News – Maury Muehleisen

June 5, 2019 ~ Welcome to the Maury Muehleisen website!

The earliest version of my Maury Muehleisen website first launched on September 14, 2003 and has maintained a steady flow of visitors from around the globe ever since. In what would have been the 70th year of Maury’s life, it seems a fitting time for me to create a new look for my website.

Over the past several years, while honoring Maury with this website and working on the story of his life, it has been my pleasure to meet people from across the country and around the world, either in person or through correspondence, creating many wonderful relationships. Connections have been made through friendships in music-related groups and other connections have been made through various newspaper, magazine and radio show interviews. Below are highlights of events during the past several years, some with highlighted links provided to articles.

1983

September 22 – 10-year anniversary week – “Remembering Croce – and Muehleisen” article written by Randy Alexander on page B10 in the Trenton Times newspaper that stirred a longing in our youngest brother to know anything and everything about Maury. Robert was only 12 in 1973. We spent the rest of that day together as I poured my heart out to him with everything I could remember. I came away with a firm resolve to preserve those memories before they were forgotten. I soon began to jot down notes on small scraps of paper, tucking them away, with all good intentions of typing them up one day to share with our immediate family.

1998

September 19 – Weekend of 25-year anniversary – Our youngest brother Robert had mentioned something called a “website” run by a guy named Tom Orecchio who was a huge Jim Croce fan from North Jersey and that he was running an event called “The Gathering” in Philadelphia for Jim Croce fans. So, Ray and I, along with my brothers Robert and Tom and their friends, attended. Tom Orecchio had some help planning the weekend gathering from another Croce fan, Margaret Cafarelli from Connecticut. Tom and Margaret had enlisted Jim Croce’s cousin Steve Angelucci to act as a tour guide as thirty of us travelled by bus to various Philadelphia-area locations – Jim’s birthplace, homes, schools, and memorial park. The tour concluded with one of Jim’s college friends, Mike DiBenedetto, entertaining us with songs and stories in a classroom on the campus of Villanova University. Some in the group of fans even joined him for a bit. By the middle of the day, many in the party realized that we were Maury’s siblings and wanted to know more about him. Not to interrupt the “Jim Croce” day, I took names and addresses and promised to be in touch about Maury. Tom Orecchio explained to me that “Saying JIM CROCE means ‘Jim Croce and Maury Muehleisen’ – because you can’t have one without the other.” It was a wonderful, eye-opening day.

1999

January – Learning how to turn on a computer for the first time, I signed up for an e-mail address and taught myself word processing. I began to create a timeline based on my ever-growing pile of notes, eventually considering the possibility that my stories may interest more than just my family.

August – With no idea how to create a website devoted to Maury, but with a dream to learn, I began gathering stories from family members and a few other important people in his life.

2002

February 1 – “Maury’s music lives in Mary’s soul” article written by Arnold Ropeik in The Times (Trenton) p. A2

2003

March 31 to April 6 – Met and spent time in New Jersey and New York with documentary filmmaker Robert Max Langpaap and some friends he had made from Natchitoches, Louisiana while filming a story about the last night of Jim Croce’s life

April 3, 2003 – Attended the New York International Independent Film and Video Film Festival screening at Village East Cinema of Robert Max Langpaap’s documentary film Jim Croce – Last Night in Natchitoches

May 8 – To Hotel Chelsea in NYC to accept a “Best Music Documentary” award on behalf of Robert Max Langpaap, who had returned home to West Virginia

June 3 – Hired web designer Sean Enright to create order to all my gathered stories and photos

September 14 – Launched my “Maury Muehleisen” website on the 30th anniversary of the last day Maury and Jim recorded songs at The Hit Factory in New York City

September 19 to 22 – Took a trip to Natchitoches, Louisiana for the 30th anniversary of September 20, 1973, to be where Maury had been on that fateful day

September 21 – “Sister savors brother’s memory” “Flashback” column article written by Andrew Kitchenman in The Times (Trenton) p. A2

October 20 to 24 – During a visit from Robert Max Langpaap to New Jersey, I arranged interviews with Tommy West, Terry Cashman, Elliot Abbott, and Patti Dahlstrom for a new documentary idea by Robert Max Langpaap

November 1 – Met with DJ “Giant Gene” Arnold at New York Deli in Lawrenceville, NJ, for an interview to be recorded about Maury and posted as one of his upcoming website shows

2004

March 22 – Met with Dick Boak, Head of Artistic Relations and Publicity at C. F. Martin & Company in Nazareth, Pennsylvania, with a private tour of factory, lunch, and talk of a possible “Maury Muehleisen” guitar sometime in the future

2006

January 9 – Scott Einhorn – live two-hour telephone interview about Maury on WRSU 88.7 FM

September – CD reissue of Maury’s Maury Muehleisen – Gingerbreadd album, through a license and royalty agreement with the record company. I created the package and used Disc Makers in Pennsauken, New Jersey

September – CD compilation of Maury’s early home and studio demos – Maury Muehleisen – Before The Ever Since – produced by Mary Muehleisen and Tommy West. I created the package and used Disc Makers in Pennsauken, New Jersey

December 24 – “After ‘The Ever Since’ – Music, memory and genius of late guitarist for Jim Croce are kept alive by his sister” article written by Brent Johnson in The Times (Trenton) p. E1 and p. E7

2007

September 5 – “Lon Van Eaton & Friends” – Randy Now’s Capitol Garage – live three-hour radio show at the College of New Jersey WTSR 91.3 FM (Trenton State Radio). Guests: Lon Van Eaton, Duke Williams, TJ Tindall, Earl Scooter, Curtis Webster, Mary Muehleisen and Tom Krawiec

2009

April 22 – “Frank Stallone & Friends” – Randy Now’s Capitol Garage – live 1-hour radio show at the College of New Jersey WTSR 91.3 FM (Trenton State Radio). Guests: Frank Stallone, Bob Tangrea, Jody Giambelluca, Bruce Foster, Mary Muehleisen and Tom Krawiec

September 6 – Pete LaBriola – WPRB 103.3 FM radio broadcast of one and a half-hour interview taped on September 2 at Tommy West’s New Jersey recording studio

December 5 – Scott Einhorn – live two-hour in-studio radio interview at Princeton University campus station WPRB 103.3 FM

2010

C.F. Martin & Co. D-35 Maury Muehleisen Commemorative Custom Edition guitar – Ordered by me with guidance from Martin personnel Dick Boak, Mike Dickinson and Bob Fehr and helpful design suggestions from my friends Ed Madonio, Tony Phillips, and Richard Pine. Jon Garon of My Favorite Guitars was the Martin-authorized dealer.

September issue – “Like Time in a Bottle” article written by Tom Wilk for Inside Jersey, A Star-Ledger Magazine, pages 88 and 89 – Photography by Jerry McCrea

2011

January 1 – Scott Einhorn – live two-hour in-studio radio interview on the campus of Princeton University on WPRB 103.3 FM

January 16 – Six Degrees with Carol Bernotas – live one-hour in-studio radio interview on the campus of Centenary College in Hackettstown, NJ, on WNTI 91.9 FM

August 19 through September 9 – Ellarslie – Trenton City Museum at Cadwalader Park in Trenton – “Trenton’s Musical Past” exhibit – display case filled with Maury Muehleisen memorabilia

2013

March – Tom Orecchio, who had planned the first “Gathering” for Jim Croce in Philadelphia in 1998, wanted to plan another “Gathering” – this time for the 40th Anniversary. Due to a recent stroke, he required some assistance. He had come to know Jim’s cousin Steve Angelucci well, and also a fan from London named Ron Gletherow who had come to “The Gathering” in 1998. In fact, Ron met Margaret Cafarelli on that weekend in 1998, married her soon after, and moved from London to Connecticut. So, our new team set out to “gather” again, but on a much grander scale, with an evening of performances at Upper Darby Performing Arts Center, located at the high school Jim Croce had attended in the late 1950s. Once the famed Gene Shay accepted my invitation to be the Host of the evening, the crowds were sure to follow.

July 1 – Scott Einhorn – two-hour radio show on WRSU 88.7 FM with music and stories of Maury and Jim in honor of the upcoming 40th anniversary of September 20, 1973

Fall issue – “Photographs and Memories” article written by Sean Ramsden for Rider, a magazine for alumni and friends, pages 10 to 13 – Photography by Peter G. Borg

September 8 – Gene Shay – “Dean of Folk DJ’s” – The Folk Show – live half-hour in-studio radio station interview at Philadelphia’s World Café on WXPN 88.5 FM

September 11 – Live telephone interview on WOGL 98.1 FM to promote the upcoming gathering to commemorate the 40th anniversary of September 20, 1973

September 14 – “Philly” Bill Culp 15-minute live telephone radio interview on WIBG 94.3 FM

September 16 – Scott Einhorn live two-hour in-studio radio interview at Rutgers University campus station WRSU 88.7 FM – including a call-in interview of Tommy West

September 17 – “Croce & friends remembered on 40th anniversary of crash” article by KLAX-TV ABC 31 – Natchitoches, Louisiana

September 18 – Telephone interview with John McDevitt, KYW News Radio 1060 AM

September 19 – “Time in a Bottle: Guitarist Maury Muehleisen’s Sister Discusses Her Brother’s Music and Time with Jim Croce” article written by James Wood for Guitar World online magazine

September 20 – Rockin’ with Johnny Show in Natchitoches, Louisiana – live 15-minute on-air radio interview on KZBL 100.7 FM

September 20/21 – Attended “The Gathering” weekend in memory of Jim Croce & Maury Muehleisen, and Joe Salviuolo – 40th Anniversary, including the September 21 “Time in a Bottle Tribute” show featuring Maggie’s Guitar. Performances also included a moving rendition of Terry Cashman singing the Cashman & West song “Maury” and a ballet by two Upper Darby students while Maury’s “Salon and Saloon” song was sung by Mike Bailey and played on piano by Ian Maxwell.

2015

January 12 – “Remembering Maury Muehleisen – Tommy West and Mary Muehleisen” Eddie Winters Rock & Roll Coup D’etat taped telephone interviews, broadcast as an internet podcast from San Francisco

2016

C.F. Martin & Co. D-35 Maury Muehleisen Commemorative Custom Second Edition guitar – Due to the huge success of the first edition Maury Muehleisen custom model, with a total of 31 guitars, authorized Martin dealer Jon Garon of My Favorite Guitars asked permission as a dealer to place an extremely-limited second edition order of six guitars. Ed Madonio and Dick Boak helped me with some beautiful design changes.

2019

Even though there have been several extended breaks in my writing efforts, I do still hope to one day publish my book about Maury with never-before seen photos and memorabilia. “Maury Muehleisen – He’s Got A Name” is a chronological story of Maury’s life, beginning with his birth into our family, sharing memories of our youthful years and his 18-month solo career, followed by a nearly day-to-day recollection of his 18-month career as Jim Croce’s friend, collaborator, and lead guitarist in the studio and on the road. And, even though Maury and Jim’s lives were tragically cut short in a plane crash on September 20, 1973, the story does not end there.

Watch for updates here ~~~