ROANOKE, Va. (WDBJ) – When you hear the name, Croce, most music fans think of the late Jim Croce, who had a string of hits in the ’70s.

But his son, A.J. Croce has made a name for himself on the music scene over the last three decades.

“This is a calling, you know, good, bad and otherwise. It’s a roller coaster of a career. There’s no guarantees. While I may have gotten a door open for me when I was young, I didn’t play my father’s music until maybe five years ago,” says Croce.

A.J. will soon release his new album, “Heart of The Eternal,” and he’s bringing his tour to the Harvester Performance Center on February 28th.

“This is going to be a really fun and energetic show. We’ll be playing my music from the last 35 years. Of course, we’re going to be focusing on the new album. We’ll be playing some of my dad’s hits,” says Croce.

Besides his legendary father, Croce names other musical influences like Ray Charles.

“Ray Charles was the first one, because I lost my sight as a kid and so I got turned on to Ray Charles and Stevie Wonder and a bunch of the famous old blind musicians,” says Croce.

Croce was able to regain sight in his left eye.

His sound, he describes, as heavily influenced by soul music.

And while he’s embraced his father’s songs into his live shows, Croce often adds his own unique twist.

“I have fun with it and treat it in a way that is more about my style, because I feel that, in doing that, I’m really honoring him in a greater way. And it’s two generations of a musical legacy,” says Croce.

A.J. Croce is performing at the Harvester Performance Center in Rocky Mount next Friday, February 28 at 8 pm.

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