He was born on January 14, 1949, and sadly passed away on September 20, 1973. Maury Muehleisen, this cool musician from Trenton, New Jersey, was the main guitarist for Jim Croce. Together, they rocked out three awesome albums that people still love and hear a lot on the radio. When you’re chatting about how music shaped Trenton, you can’t forget Maury—he’s one of the city’s big music legends!
After rocking the stage for a year and a half with Jim Croce to push those ABC Records albums, Maury’s journey took a heartbreaking turn. He was just 24 when everything went south on September 20, 1973. A plane crash wiped out Maury, Jim Croce, Jim’s road manager Dennis Rast, booking agent Ken Cortese, comedian George Stevens (the opening act), and the pilot Robert Newton Elliott. It was a devastating loss, man.Maury had this deal with Capitol Records. His producers, Tommy West and Terry Cashman, introduced him to Jim. They told Maury that Jim had recently quit his songwriting gig but still wanted to be in the music scene. (Oh, and by the way, at the time, Croce was working as a truck driver up in the Northeast.) Maury was out promoting his Gingerbreadd album, Tommy and Terry thought it’d be cool to have someone else on stage with him. They figured Jim would be perfect. So, they introduced Maury and Jim, and they hit it off right away! Soon enough, Jim was jamming with Maury at his shows, playing those rhythm parts.
Back when I was a kid, I really liked this dude Jim Croce. Probably because he was from Philly, and I was close by. Now, Jim wasn’t your typical soft-and-mellow ’70s singer with a guitar. he had this cool working-class, funny-guy thing going on. Seals and Crofts or James Taylor, but add some tattoos – yeah, not the usual, Jim pulled it off with his faded denim jacket, “CAT” bulldozer patch, and tattoos way before they were cool. And don’t forget his sausage and peppers mustache, plus the 50¢ cigar he always had. The guy had loads of character even before he sang a note. There haven’t been many like him since, maybe Leon Redbone comes close. Jim wasn’t a handsome dude, but wow, could he write and sing some amazing ballads and stories.
So, this guy is really into Gingerbread stuff, you know? We were chatting about this thing from back in 1970 called “The Selling of the Superstar,” and Joe Salviuolo was like, “Okay, knowing music is cool, but you gotta bring some energy to the table.” Joe used to teach communication at Glassboro State but bounced to manage Maury Muehleisen, this laid-back dude who plays guitar and sings. Maury recently killed it at the Main Point with Tim Buckley and Jimmy Webb. His album on Capitol Records is just titled “Maury Muehleisen.” He’s part of this chill crew in Philly and Camden, all about art and making things happen. So, according to the “energy-coordinator” guy, Joe Salviuolo, or Sal Joseph, “Gingerbread” is all about making the world better. It’s kinda tricky to explain exactly what it is, but basically, it’s doing things in a new and cool way.
If you were vibing in the early ’70s, you totally caught Jim Croce’s tunes on the radio. Think “I Got a Name,” “Time in a Bottle,” “Bad, Bad Leroy Brown,” “I’ll Have to Say I Love You in a Song,” and “Operator.” Jim Croce and his main guitar buddy, Maury Muehleisen, were the real deal and had everyone hooked on their music. Good times, good tunes! After their songs blew up, Jim Croce and Maury Muehleisen went on this wild 18-month tour, hitting stages in the U.S. and beyond. They even rocked it on big TV shows like “American Bandstand,” “The Tonight Show,” “The Dick Cavett Show,” and “The Helen Reddy Show.” And you won’t believe it – “Bad, Bad Leroy Brown” climbed all the way to number one on the charts. They were living the dream!
Mary, Maury’s little sister, got really emotional as she talked about a really sad memory. She was married and six months pregnant back then. The day after the incident, her husband picked up the phone, and something important happened.
“It was your mom and dad,” he said, his face filled with worry. “Don’t listen to the radio.” He looked like he had just seen a ghost.
“What do you mean?” asked Mary, her voice filled with concern. “Tell me what they said.”
When Mary heard the news, she was like, “No way, Maury probably just missed his plane or something.” But then, later that day, they confirmed it was Maury on the 5 o’clock news. It was a shock for everyone in town because Maury was well-known.
Mary was like, “It felt so unreal, you know? Really surreal. It hit all of us hard. Our hearts are still breaking.”
After rocking the stage for a year and a half with Jim Croce to push those ABC Records albums, Maury’s journey took a heartbreaking turn. He was just 24 when everything went south on September 20, 1973. A plane crash wiped out Maury, Jim Croce, Jim’s road manager Dennis Rast, booking agent Ken Cortese, comedian George Stevens (the opening act), and the pilot Robert Newton Elliott. It was a devastating loss, man.
Maury didn’t stick around with Jim for too long, but man, they hit it big. Three gold albums, two gold singles – they made a name for themselves worldwide, and people still remember them even after Maury’s gone. His family, friends, and fans still talk about him as this down-to-earth guy who was proud of where he came from. Maury’s real joy came from seeing people smile because of his music, and that’s the way everyone holds onto his memory.
Conclusion
In conclusion, “The Best of Maury Muehleisen: A Top N List” serves as a comprehensive tribute to the musical legacy of Maury Muehleisen, highlighting his most exceptional works and showcasing the depth of his talent. Whether it be his poignant lyrics, It not only preserves his memory but also invites both dedicated fans and new listeners to appreciate the enduring beauty of his creations, solidifying his place among the notable figures in the realm of folk and acoustic music.
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