One Of Rock's Most Beautiful Voices Died Just Before His Song Hit No. 1

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Jim Croce is remembered as more than just a great singer; he possessed an unwavering wit, a disciplined work ethic, and an ability to genuinely express the sorrows of the common people through music. His legacy is built upon timeless songs soaked in sorrow, such as "Bad, Bad Leroy Brown," "I Got a Name," and "Time in a Bottle," the latter of which went No. 1 only after his tragic death in an airplane crash in 1973.

Croce was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in 1943, where he learned to play accordion and guitar as a child. His musical aspirations began as a student at Villanova College, where he performed in several local bands. It was there he met his future wife, Ingrid Jacobson, who would also become his songwriting partner. After college, Croce worked several jobs to support their fledgling music career, including stints as a school teacher, truck driver, and radio DJ.

Jim and Ingrid released their first album in 1968, "Jim and Ingrid Croce," through Capitol Records, but it failed commercially. Motivated by the birth of their son in 1970, Croce continued to perform and write songs, and was signed to ABC Records in 1971. In 1972, he released his breakthrough album, "You Don't Mess Around with Jim," which featured his first big hits: "You Don't Mess Around With Jim," "Operator (That's Not the Way It Feels)," and "Time in a Bottle."

The album "Life and Times," which followed the success of "You Don't Mess Around With Jim," spawned Jim Croce's first No. 1 hit on July 20, 1973, "Bad, Bad Leroy Brown." After a grueling tour schedule for "Life and Times," Croce relocated his family to San Diego and planned to take time off at the conclusion of the tour. He never finished it: On September 20, 1973, Croce died along with five other passengers when the plane they chartered crashed shortly after take-off.

The National Transportation Safety Board ruled the crash an accident. After investigating, the board concluded that fog reduced visibility and obstructed the pilot's view, causing the crash. The first single for Croce's upcoming album, the eponymous "I Got a Name," was released the day after his death, and peaked at No. 10 on the Billboard Hot 100. Due to popular demand following his death, "Time in a Bottle" was re-released as a single and reached No. 1 on the Hot 100.

Although the '70s singer's career ended too soon, Jim Croce's legacy has lived on far beyond his death. "Time in a Bottle" spent 15 weeks on the Billboard chart, and his posthumous album, "I Got a Name," peaked at No. 2 on the Billboard 200, just behind "You Don't Mess Around with Jim," which went to No. 1 shortly after the singer died. In 1974, ABC Records released "Photographs & Memories," a greatest hits compilation. In his review, Robert Christgau of the Village Voice said, "... his music was sweet and tough, never an easy combo to bring off." He was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 1990, and his records have gone on to sell 45 million copies.

Croce's widow, Ingrid, raised their son A.J. in San Diego as they had planned. A.J. eventually launched a career as a folk singer, and Ingrid became a restaurateur, opening Croce's Restaurant & Jazz Bar in downtown San Diego. She released a cookbook called "Thyme in a Bottle," as well as a photo memoir of Croce titled "Time in a Bottle." Croce's legacy lives on through his work and his family, which is fitting given that "Time in a Bottle" was written for Ingrid when they discovered she was pregnant.