The guy lost in the shuffle with Croce was his guitar player and collaborator [Marty Muhl- something]. Before they hooked up Croce was going nowhere. Don't know if he co-wrote, helped with the arrangements or what. But Croce took off once he joined up. He died in the same plane crash.
I read the way the plane crashed was ridiculous...They were taking off and a wing simply clipped the top 3 inches of a tree. I guess that was enough to upset the air flow and swing the plane to a dive. It`s always the greats isn`t it? It`s never George Michael, Air Supply or even Kanye West doing the death thing. Barry Manilow still tours but Stevie Ray Vaughn is 6 feet under.