The Hollies did not die in a plane crash it was Buddy Holly, Richie Valens and the Big Bopper. That is who Don McClean was singing about in American Pie, "the day the music died."
Yea I was going to say something about that but... I decided to wait an see if anyone mentions that The Big three Who passed on in Feb. of 1959. Charles Hardin Holley, Richard Valenualla and Jiles Perry Richardson and the Pilot!
Jim wrote this song based on his experiences when he was in the Army National Guard. He would see men who had received 'Dear John' letters from wives/girlfriends and they would line up to use pay phones to call home to find out why their wife/girlfriend had left them. They only had 10 cents worth of time to talk to them. 'Time in a Bottle' and 'Bad, Bad Leroy Brown' were his #1 hits. Maury Muehleisen did a lot of the guitar work on Croce's recordings. He also died in the plane crash.
Another great folk rock singer songwriter who we lost so young. This is the music I grew up with. Unique storyteller & ballad singer. His music touches your soul. He had a lot of great hits in his short career. "Photographs & Memories", "Time In A Bottle", "Operator", "Bad, Bad Leroy Brown", "You Don't Mess Around With Jim", "I Got A Name", "Workin' At The Car Wash Blues," "Lover's Cross", "Rapid Roy", "I'll Have To Say I Love You In A Song" etc.
It looked like Phil caught the lyric at the beginning "she's living in L.A. with my best old ex-friend Ray" but I was surprised it was not mentioned during your reaction. It wasn't just that his girlfriend left him; she left him and moved away with his best friend! Ouch. "Time In A Bottle" is one of the most beautiful songs ever written. Hopefully you will give that a listen soon.
I'll be surprised if you two never heard BAD, BAD LEROY BROWN!!?? Also awesome; I'VE GOT A NAME,,,, YOU DON'T MESS AROUND WITH JIM,,,, TIME IN A BOTTLE The songs we would have had he not passed would probably be amazing!! Great Reaction and commentary!! Peace 🕊️ ☮️♾️😎
Jim Croce’s career had just begun. He had nothing but hits. Actually, he was much like Elvis where everything he did was a hit. Same with Elton John. It was very sad he was gone so soon ♥️
I was a bit too young to ever see Jim Croce. But a tip for anyone interested, his son AJ is a fantastic musician in his own right and his Croce Sings Croce tour doing his dad's songs is very worthwhile.
Jim Croce has a larger catalog than Mclean. He has written and performed both humorous and melancholy songs. "Time in a Bottle" , "I'll Have to Say I Love You in a Song", "I Got a Name", " Bad Bad Leroy Brown" and "You Don't Mess Around With Jim" come to mind right off.
Back in the day you had to talk an operator, for emergencies or to place a long distance call. you could do it from a pay phone.My mother worked for south western bell as an operator for years, finally retired from there.
My uncle is a huge fan.I grew up listening to Jim Croce.Great story teller.Some song suggestions "Time in a Bottle,” “You Don't Mess Around with Jim” "Box #10" "Alabama Rain"
For much of his life Jim was the essence of a struggling musician. He was paired with the younger Maury Muehleisen, basically to help Maury launch his career. They combined to complete some of Jim's unfinished songs. After the successful release of an album in 1972, they toured and the roles were reversed, with Maury providing the guitar as Jim sang. Jim wrote "Time in a Bottle" after his son was born, which discussed the wish of having more time and one's mortality. Before his next album release Jim and Maury died in the plane crash. Ironically he had written a letter to his wife, which arrived after his death, stating he would leave the music industry, withdrawing from public attention, and possibly write short stories.
Jim was joined by his talented guitarist Maury Muehleisen and comedian George Stevens, who opened the show for the musicians at Prather Coliseum on Sept. 20, 1973. Plane hit the top of a peacan tree upon take off, killing all instantly. The tree was cut down. His son AJ was just shy of his 2nd birthday. AJ is touring singing his father's songs.
Great songwriting ! He said when he was in the military he'd wait in line to use the phone and overhear things similar to this. That's where he got the idea for the song; it wasn't a personal story. I never get tired of hearing it.
One of the things I find most amazing is how few words he uses in the first stanza to tell a tale of love, loss, and betrayal. Truly one of the greatest wordsmiths. Jim and Maury were also great guitarists. More Croce please.
Not "The Hollies" who were an English band; Buddy Holly was the one who died in a plane crash. He was whom Don McLean had referenced. Love this song by Jim!
OMG 😲 You two have several epic songs to look forward to!! He made some of the best music ever made!!! My Mom listened to him all the time when I was little, and now I do as well ... and my kids have to 😉 This is one of my favorite songs by him ❤❤ Bad Bad Leroy Brown ... do that one soon!!!! Please 🙏 😊😊
Jim Croce, in a very short span, left behind a very impressive musical catalog, most of which he wrote himself. He was a great storyteller, both as a singer/songwriter and as a guy who sometimes used his dry humor to provide backstories to his tunes when he performed them live. He was an amazing talent. The Jim Croce rabbit hole is well worth going down.
In Jim Croce's musical journey, the best way to go is to get his greatest hits album titled Photograph & Memories and just review each song-one a week-you'll fall in love with this guy-super talented.
One of the best lyrics ever. "There's something in my eyes. You know it happens every time......I think about the love that I thought would save me." 😢
Operator, Harry Chapins Taxi and Dan Fogelbergs Auld Lang Syne are all wonderful songs in the way the tell the story of lost loves. Have had some of these experiences over my life. This one is so much thinking you have something to say and wish her well but realizing that sometimes things are better left unsaid.
Great reaction, Sam and Phil! Jim was another amazing vocalist and storyteller. Another song that came to mind while hearing this is "Sylvia's Mother" by Dr. Hook and the Medicine Show.
Honestly I believe that Jim was so ahead of his time. Master storyteller & just a calming, smooth vocals. Next check out “You don’t mess around with Jim”. Love you guys! 🔥🤘🏻
From GENIUS “Operator” was Jim Croce’s second single. It peaked at #17 on the US pop chart. The song is about getting over lost love, and dealing with the blow of a breakup. Croce was inspired to write it while in the army watching service men lined up at an outdoor telephone trying to get ahold of their girlfriends and ask if the ‘Dear John’ letters they were getting were true.
This is one of my all-time favorite songs. I was devastated when he was killed. I've always wondered how many more great songs we will never hear because of his death. I'm going to recommend "I'll Have To Say I Love You In A Song" for your next reaction. His wife told the story of how they got into an argument one night and instead of escalating the situation he walked away and went to another room in the house. She went to bed and the next morning he woke her up and sang her that song which he had stayed up all night composing for her as an apology.
Oh yes…short life. Many great songs. He had not made it so long. Not long in terms from when he made it..until death. Another classic 70s song writer, singer, composer and instrumentalist. A real true artist
This is a deep hole you should go down, back in the day we all knew the words to all his songs , because they were so easy to follow along with...., soul full writing and iconic songs !!
This was the song which made me a Jim Croce fanatic when he played it live on UK TV not long before he died in 1973. I love all his work of course, nowadays my favourite is Alabama Rain. The lyric flows so naturally it somehow seems to have written itself, which is of course a sign of Jim's immense talent.
When Jim Croce was releasing music, I think his songs appealed to a wide audience. Anyone from teenagers to grandparents were fans of his his music. ✌🏼😎🇺🇸
Speaking of plane crashes. Within the last month, the gospel group, the Nelons had a fatal plane crash in Wyoming on the way to a Gaither Homecoming Cruise in Alaska. 3 of the Nelon family died. The mom and dad and their daughter. So very tragic.
This reaction brings back a few memories for me... I was 17 at the time and was about a month away from entering the military...I remember when I heard that Jim Croce and a few of his band members died in a plane crash...I remember feeling that we all lost an extremely talented musician and singer who was taken away from us suddenly... All of our hearts sank...Jim was just hitting his stride musically... He had released a string of hit songs and his career and popularity was soaring, and then it was gone in an instant... I remember being in a bar shortly after his death and unbeknownst to a lot of us at the time, he had one more song that hadn't been released and we finally got to hear it that day...The name of the song was " Lover's Cross " and while it was playing I remember shedding a few tears thinking of how much more music he would have come out with and how far he would have taken his career... This is a very good rabbit hole to go down if you choose to ...Even in his limited time with us he put out so much great music...please give it a listen sometime... Thanks for the reaction and for the look back to better times...Keep Being Awesome !!!...
Jim Croce hosted an episode of The Midnight Special, which was outstanding, just before he died. It's a great opportunity to see what a wonderful person he was, and experience a lot of his fantastic music.
This is such a great song. Most young people these days don't know even 1/2 of what he is talking about with the operator and the payphone, but the meaning of the song still comes through loud and clear to everyone who hears it.
"The love that I thought would save me." FWIW, you can see how much popular music changed in the 10 years from '62 to '72, with the shift to mature themes and the embrace of folk sensibilities, interweaving them with country, blues, and rock to form modern music (or at least what was modern back then).
My good friend Todd from Philly recently visited the cemetery where his parents, and Jim Croce, were buried. He shared that fans continue to place dimes at Jim's gravesite to this day. I Got A Name next please.
Great reaction! Y'all need to react to more of his incredible work. He wrote "Time in a Bottle" about his wife. He is a great story teller and "Bad Bad Leroy Brown" is just one of his great story telling songs.
Jim Croce was very popular back in the early 70's. When he died, it was a shock to everyone. He was such a super talent. One of his biggest hits was Bad, Bad Leroy Brown. Croce wrote and performed his own music. He was away from his wife and son for a very long time performing, and if I remember correctly, he only had a few more performance dates before he was to go home to his farm, but then the plane crash happened. He and his wife were very close.
You guys NEED to hear Time In A Bottle!
And then some 👍
Don’t forget “Lovers Cross”.
I haven't seen ANYONE react to Lover's Cross. It was always one of my favorites of Jim Croce's.
“And you can keep the dime” is one of the best fuck it lines ever
if you know what the hell a phone booth is lol
Jim Croce !!!!! You will adore him…listen to ANYTHING AND EVERYTHING by Jim
I'm old I know it too
And don’t mess around with him!
I am Speedball Tucker. lol
The Hollies did not die in a plane crash it was Buddy Holly, Richie Valens and the Big Bopper. That is who Don McClean was singing about in American Pie, "the day the music died."
HAAA he mixed up Buddy Holly with The Hollies!
Just came here to say that!
hahaha. youth!!
Yea I was going to say something about that but... I decided to wait an see if anyone mentions that The Big three Who passed on in Feb. of 1959. Charles Hardin Holley, Richard Valenualla and Jiles Perry Richardson and the Pilot!
Time in a Bottle is a must by Jim Croce. Glad you guys got around to his music.
I graduated high school in 1976. Time in a Bottle was our class song.
Jim wrote this song based on his experiences when he was in the Army National Guard. He would see men who had received 'Dear John' letters from wives/girlfriends and they would line up to use pay phones to call home to find out why their wife/girlfriend had left them. They only had 10 cents worth of time to talk to them. 'Time in a Bottle' and 'Bad, Bad Leroy Brown' were his #1 hits. Maury Muehleisen did a lot of the guitar work on Croce's recordings. He also died in the plane crash.
He's one of the greatest in the singer-songwriter era of the early '70s.
Just want to give a shout out to Maury Muehleisen. He played acoustic guitar with Jim and died with him at the age of 24.
This
Time in a Bottle should be your next listen
Another great folk rock singer songwriter who we lost so young. This is the music I grew up with. Unique storyteller & ballad singer. His music touches your soul. He had a lot of great hits in his short career. "Photographs & Memories", "Time In A Bottle", "Operator", "Bad, Bad Leroy Brown", "You Don't Mess Around With Jim", "I Got A Name", "Workin' At The Car Wash Blues," "Lover's Cross", "Rapid Roy", "I'll Have To Say I Love You In A Song" etc.
@dagmar.6956 "Rapid Roy!" Yeah!!
It looked like Phil caught the lyric at the beginning "she's living in L.A. with my best old ex-friend Ray" but I was surprised it was not mentioned during your reaction. It wasn't just that his girlfriend left him; she left him and moved away with his best friend! Ouch. "Time In A Bottle" is one of the most beautiful songs ever written. Hopefully you will give that a listen soon.
Who doesn’t get choked up listening to this man honestly pouring his heart out. Master songwriter and storyteller. His passing is still heartbreaking.
Any song from Jim you can't go wrong.
"Time In A Bottle", "Don't Mess Around With Jim", "Bad Bad Leroy Brown", "I Got A Name" to name a few.
Almost everything Croce did was top shelf. It's all good.
All his songs tell a great story. One of my favorites from his era.
I'll be surprised if you two never heard BAD, BAD LEROY BROWN!!?? Also awesome;
I'VE GOT A NAME,,,,
YOU DON'T MESS AROUND WITH JIM,,,,
TIME IN A BOTTLE
The songs we would have had he not passed would probably be amazing!! Great Reaction and commentary!! Peace 🕊️ ☮️♾️😎
Thank you for finding Jim Croce. He has all types of different music. I suggest "I Got a Name" next. It was his biggest hit.
my favorite
Time In A Bottle is one of the most fantastic love songs ever. You would love it - especially your Bright Angel wife.
It was actually written about his son
Jim Croce’s career had just begun. He had nothing but hits. Actually, he was much like Elvis where everything he did was a hit. Same with Elton John. It was very sad he was gone so soon ♥️
I was a bit too young to ever see Jim Croce. But a tip for anyone interested, his son AJ is a fantastic musician in his own right and his Croce Sings Croce tour doing his dad's songs is very worthwhile.
Jim Croce has a larger catalog than Mclean. He has written and performed both humorous and melancholy songs. "Time in a Bottle" , "I'll Have to Say I Love You in a Song", "I Got a Name", " Bad Bad Leroy Brown" and "You Don't Mess Around With Jim" come to mind right off.
Time in a Bottle, in my mind the greatest love song ever recorded. It's simply a must do.
Time In A Bottle really needs to be next up
Back in the day you had to talk an operator, for emergencies or to place a long distance call. you could do it from a pay phone.My mother worked for south western bell as an operator for years, finally retired from there.
I am so lucky to have been born i. 1956. The music and artists have experienced! As well as growing up with an appreciating my parents music!
'56 here too my friend! 😊
My uncle is a huge fan.I grew up listening to Jim Croce.Great story teller.Some song suggestions "Time in a Bottle,” “You Don't Mess Around with Jim” "Box #10" "Alabama Rain"
Also, Thursday. Perhaps my favorite Croce song.
"I Got a Name" is my all time favorite Jim Croce song.
For much of his life Jim was the essence of a struggling musician. He was paired with the younger Maury Muehleisen, basically to help Maury launch his career. They combined to complete some of Jim's unfinished songs. After the successful release of an album in 1972, they toured and the roles were reversed, with Maury providing the guitar as Jim sang.
Jim wrote "Time in a Bottle" after his son was born, which discussed the wish of having more time and one's mortality.
Before his next album release Jim and Maury died in the plane crash.
Ironically he had written a letter to his wife, which arrived after his death, stating he would leave the music industry, withdrawing from public attention, and possibly write short stories.
Jim is one of the great singer/songwriters. So many great songs in a short career span.
A broken heart, a broken relationship that he doesn’t know how to fix, or if it’s even fixable. Gets me in the tear ducts every time! 😢
Jim was joined by his talented guitarist Maury Muehleisen and comedian George Stevens, who opened the show for the musicians at Prather Coliseum on Sept. 20, 1973. Plane hit the top of a peacan tree upon take off, killing all instantly. The tree was cut down. His son AJ was just shy of his 2nd birthday. AJ is touring singing his father's songs.
I believe Jim croce was singing his songs before DOn McLean and American pie.
@@timbong1871 why are you replying to my comment. I never mentioned it
Great songwriting ! He said when he was in the military he'd wait in line to use the phone and overhear things similar to this. That's where he got the idea for the song; it wasn't a personal story. I never get tired of hearing it.
One of the things I find most amazing is how few words he uses in the first stanza to tell a tale of love, loss, and betrayal. Truly one of the greatest wordsmiths. Jim and Maury were also great guitarists.
More Croce please.
We had the absolute best singer-songwriters! You don’t find this kind of talent today.
My reaction to you not hearing of Jim Croce was shock. You are so very young! 😁
Croce died 50 years ago. They obviously are not anywhere near 50. Plus, they grew up in Canada.
It’s because we’re both old and have been passed by from spice girls and hair bands
Indeed lol
Not "The Hollies" who were an English band; Buddy Holly was the one who died in a plane crash. He was whom Don McLean had referenced. Love this song by Jim!
Hey guys , What an amazing rabbit hole to fall into. Enjoy this journey
Thanks , Mark
Seems like it!
yes, Time in a Bottle!
OMG 😲 You two have several epic songs to look forward to!! He made some of the best music ever made!!! My Mom listened to him all the time when I was little, and now I do as well ... and my kids have to 😉 This is one of my favorite songs by him ❤❤ Bad Bad Leroy Brown ... do that one soon!!!! Please 🙏 😊😊
A great artist ! Great song!
You will really enjoy Jim Croce amazing music 💚 wonderful artist!
Jim Croce, in a very short span, left behind a very impressive musical catalog, most of which he wrote himself. He was a great storyteller, both as a singer/songwriter and as a guy who sometimes used his dry humor to provide backstories to his tunes when he performed them live. He was an amazing talent.
The Jim Croce rabbit hole is well worth going down.
My 70s music. Listened to Jim all the time and have his vinyl records to this day. He wrote great storytelling songs. R.I.P Jim😢
In Jim Croce's musical journey, the best way to go is to get his greatest hits album titled Photograph & Memories and just review each song-one a week-you'll fall in love with this guy-super talented.
He goes through so many emotions in this song. He goes from Hey Operator I want to make a call to forget it I don't. You can tell he's hurting.
Exactly!
One of the best lyrics ever. "There's something in my eyes. You know it happens every time......I think about the love that I thought would save me." 😢
The guy is Epic one of the best song writers ever. I remember when his plane crashed Bad Bad Leroy Brown was the hit at the time.
So sad 😞
@@barsandbarbells2022 yes even all the way back then
The master of telling a story in 3 minutes.
He and Harry Chapin have been favorites for years
For us in the 70's his "greatest hits" 8 track was a staple in our music collections. Still is for that matter, in a different format of course.
Every song Jim Croce did is a hit! keep going in Jim's songs better you'll miss out if you don't!.....Jim Croce R.I.P #1
Oh yes !!! Love Jim Croce. His song TIME IN A BOTTLE is my favorite, when we got married I had this song playing as I walked to our gazebo
Operator, Harry Chapins Taxi and Dan Fogelbergs Auld Lang Syne are all wonderful songs in the way the tell the story of lost loves. Have had some of these experiences over my life. This one is so much thinking you have something to say and wish her well but realizing that sometimes things are better left unsaid.
3 classics and 3 of my very favourite songs you just mentioned !
I've heard this song since it came out. And it makes me cry sometimes Damn this song's timeless
Oh my God! You guys are gonna have to keep going with him. He’s so amazing. This song makes me cry…
Just Jm being a virtuoso on guitar and a lyrical genius as usual. One of the most beautiful songs ever written.
Great reaction, Sam and Phil! Jim was another amazing vocalist and storyteller. Another song that came to mind while hearing this is "Sylvia's Mother" by Dr. Hook and the Medicine Show.
Honestly I believe that Jim was so ahead of his time. Master storyteller & just a calming, smooth vocals. Next check out “You don’t mess around with Jim”. Love you guys! 🔥🤘🏻
thumbs up for "getting it"
Gr8 song. Roller Derby queen is a lol more upbeat n funny.
Time in a bottle. Is another Jim Croce classic
Love you two and your reactions! That's right-- "Croh -chee"
Absolutely outstanding Jim and Marty are surely missed so many great songs from him warms my heart
This one is so beautiful and tragic.
From GENIUS “Operator” was Jim Croce’s second single. It peaked at #17 on the US pop chart.
The song is about getting over lost love, and dealing with the blow of a breakup. Croce was inspired to write it while in the army watching service men lined up at an outdoor telephone trying to get ahold of their girlfriends and ask if the ‘Dear John’ letters they were getting were true.
You should also take a look at Al Stewart. Year of the cat
Saw him just as he was starting to make it. It was a really great intimate performance. He left us with a beautiful collection of songs.
Jim was great!
One of the best singer/songwriters to ever do it. Gone too soon....
man had all bangers died sooooo young
This is one of my all-time favorite songs. I was devastated when he was killed. I've always wondered how many more great songs we will never hear because of his death. I'm going to recommend "I'll Have To Say I Love You In A Song" for your next reaction. His wife told the story of how they got into an argument one night and instead of escalating the situation he walked away and went to another room in the house. She went to bed and the next morning he woke her up and sang her that song which he had stayed up all night composing for her as an apology.
Oh yes…short life. Many great songs. He had not made it so long. Not long in terms from when he made it..until death. Another classic 70s song writer, singer, composer and instrumentalist. A real true artist
“I’ve got a Name” “I’ll have to say I love you in a Song” “ Photographs & Memories”. List goes on and on. A truly great songwriter.
This is a deep hole you should go down, back in the day we all knew the words to all his songs , because they were so easy to follow along with...., soul full writing and iconic songs !!
This was the song which made me a Jim Croce fanatic when he played it live on UK TV not long before he died in 1973.
I love all his work of course, nowadays my favourite is Alabama Rain. The lyric flows so naturally it somehow seems to have written itself, which is of course a sign of Jim's immense talent.
Jim had such a short career but left one of the best greatest hits albums of all time.
"Operator... Well, let's forget about this call."
One of the wisest lines ever sung, I think.
Great guitar work on a great song. Loved your reaction.
Grew up listening to Jim Croce. He was wonderful! Hearing him again gave me a real gut punch.
When Jim Croce was releasing music, I think his songs appealed to a wide audience. Anyone from teenagers to grandparents were fans of his his music. ✌🏼😎🇺🇸
Love this song. Another one gone too soon! Love your reactions!
Speaking of plane crashes. Within the last month, the gospel group, the Nelons had a fatal plane crash in Wyoming on the way to a Gaither Homecoming Cruise in Alaska. 3 of the Nelon family died. The mom and dad and their daughter. So very tragic.
This reaction brings back a few memories for me... I was 17 at the time and was about a month away from entering the military...I remember when I heard that Jim Croce and a few of his band members died in a plane crash...I remember feeling that we all lost an extremely talented musician and singer who was taken away from us suddenly... All of our hearts sank...Jim was just hitting his stride musically... He had released a string of hit songs and his career and popularity was soaring, and then it was gone in an instant... I remember being in a bar shortly after his death and unbeknownst to a lot of us at the time, he had one more song that hadn't been released and we finally got to hear it that day...The name of the song was " Lover's Cross " and while it was playing I remember shedding a few tears thinking of how much more music he would have come out with and how far he would have taken his career... This is a very good rabbit hole to go down if you choose to ...Even in his limited time with us he put out so much great music...please give it a listen sometime... Thanks for the reaction and for the look back to better times...Keep Being Awesome !!!...
Jim Croce hosted an episode of The Midnight Special, which was outstanding, just before he died. It's a great opportunity to see what a wonderful person he was, and experience a lot of his fantastic music.
This is such a great song. Most young people these days don't know even 1/2 of what he is talking about with the operator and the payphone, but the meaning of the song still comes through loud and clear to everyone who hears it.
My favorite from Jim Crow-chee is "You Don't Mess Around With Jim." He really shows off his diverse talents in this one.
We love and still miss this man.
"The love that I thought would save me."
FWIW, you can see how much popular music changed in the 10 years from '62 to '72, with the shift to mature themes and the embrace of folk sensibilities, interweaving them with country, blues, and rock to form modern music (or at least what was modern back then).
Being a teenager when this song came out I feel so old because these two never heard of him. Wow
Jim's Time In A Bottle is the greatest love song ever written IMHO
Wonderful reaction.
Such great storyteller. Be sure you do more. His last song, "I've got a Name" just kills me knowing he died days later. So prophetic.
One of the great song writers of his time
My good friend Todd from Philly recently visited the cemetery where his parents, and Jim Croce, were buried. He shared that fans continue to place dimes at Jim's gravesite to this day. I Got A Name next please.
Great reaction! Y'all need to react to more of his incredible work. He wrote "Time in a Bottle" about his wife. He is a great story teller and "Bad Bad Leroy Brown" is just one of his great story telling songs.
I was only 9 when he died~ SO blessed my parents were music lovers! I know every word to his songs🎶 8 track played until it was worn out!
"Time In A Bottle" will give you chills 😮
Oh one of of the most beautiful songs. Ever.
Bad, Bad, Leroy Brown great one 😊
❤ Thank you!
For such a short life and music catalog Jim was a legend 😢
Jim Croce was very popular back in the early 70's. When he died, it was a shock to everyone. He was such a super talent. One of his biggest hits was Bad, Bad Leroy Brown. Croce wrote and performed his own music. He was away from his wife and son for a very long time performing, and if I remember correctly, he only had a few more performance dates before he was to go home to his farm, but then the plane crash happened. He and his wife were very close.