a catalog that blurs the boundaries between blues, soul, rock & roll, and Americana.

Nashville-based singer-songwriter A.J. Croce has also co-written songs with Leon Russell, Dan Penn, Robert Earl Keen, and multi-Grammy winner Gary Nicholson.

From his childhood, piano became something of a lifeline for A.J. Croce, who suffered a total loss of eyesight from ages four to 10 and turned to blind pianists like Ray Charles and Stevie Wonder for comfort and inspiration.

Over the course of a career that’s found him working with esteemed music producers, including Jack Clement (Johnny Cash, Elvis Presley), Tony Berg (Fiona Apple, Bob Dylan), and Greg Cohen (Tom Waits, John Zorn), Croce’s 10 albums have all charted on Top 40, blues, Americana, jazz, college, and Radio 1.

He has also landed 22 singles on a variety of Top 20 charts. His songwriting and style have evolved from jazz and blues on his debut and sophomore albums, to the roots-rock of the more recent collaborative recordings like Cantos with Ben Harper, “Twelve Tales” with Allen Toussaint, and “Just Like Medicine” with Vince Gill.

More recently, his “Croce Plays Croce 50th Anniversary Tour” honored the memory of his late father as he performed Jim Croce’s songs, as well as his own catalog, to packed houses.

Tickets for “Croce Plays Croce” are on sale now at Lobero.org and at the Lobero Box Office, 805-963-0761.

Section A & B tickets are $143.50, Section C tickets are $93.50, Section D tickets are $73.50, and Section E tickets are $63.50. Reserved seating. Ticket prices include a per ticket Lobero facility fee.

Tickets purchased online or by phone are subject to a web/phone order fee of $3 per ticket. To avoid this fee, tickets can be purchased in person at the box office.