Biography

A.J. Croce will unveil his most ambitious recording project to date entitled TWELVE TALES on February 4 via Compass Records. The album’s 12 songs were recorded with six illustrious producers over the course of a year, including some of Cowboy Jack Clement’s final sessions before he passed last August and a co-written song with Leon Russell, “Rollin’ On.” “TWELVE TALES is like a cohesive collection of six 45’s,” Croce says of the album.

Croce traveled to record the album in five cities across the country, allowing each producer to select two new songs to record. Legendary producer Cowboy Jack Clement (Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash) signed on first for sessions in Nashville. Croce then went on to record sessions with Allen Toussaint (Dr. John, Paul McCartney) in New Orleans, Greg Cohen (Tom Waits, John Zorn) at Tom Waits’ introduction in New York City, five-time Grammy winner Kevin Killen (Elvis Costello, Peter Gabriel) in Stamford, CT, and in Los Angeles for sessions with Mitchell Froom (Crowded House, Los Lobos) and Tony Berg (Fiona Apple, Bob Dylan). Toussaint says of working with Croce, “it is a pleasure to witness triple uniqueness: pianist, songwriter, singer and at such a level. Who does he sound like? The answer is himself: A.J. Croce.”

Croce, son of legendary singer-songwriter Jim Croce, began his career at age 17 opening for B.B. King and has since spanned genres from jazz to Americana to blues to pop. Croce has written with artists including Willie Nelson, Arlo Guthrie, Ben Harper and Steve Poltz and headlined festivals and shared the stage with artists including Ray Charles, James Brown, Lyle Lovett, and Rod Stewart. Additionally,
Croce has performed on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, The Late Show with David Letterman, Conan and Austin City Limits and received praise from The New York Times, Rolling Stone, People Magazine and more.