bobcroce

Description

When a new talent comes to prominence, that artist's seemingly meteoric rise to success is actually due to years of discipline, development, good management, and old-fashioned luck. The endless miles, strange hours, noisy audiences, meager income, fatigue and other adversities an artist faces along a long and difficult road are all about paying one's dues. We then come to examine the life of one singer-songwriter, Bob Croce, a performer who has paid his dues. Born in Philadelphia on August 6, 1957, Bob Croce ’s first musical expression was translated through the accordion at age six. Hopelessly bored with notation, he would learn each week's new lesson immediately upon hearing his teacher's demonstration of it before leaving. Amazed but frustrated, his teacher, Mr. Vincent Lista, would often catch Bob instantly playing the song with the book closed. This was the first sign of Bob's extraordinary ear for melodies which soon combined with an exceptional talent for rhythms. From age ten on, Bob was a prodigious drummer playing in several local bands before discovering his affinity for guitar. Starting out as a back-up guitarist/vocalist in a fledgling acoustic duo with long time friend, Bob Bohne', occasional lead vocal opportunities fanned Croce's interest to sing more and a solo act was born. In 1978, Bob landed his first professional job writing and singing commercial jingles at Music Market Studios in Philadelphia. This valuable experience and encouragement from studio president, Mr. Ron Mecale, helped Bob Croce develop into one of the Philadelphia area ’s most prominent and prolific performers. Several colleges, hundreds of corporate and private engagements and literally thousands of club engagements have been the mainstay of Bob's performance scheduling for over a quarter century. There is a warm quiet and unassuming way about the man and his music that gets his audiences singing, playing, having fun and requesting return performances. Early influences that have inspired Bob ’s interpretive works include James Taylor, Jackson Browne, Neil Young, Eric Clapton, Cat Stevens and the Beatles to name just a few. While loving and performing some songs by his famous first cousin, Jim Croce, Bob quietly bows to Jim ’s limelight in favor of building his own grassroots following. In recent years, Bob has been gathering fans and admirers opening for - and sometimes sharing the stage with - many national names such as: Doc Watson, Dave Mason, Jerry Jeff Walker, Jonathan Edwards, Phoebe Snow, Nicolette Larson, 38 Special, Tom Chapin, Mike Auldridge, Ralph McTell, Robin & Linda Williams, Michael Cooney and Preston Reed to name just a few. Bob has won local trade magazine awards and contests for his performing as well as a national award from the American Song Festival for his writing. Among the noted venues Bob has performed at are: The Main Point, The Birchmere, The Theater of the Living Arts (TLA), The Painted Bride Arts Center, Cherry Tree Folk Club, J.C. Dobbs and The Ripley Theater.

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