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Great meeting you at Folk Alliance and talking about Maury and Jim at the Circle Star Theatre with Woody Allen.
 Monday, March 08, 2010 at 20:11 |
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Thank you Mary...For this great site. You are the best..I will continue to spread the word, to help people remember. Love ya.
Peace.
Jim Russell, Sr.
Orlando, Florida.
Thursday, March 04, 2010 at 17:33 |
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You and Jim Had the best music. I'm sad that you both left too soon. You're family is beautiful and seem so close. I was born in 79, so I wasn't born when you died,but you left a leagacy of great music. See you someday in heaven with Jesus!
Wednesday, March 03, 2010 at 18:26 |
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Just stopped by to visit my old friends. Just listened to both of Maury's cds. Thanks to Mary, they are alive, and avalable. If you don't have them, GET THEM!! You will be very pleased. It will carry you away to a happier time.
Thanks again. Jim Russell, Sr
Orlando, Florida.
3-2-10, 12:46pm.
Tuesday, March 02, 2010 at 12:46 |
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Maury and Jim had such a great interplay as musicians. It greatly influenced my work as half of a duo as well. Hard to believe those tunes were actually on the radio--it was a different time. This site is a very good one. Thanks for all of the information.
Wednesday, February 24, 2010 at 18:32 |
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Last year my brother Carlyle turned me on to the Pete Huttlinger DVD of learning to play Jim Croce's music--and while I knew about "that great guitar guy" who accompanied Jim, I learned so much more from Pete's DVD. Now Pete is one seriously good musician, and he says there's never been another like Maury. I'm just so happy to know I can come close to the licks those guys put together: a lot of their music is absolutely classic forever. Thank God for both of them and their families that allowed them the time to create the memories they made.
Monday, February 22, 2010 at 20:30 |
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As a young guitar player I looked up to Maury, he was truly my greatest inspiration
Saturday, February 20, 2010 at 09:22 |
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February 2010 Exciting News -
Many of you know that Maury played two Martin guitars, a D-18 and a D-35, when recording and performing with Jim Croce. One of my dreams has been to honor Maury with a commemorative guitar, and that dream is now coming true.
It is my pleasure to announce that My Favorite Guitars, an authorized C.F. Martin & Co. dealer, is going to offer a Maury Muehleisen Custom Martin D-35. This guitar will conform to the Martin standard series D-35, with a few special touches in tribute to Maury - a 1 & 3/4 low profile neck, a special interior label designed by Dick Boak, a premium Italian Alpine Spruce top, and an East Indian Rosewood back with a Solid Quilted Mahogany Wedge as a nod to the mahogany in Maury's D-18.
These will not be a Limited Edition, but will be built as long as there are orders, much like Martin's Custom Artist Edition guitars.
For more information, please e-mail me or contact Jon Garon at http://www.myfavoriteguitars.com.
Peace and Love,
Mary
Tuesday, February 16, 2010 at 00:29 |
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Thank you!
Tuesday, February 09, 2010 at 14:55 |
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I've always been a huge fan of Jim Croce's music, but I also always knew I was listening to some extraordinary guitar that was the work of more than one man. For the first time tonight I am learning about Maury and I am glad to finally be able to completely credit that great music. One can only wonder what we were deprived of since
1973. Anyway, glad to make your belated acquaintance, Maury, and thank
you, and God bless.
Sunday, February 07, 2010 at 20:58 |
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I have listened to Maury and Jim's last show from 9.20.73 and they were great right to the end.
Many thanks for the great music. You are so missed.
Saturday, January 30, 2010 at 22:12 |
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Just finished watching some old videos of you and Jim Croce. Thanks Maury and Jim for such great music. Wish y'all could have hung around a while longer.
Friday, January 29, 2010 at 13:47 |
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Just lostened to A song i heard and i t is still in my head great peice of music. I now know where jim got alot of his style from not hard to see how jims music changed after maury together they were heroes on the hearts of many. there songs still give me butterflys. i wish i had known maury. but i beleave they now play for god and i cant wait to get there to see what new songs theyve written. there to be good
Thursday, January 28, 2010 at 18:25 |
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I'll have to say that I have always been a big fan of Jim Croce, While growing up I never realized that he wasn't the one playing the guitar. As I got older and the internet came around, I pulled up a video and saw Maury. What a great talent. With out his music ability the group would have been nothing. I really appreciate this website. It brings a person alot closer to the music to know that the artist is human. Its to bad that his life was cut so short, but his music touched so many hearts. Thank you for bringing all of this to my attention. You should be very proud of Maury and I also look forward to perhaps meeting him after my life is over on this earth. Thanks again
Monday, January 25, 2010 at 06:07 |
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Hi. We'll be doing a one-hour radio program about the music of Jim Croce and Maury Muehleisen this coming Saturday (1/30, 10 pm PST) on KPBX Spokane Public Radio (Spokane, WA). You can listen online if you're a night owl.
I've always loved Maury's work as Jim's right-hand guitarist. We'll be playing some of Jim's work before he and Maury hit it big (some of my favorite of their catalogue), in addition to the songs that topped the charts.
Monday, January 25, 2010 at 00:01 |
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I cant get say enough about how much Maury has inspired my guitar playing style. God bless to his family and friends.
Saturday, January 23, 2010 at 15:35 |
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I played Maury's Martin (D-18?) awhile ago. It was a mighty experience to hold that instrument.
Still had a set list taped to the top.
First song was "Operator".
Amazing to hear this stuff on the radio and know I held the very instrument that made that music!
Thanks to Mary for keeping the memory alive!
Friday, January 22, 2010 at 23:33 |
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No Comments
Tuesday, January 19, 2010 at 19:07 |
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Thank you, Mary, for keeping Maury's memory so vibrantly alive. The music that he and Jim made will clearly live on in the hearts and minds for many generations, but your efforts give immediate access to the deeper story.
Happy Birthday, Maury...
Happy New Year, Mary,
Tim
Friday, January 15, 2010 at 20:32 |
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Happy Birthday Maury (one day late)
I spent yesterday listening to Gingerbreadd.
Very calming and peaceful music.
Long gone, but not forgotten.
Friday, January 15, 2010 at 05:59 |
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RIP your music will live on forever.
Friday, January 15, 2010 at 00:54 |
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Happy Birthday Maury....you are always with us....
Thursday, January 14, 2010 at 21:44 |
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Thank you to all who visit here, especially today, with your good thoughts of Maury on what would be his 61st birthday. The kindness that you all show in remembering Maury is more appreciated than you could ever imagine.
Peace and Love,
Mary
Thursday, January 14, 2010 at 16:56 |
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A birthday remembrance:
Time helps us in dealing with distress.
And a smile can hide the tears.
Your memory and music are timeless.
I think of you with each song I hear.
Thursday, January 14, 2010 at 14:52 |
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Happy Birthday,Maury!You'd be 61 today and you're in our hearts still,and always.
♥
Thursday, January 14, 2010 at 09:22 |
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It is because of Maury and Jim along with other writers of the time that I became a songwritter & guitarist. Today is Jim's birthday as I learned from his son A.J. Croce's FaceBook page. I never knew Maury by name, but he has always been one of the most impressive players I've seen and heard. It was also cool to see that we both come from New Jersey!
Sunday, January 10, 2010 at 17:24 |
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Way back then 'til now, I always love listening to Jim Croce's songs. I even tried to play it on acoustic guitar, to no avail. I only learned recently that there was Maury behind every masterpiece. Thanks for bringing your music into this world for us, our sons, and for generations to come.
peace and love.
joseph
Thursday, December 31, 2009 at 16:25 |
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amazing talent..im from the philippines
i love them both croce and maury a perfect combination..until now thier music still lingers in my ears...thanks for the music..
Thursday, December 31, 2009 at 13:53 |
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I went to Glassboro State College from Sept.1966 to June 1968 [left when I got married.] I had the pleasure of knowing Maury during the '67-'68 schoolyear. Along with Maury and 2 other friends I traveled to Philly where he turned us on to "up and coming" bands at little obscure places. Then we'd run up the steps of the art museum and soak in more culture and talent. He was a sweet and charming boy back then, and I was crushed when I got word that he was gone. Our mutual traveling companions were Tom C. [a history major] and a guy we called "Fish" [a music major] whose real name I don't remember. I was thrilled to find this site. Thanks for the memories!
Monday, December 28, 2009 at 09:54 |
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I remember watching Jim Croce on the program "The Midnight Special" so may times,I never new what Jim's guitarist name was,now I know it .I always thought
that Maury and Jim blended so seamlessly
together it was and still is incredible
to listen to them.I am a vocalist,so I always noticed also how Maury always watched Jim so intently so that his vocal harmonies were perfectly timed ,perfectly pitched and never overpowering Jim's.He was definitely a special person and extremely talented musician.I am sure he is going to be singing in the choirs of angels in heaven.I love to sing also and I hope I will also be singing along with Maury and all of my other musical heroes ther too.I know you have missed him for so long Mary,but you will be with him again when Jesus comes again.God Bless You.
Monday, December 21, 2009 at 03:28 |
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I was barely in Elementary school when Maury was called home. I appreciate that many have noticed what an extraordinary person this was that walked among us. His talents still impress.
Wednesday, December 16, 2009 at 15:28 |
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I believe the first time I saw Maury and Jim together was on the "Tonight Show" in August of '72. They did "Operator" and I was blown away. What talents. What great chemistry. I have forgotten much over the last 37 years. But, I still remember that night.
Friday, December 11, 2009 at 00:00 |
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Back in 1978, while in college, I met a girl who introduced me to Maury's music; and for many years I could not take a road trip without having Maury sing to my soul. I would travel between Hopewell Junction, NJ to Rochester, NY and as I was going through the finger lake's area of NY it was always an experience to play the songs of Gingerbreadd. I was filled with tears, emotions ranged from longing for that perfect love to enjoying what life I already had. It has been almost 25 years since I thought or listened to Maury's music, but as life would have it I just recently became reacquainted with that special girl from 1978 and was reminded of Maury's songs. It will be so good to receive the CD and to again share these wonderful songs with my refound friend. Mary, thank you for keeping your love for your brother alive…
Thursday, December 10, 2009 at 00:27 |
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What a great guitar player who just played so pretty that it was incredible. He and Jim just complemented each other so well while playing. God bless them both. Their music is timeless.
Saturday, November 28, 2009 at 23:21 |
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Hi Mary! I'm an old friend of Maury from Glassboro days. We used to play together for folk mass back in 67-68. I'm so glad you've put this up, Maury & Jim have been much on my mind of late, been playing their songs quite a bit. I hadn't seen Maury for a while as I'd gone to England at the time he was developing the solo act and recording "Gingerbreadd". I returned about the time the album was released and we got together then. I was off again to Ireland, they died 8 days after I returned. I'm so glad you've been able to get the album re-released, Maury is far from forgotten but now more people will be able to hear the talent we was. All the best!
Paddy
Friday, November 27, 2009 at 23:49 |
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Hi Maury, I recently got back in contact with our mutual friend Barbara and she and I shared some very fond memories of our Hermitage days. I especially hold dear the times I shared singing harmonies with you. Today it seems like yesterday that we were friends. It will be so grand to see you again in the great beyond. You are still very much alive in my heart. Happy Thanksgiving.
Thursday, November 26, 2009 at 15:36 |
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On this beautiful November day, I send you all my very best thoughts and Happy Thanksgiving greetings. When I am thankful, I can't help but think of all of you who have come to visit my website and share your kind words about Maury.
Peace and Love to all,
Mary
Thursday, November 26, 2009 at 14:07 |
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Thank you Mary. Been away awhile. But Maury and Jim are always in my heart. Thanks for e-mailing me, and being so personal...with the signature on the cd's..I love them....
Thanks...Your friend...Jim
Wednesday, November 25, 2009 at 18:07 |
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What a talent. Thank you for allowing this glimpse into a life cut short. I'm sure Maury has some great stuff to hear when we all get together again.
Tuesday, November 24, 2009 at 02:46 |
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i was very young when jim croce died but have always liked his music .just recently i started listening again and tonite while viewing youtube i saw a guy playing behind him.i never knew there was anybody besides jim making that music.ive never heard maurys name before.being a guitar player i fell in love with him immediatly.ive now discovered it was jims voice and wordsand maurys soulful playing that made it all happen.what a loss what a huge talent the world lost.to all his family im so sorry.life goes on and so will his beautiful songs.forever.
joe sailor
Friday, November 20, 2009 at 23:53 |
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I have taken more interest in Maury and his legacy as time passes on. He was highly underrated and too often overlooked,especially in contrast to Jim (not to take anything away from him,however. A lot of fans are unaware how much Maury was an integral part of Jim's sound. I hope more info on his life will be available in the future, as well as putting "Gingerbreadd" back out on cd.
Friday, November 20, 2009 at 21:42 |
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Never have I seen or heard anything as wonderful as Maury and Jim playing together.That must be what the angels of heaven sound like.
Monday, November 09, 2009 at 22:44 |
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I am thrilled I found this site! I've been trying to find Maury on the Internet for years. My friend Mari and I loved Maury's 'Gingerbread' album and we almost wore it out! When I moved away, I missed it so much. I kept asking for years if she still had that album. I never could forget it. Now I can get a CD of it. I loved listening to the samples. Brought back many many good memories/feelings. Thank you so much.
Sunday, November 08, 2009 at 23:09 |
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My wife and I have seen video of Maury playing with Jim, but didn't know who he was until recently. I was only 13 and my wife only 9 when Maury and Jim passed away in that plane crash. I was in Manila, my wife in New York, but we both did the same thing on opposite sides of the world -- played Jim Croce's albums over and over again. People talk of comfort food. Well, if there is such a thing, Jim and Maury's songs are our comfort music. Hard to believe it has been 36 years.
Saturday, November 07, 2009 at 21:01 |
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Mary,
I never fail to find peace, comfort, and humor in Maury and Jim's music. I was raised in the seventies and mom and dad always had there albums "on the stack" on the turntable. Thirty years later my children are within earshot of their cd's. Know that someday they too will retreat to that peace and comfort captured in their music. Peace
dave
Saturday, November 07, 2009 at 09:48 |
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wish i could have heard more of maury and jim,s music. i was only 14 when they were taken from us.
Friday, November 06, 2009 at 22:45 |
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Born in 1968, I am a life long music lover and insomniac.
I remember vividly sneaking out to the living room to watch The Midnight Special.
I especially remember the first time I saw/heard Jim and Maury play.
I was mesmerised and fascinated. I had never heard anything so beautiful. I still haven't.
Over the years, I eventually learned the name of "the guitar player".
I only wish that there could have been more.
I am starting to ramble so
R.I.P.
Wednesday, October 28, 2009 at 00:17 |
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Time is FLYING..we last saw each other at the Phillies before the World Series last year and I think we sent you that pic. Hope all is well, and like most on this page who ever knew him, Maury lives within us.
Love
Gene and Terry
Tuesday, October 13, 2009 at 15:49 |
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Hi Mary! Another September has come and gone, one of these years me and my wife are going to make up there and visit Maury's Grave. I hope to get to meet you. Take care.
Friday, October 09, 2009 at 01:15 |
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Maury was an incredible talent. It wasn't until recently that I found out that many of the slick guitar lines on Jim Croce's songs were actually played by Maury! We lost a fantastic musician way before his time.
We miss you Maury,
Chris
Wednesday, October 07, 2009 at 18:02 |
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hi mary,
i want to meet you soon, even i'm here in the philippines. i love to sing croce and maury song, it reminds me all good memories since when i was small.thanks jim, maury..
Tuesday, October 06, 2009 at 14:55 |
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On behalf of Maury, please accept my thanks for some of the best guitar ballad, feel-good, thought-provoking music ever written. Whenever I need it, listening to his great guitar work lifts me from where I am and places me somewhere higher. There are few, if any, human gifts that are more valuable or more necessary.
Rest well.
Monday, September 28, 2009 at 21:32 |
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I just ran across a wonderful cover of Maury's lovely and haunting "A Song I Heard." The performers YouTube name is TinkGerman. I'm sure you'll like it.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NOQB6fMFxms
By the way, this morning I posted my song called "Favorite Song" which was written as an homage to the finger-picking styles of Maury and Jim. My blog now has four pieces (and two songs) referring to the music of Croce and Muehleisen.
Enjoy, and check out TinkGerman.
Saturday, September 26, 2009 at 22:00 |
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I am a few days late in posting this, but that doesn't mean that Sunday went by without a pause and a prayer for Maury, Jim, their families, and the others that died that long ago Friday night. To this day Maury remains one of my biggest musical influences and probably THE most under-appreciated guitar player ever. The man should have been given a medal for having to listen to Jim's stories over & over & over *grin at them both*. The laughter and heart touching songs Jim gave us as well as the distinctive, master-stroke artistry of Maury's lead have made me shake my head in awe many times. I love them like family even though I never met them. So once again, I smile at the heavens and say thank you. You are never forgotten.
Wednesday, September 23, 2009 at 20:36 |
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http://timmcmullenmissivesandtomes.blogspot.com
I have posted my previous comment and two longer reminiscences about Maury, Jim and my song, "Second-String Songman." I threw together a quick video (mostly captures from videos) last night so that I could get the song up on YouTube to commemorate Maury and Jim's passing.
The song has been on my MySpace playlist (in fact, it was because of requests from this list that I originally created the MySpace and YouTube sites), and it has been on this site (Songs about Maury) and the Jim Croce Tribute site for the last few years, but now it can be seen (heard) on YouTube and on my blog at
http://timmcmullenmissivesandtomes.blogspot.com
The blog includes an explanation of how I came to record the song.
Best wishes to Mary and to all the Muehleisens,
Tim McMullen
Monday, September 21, 2009 at 23:14 |
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Your wonderful dedication to your brother's life and talent has allowed so many—family, friends, fans old and new—to share an inkling of what a remarkable musician and person Maury was. Maury and Jim are famous not because of their fate, but because of the incalculable contributions they made to the hearts and minds of millions through their unique music.
This day is the anniversary of a tragedy, a sad reminder that very bad things happen to very good people, but it is also a reminder of how fleeting life is for all of us and that the way we live our lives makes a difference in this world. Jim and Maury's friendship, collaboration, musical vision, and legacy set a high standard for lives lasting three times as long. Today is a day to inspire us to have our mark in the world, however modest or grand, be a positive force in the world.
Thanks, Mary, for your love and dedication; thanks to the many who visit this site and share their love and admiration; and thanks, especially, to Maury and Jim for the inspiration—Thanks for saying, "I Love You," in a song!
Tim
http://www.youtube.com/TimMcMullen
http://www.myspace.com/tcbijou
http://timmcmullenmissivesandtomes.blogspot.com
Sunday, September 20, 2009 at 21:57 |
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wow 36 years. I remember sitting on my bed 4 days before my tenth birthday listening to Jim and Maury on a vinyl record when my brother came in and told me of the crash. I remember it so clearly. It was heart breaking almost like they were my own family. I still listen to that music all the time and it is as fresh today as it was all those years ago. For such a short period of time together they left us with a lot of great songs.
Sunday, September 20, 2009 at 21:43 |
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Dear Mary, I'm so glad that I recently found this site. I graciously Thank You for your kind response to my initial guestbook signing. I never fail to reflect upon the lives and music of Jim and Maury on this day, and, now I have a way of sharing it. I have recently discovered some incredible and priceless videos on YOUTUBE of them. You can almost reach out and touch them, as they definitely reach out and touch us! What treasures! I know that this day weighs upon you, yet, it must be of some comfort to know that people around the world still love your brother, Maury, and hold him dearly in their hearts. May God bless you, Dear. Bill Brabham - September 20, 2009
Sunday, September 20, 2009 at 18:36 |
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September 20, 2009 - 36 years ago today, we lost two very special people. Maury and Jim - gone years longer than either of them lived. So missed. Treasured memories remain.
Thank you to all who keep them in mind and heart and song.
Sunday, September 20, 2009 at 16:48 |
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Some of the best music I have ever heard was played by Maury and Jim. They will be remembered always. I only wish that I was born a generation earlier to have seen them perform live.
Sunday, September 20, 2009 at 10:30 |
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Dear Mary, I will be out of town the whole weekend (in Chile we celebrate our National Feast on Sept. 18-19) with no access to internet. Just want to send you my deepest feelings for next Sunday 36th anniversary. Maury & Jim will be on my prayers... Thanks God for their lifes and their music. Thanks to you for your friendship and testimony! Peace & Love from Santiago, Cris.
Thursday, September 17, 2009 at 11:48 |
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It is probably the most used statement in these pages but I cannot resist it. Jim and Maury changed my life.
Monday, September 07, 2009 at 21:35 |
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Pete LaBriola did a fantastic job last night sitting in for John Weingart on his Sunday evening "Music You Can't Hear On The Radio" show. The first half hour was filled with songs by Nanci Griffith, Kendel Carson, Mindy Smith, Artisan, and Bill Staines. Listen to them when you get a chance.
The next hour and a half was devoted to music and stories about Maury Muehleisen and Jim Croce, using clips of an interview Pete did with Tommy West and me earlier in the week.
He closed the show with a one-hour 9/11 tribute - songs sung by Greg Poulos, Bruce Springsteen, Lucy Kaplansky, Christine Lavin, Loudon Wainwright III, Judy Collins, Kristy Jackson, and Jimmy Webb.
I hope to have at least the segment about Maury and Jim up on my site sometime in the near future.
Remembering all our loved ones...
Mary
Monday, September 07, 2009 at 16:14 |
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Hi, Everyone,
The anniversary of September 20, 1973 is fast approaching and it's time once again to recollect memories. If you have a chance to tune in online, there will be a radio program devoted to Maury and Jim and the beautiful music they created together.
WPRB 103.3 FM Princeton, NJ 7-10 p.m.
www.wprb.com Sunday night
Music You Can't Hear On The Radio
Pete LaBriola sitting in for John Weingart. Pete interviewed Tommy West and me yesterday.
Thursday, September 03, 2009 at 12:56 |
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Hi, Mary. This site is truly a wonder: it gives an opportunity for so many people who were touched by your brother and his collaborations with Jim Croce to express their admiration and joy as well as their profound sorrow at his passing. Many people, of course, stumble onto Maury after years of knowing and loving Jim. Bill Brabham's very nice note expresses a somewhat atypical response, but one similar to my own.
I was a fan of Maury before I had heard Jim, so when the news of Jim's death filled the airwaves, I instantly thought of Maury, but I, too, found that initially they gave no information about the others. I, like so many other visitors to this site, am perpetually saddened by the loss of someone who I never met, but who I knew intimately through the unique musical legacy he had created both before and during his stint with Jim Croce. I meant and mean this line with all my heart, "The singing of a friend will never end" (from "Second-String Songman" by Tim McMullen).
To anyone who has not heard Maury Muehleisen's original music, I encourage you to purchase either or both of his recordings from this site. They are as fresh and moving now as they were nearly forty years ago. If you love singer/songwriters, you owe it to yourself to listen to his songs in their entirety! They are truly gems.
As I have said often in the past, thanks so much for your wonderfully touching site and for the chance to share your love with others.
Tim McMullen
http://www.youtube.com/TimMcMullen
http://www.myspace.com/tcbijou
http://timmcmullenmissivesandtomes.blogspot.com
Wednesday, September 02, 2009 at 23:47 |
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>I was a junior in highschool, when a friend of mine said that he had finally found some music that I would absolutely love. I hung on every note and line of every song of Jim and Maury from that day in early October, 1972 to this very day! I only play and sing now because of that day that I was introduced to that gorgeous and timeless collaboration. A day does not pass unless I play a Croce song, usually in restaurants and bars, or just for friends. I only wish for 4 hands so I could play both guitar parts at once.
>I was on my way to school on September 21, 1973 in rural Tuskegee, Alabama being blessed by a medley of Jim and Maury on the radio,- - - until the DJ came back on reporting that this was a tribute to the late Jim Croce who died in a plane crash "last night" in Louisiana. As horrible and sad and crushing as this news was, I could only hope that somehow Maury was not along. This DJ was not providing any details other than that "my mentor" was gone. That night I, of course, got the full story from all the TV networks.
>Until 911, the loss of Jim and Maury was the only time in my life I had cried and literally mourned for someone whom I had never met.
>Surely Maury chose your name, Mary, to honor you when writing "I REMEMBER MARY". I love to play and sing this beautiful song! Thank you so much for this site, and may God continue to bless the Muehleisen family and the Croce family. Peace and Love, Bill
Tuesday, September 01, 2009 at 15:56 |
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RIP to two greats.
Sunday, August 30, 2009 at 19:50 |
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Hi Mary
I haven't dropped by the site for quite a while. I was listening to Gingerbreadd the other night and rreflecting on the fact what would both Maury and Jim be like now if they had not passed away. I know the world is poorer for their passing.
It is graet to see all the new messages from fans from all over the world. I know I keep spreading the word in Australia and get Jims music played as ofetn as possible on request nights on the radio.
Love to you and the family
John from Geelong Australia
Friday, August 28, 2009 at 01:50 |
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I was watching some live Jim Croce footage online, and have always enjoyed his lead guitarist's work in his acoustic duets. So I dug a little deeper and found out who this genious guitarist was. Maury was incredible, especially for his young age and inexperience (I read he only started playing guitar at 17!). WOW, thanks for the music Maury
Friday, August 21, 2009 at 22:10 |
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we lived on S. Hermitage in '68 before leaving for Boston, and I never met Maury,but I was led to believe the family had lived on our block. I've always taken some pride knowing that such a talent came from my town. At the after-party last night we had a great session trading great songs from our rich heritage when a brilliant bassist, blues/soul artist from Chicago broke out "Operator". Heartbreaking. As I picked out the chords, he sang the lines they played. I got home and found the you-tube duet and was floored by the song, the crisp yet easy flowing swing, the strength and unity they shared. Beautiful, enduring music.
Wednesday, August 19, 2009 at 02:46 |
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maury muehlheisen "lives"...he will always live on in the music he created...someday i, and millions of people will die, forgotten...but not maury...a true virtuoso, a talent that would be successful in any era, in any place...you are missed, maury
Wednesday, August 19, 2009 at 00:27 |
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You can't help but ask yourself what if? What if that plane had not crashed? What did the world miss when it lost Maury? True musical genius is missing in todays "stars"; it is tempered by digital support and digital correction. That is what sets apart the incredible talent of Maury. He set the notes apart, he could bend the notes together. He brought your ears alive. Like I said, what if.
Monday, August 10, 2009 at 17:25 |
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Hello everybody
I live in Santiago of Chile and thanks my Dad I grown up with Jim Croce´s songs and Maury´s music. I just to thank you for such a beautiful idea, for shering with us your memories and experiences with Maury,now I realized why he was so gentle and kind guy, because he had an amazing family.
Regards
Claudio
Monday, August 10, 2009 at 17:12 |
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Mary, it was so nice to meet you this weekend and spend a bit of time with you. By the end of the weekend, it seemed as though we had known you for a 100 years. We'll see you again before too long.
Friday, August 07, 2009 at 14:54 |
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Mary,
Thank you so much for sharing memories of Maury at The Unofficial Martin Guitar Forum's annual gathering in Nazareth, PA. It was so nice to see you again.
And an even bigger thank you for bringing Jim's guitar. I'll always cherish the time I spent with.
-- max
Thursday, August 06, 2009 at 21:12 |
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Music has been good to me over the years. Then there are the times you remember those who had so much more talent and so little time to bestow it on the rest of us. I met Maury and Jim in a studio session in 72. Just one of a lifetime of moments that are personal and impossible to share. Had there only been more time, God knows what we would have witnessed.
Sunday, August 02, 2009 at 15:41 |
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Hi Mary, Just wanted to let you know not a day goes by that i don't think about Jim and Maury. They say not to dwell on the past but they were such a part of my life it was like my family when the news came over the radio, i was in the field working on the farm in Marion alabama and i pulled the tractor under a shade tree and just cried, i couldn't believe they were gone...... but then again they aren't, because we are going to keep their memory alive!
Tuesday, July 28, 2009 at 21:55 |
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Jim and Maury were my favorites when I was a college student back in the early 70's. And I still listen to their music today - as do my kids. Good music lives forever.
Monday, July 27, 2009 at 11:18 |
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Hi, My father attended college with Jim Croce at Villanova and I still love Jim and Maury's music. I can't believe how young he was and yet so talented. Thank you Maury.
Monday, July 27, 2009 at 03:33 |
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I first saw Maury on a PBS special about Jim in late 1971 (?). I was so impressed with his playing, the sensitivity and feeling he put into the songs. I was a student at Sam Houston State University and had my tickets. I lost a part of me and my youth that weekend. May your songs and playing live on.
Saturday, July 25, 2009 at 22:11 |
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I really enjoyed your website, especially the pictures. Your brother was a wonderful musician and will be remembered forever.
Wednesday, July 22, 2009 at 07:57 |
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Thank you so much for the wonderful comments and love you have shared for Maury.
Tuesday, July 21, 2009 at 22:07 |
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i was watching the jim croce you tube
video (bad, bad, leroy brown) and
asked who was the incredible guitar/singer alongside him. i got the answer and came to this site- the pictures of maurice with his siblings struck such a chord.
same year i was born and so many similar
memories. peace and thank you maurice's
parents, brothers and sisters.
Thursday, July 16, 2009 at 21:33 |
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I came across your site and read the "family" stories. I think the letter Joe left on Maury's grave was the most touching thing I've ever read. God bless you all. I am sorry for your loss. Thank you for putting this online so we all can get to know Maury and your family better.
Thursday, July 16, 2009 at 20:55 |
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Thanks for this very nice website. I received Gingerbreadd yesterday and have already listened to it several times. I haven't known of Maury's music very long, but in that short time I've been touched by it. I feel very fortunate to have discovered his work and to learn more about him. Thanks for making Gingerbreadd available. I am very proud to add it to my collection.
Friday, July 10, 2009 at 22:38 |
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Hi Mary,There is a young man who works at our local library who is the image of Maury!I was thinking about how much he looks like your dear brother as I was walking to my van.As I turned the radio on,there was 'I Got A Name' playing:-)
Just to let you know...hope all is well.
Wednesday, July 08, 2009 at 18:11 |
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You added so much to music! Gone but not forgotten! Thank you!
Friday, July 03, 2009 at 15:17 |
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Life is such a strange ride.Who knows why things happens as they do.Never seems to be a good reason for it.And it's never fair.At 56 years of age now I am looking back at the good old days and loving the music that has been made by those with this great talent.And so happy they cared enough for us all to share that with us...Thank you.
Thursday, July 02, 2009 at 14:57 |
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Thank you!
Thursday, July 02, 2009 at 04:02 |
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Just wanted to say that although I was born after the tragic death of Maury and Jim they are my heros and their music has got me through some toughest times in my life. thank you for everything
Tuesday, June 30, 2009 at 13:16 |
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I am sitting in the Philly airport waiting to board a flight back to Chicago when I came across Maury's paged as link from the Jim Croce site. I am 46 now but there was a time in my life when the only persons I prayed for during the time of the mass when the priest requests prayers for the dead was Jim and Maury. Unfortunately, I have added many more to the list since then but still include them.
Thanks,
Dan
Friday, June 12, 2009 at 17:52 |
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I was a big fan of Jim Croce and Maury's music because at that time when I was a teenager I really loved acoustic guitar music. I also live in Shreveport, LA not very far from Natchitoches. I was just entering high school when the accident happened. I'm so glad to find that there are people out there who remember Maury and appreciate his angelic guitar playing.
Tuesday, June 09, 2009 at 20:42 |
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Maury and Jim were two fabulous talents in their own right. I will never forget the beautiful guitar work that Maury produced on his and Jim's recording. Thanks, Maury, and thanks to his family for creating this site.
Morris
Tuesday, June 09, 2009 at 15:14 |
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I'm just a guy from texas who, when growing up was never without Maury or Jim's music. When I heard about the tragedy It was truly another day that "music" died. The only consolation is that when we get to heaven the music will surely be the greatest. We love them, we miss them. Thank you for letting me say this.
Sunday, June 07, 2009 at 10:41 |
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oops I posted my E-mail address wrong on the previous sign in.
Friday, June 05, 2009 at 10:01 |
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I have to admit that like most people I love the work of Maury yet never knew who he was. I just purchased Gingerbreadd and just listen to it over and over. Between his incredible voice and phenomenal guitar playing you can’t help but get lost in the music. From what I’ve read about Maury (and I visited numerous websites) he was as wonderful a man as he was a musician. I would ask all of Maury’s fans to use this link and help get him a nomination into the New Jersey Hall of Fame. Just cut and paste this web address http://www.njhalloffame.org/vote2008/nomination_form.php After all the hours of listening pleasure he’s given us it’s only fitting we take five minutes to help Maury get one step closer to the recognition he surely deserves.
Wednesday, June 03, 2009 at 15:15 |
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Late, but not to late I became a fan of Maury Muehleisen. His guitarplaying was so wonderful and touched my senses. Now I found this really good website as a tribute to Maury. My respect. Keep it on.
All the Best for You and Your family, Mary
Michael
Sunday, May 31, 2009 at 09:19 |
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I just met Ingrid Croce here in San Diego and she shared with me the DVD she produced of Jim's music, which led me to your wonderful web site about your brother. As we watched the DVD, we wondered, who is that great musician playing with Jim? Here we are. Thanks for the tribute. We look forward to having the CD of Gingerbreadd. Peace.
Sunday, May 31, 2009 at 01:43 |
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One of my fondest memories as a young boy was listening to the music my father used to listen to. Music was an integral part of my Dad's life and plays an role of equal importance in mine.
While I was a little young to appreciate the impact of Jim and Maury's music as a child of 7, as an adult I came to see the inescapable clarity of both their combined genius and, for want of a better word, message. To this day, I cannot hear a Croce lyric or a Muehleisen lick and not think of my childhood and my Dad. Rest assured, they are most pleasant memories.
As my own kids grow, I want to impart on them the same appreciation for the true craftsmen that came before and have both earned a place a any table and are a continued and invaluable source of inspiration many years later.
It is quite conflicting to feel so uplifted by the music, while at the same time feel cheated because of the abruptness of the end. I have yet to hear any play anywhere close to Maury and I am sure I never will.
Thursday, May 21, 2009 at 01:14 |
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I'm so glad I found this site today. Maury really made Jim's music special and in my humble opinion Maury is one of the finest acoustic guitarists of all time. The world lost an amazing duo when we lost Jim and Maury.
God Bless his Family and all that loved Maury's beautiful music.
Wednesday, May 13, 2009 at 17:53 |
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I have been a fan of Maury and Jim's music for a very long time (well, it seems that way to me: I'm 41)- they have always been there through their music in good times and bad. The way they played was and continues to be an inspiration to me. They will always be remembered. Thanks for having this site up.
Tuesday, May 12, 2009 at 13:08 |
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I only recently discovered Maury's music. Maury's legacy lives on in every new fan that discovers his music.
They don't make them like Maury and Jim anymore and that's a real pity.
Tuesday, May 12, 2009 at 08:16 |
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Just stopping by to say that I thought of Maury today:-)
Monday, May 11, 2009 at 21:12 |
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I can't belive how sad it still makes me feel when I think about the loss of Maury and Jim.
I had seen them barely a month before at the Philadelphia Folk festival.
They were just amazing together.
Thank you for this website Mary.
Peace,
Paul Scull
Friday, May 08, 2009 at 11:39 |
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They were soul brothers, together they made beautiful music on earth and continue to do so in heaven.
it's so wonderful to be able to listen to their gems daily.
Tuesday, May 05, 2009 at 02:19 |
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Thank you, Mary!
Sunday, May 03, 2009 at 09:58 |
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I play the guitar everyday of my life i dont ever go anywhere with out with Jim and Maury are the one who influenced my in to playing there my to favorite musicians ever and always will be.
Thursday, April 30, 2009 at 18:10 |
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RIP!! I truly loved your music. I can remember being in high school, being in love with my first real girlfrend and living by you and Jim's music. I hope your music lives forever!
Tuesday, April 28, 2009 at 08:10 |
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Fantastic site! Maury and Jim were the best! As a guitar player myself I've always admired them.
Friday, April 24, 2009 at 18:04 |
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Hi Mary,
What a great site!
I'd always been a fan of Jim Croce. I couldn't believe it when my brother said he met two guys - Michael and Robert - whose brother played with Jim Croce. Thank you for keeping the memory of your brother and his great talent alive for all.
Wednesday, April 15, 2009 at 19:45 |
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me likes maury,him playeded good musik
Friday, April 10, 2009 at 21:11 |
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Maury's music will last forever. God bless.
Tuesday, March 31, 2009 at 15:51 |
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I was a kid when the plane went down,and always loved Jim Croce and his music. I am a guitarists and am working on a cover of 'One Less Set of Footsteps' as a tribute to Jim and Maury. I've got everything down except for the acoustic lead, which I may never get! Maury makes it look easy and Jim is so smooth.
To their memory.
Sunday, March 29, 2009 at 19:55 |
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Rickey C. Blankenship |
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Rickey c. Blankenship
On sept. 20th 1973 i was plowing a feild outside Marion Alabama, when the news came on the radio that Jim and Maurey, had died in a plane crash, I will never forget that day. And I will never forget those two freinds I had come to know through music. I learned to play the guitar because of them, you both will live forever in my heart. Heaven is a better place.
Saturday, March 28, 2009 at 11:03 |
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I've loved Maury's playing since I was kid in '73. A few years later, I became a musician, and appreciated him even more. He had a unique sound --a great sound!-- and was a perfect match with Croce. It's still very sad, the tragedy of their untimely deaths. Maury will always be remembered through that great music.
Wednesday, March 18, 2009 at 02:40 |
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I was in my senior year at Villanova (Jim Croce's alma mater) in 1972-3 when I took a date to the nearby Valley Forge Music Fair to see Woody Allen in what turned out to be his final appearance as a stand-up comedian. The opening act was Jim Croce, and I well remember sitting in the audience roughly adjacent to Maury Muehlheisen (who was stage-right in the line of Croce's small band) and noticing his versatile guitar work. Allen's subsequent performance was brief and uninspired, and when he opened the audience to questions, someone pointedly asked: "How long will Jim Croce keep you in his act?" Of course, Jim Croce and Maury Muehlheisen were killed some months later, and I have always remembered that performance with particular clarity, and sadness.
Friday, March 13, 2009 at 00:24 |
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I was 13 years old when that plane went down. It was my first experience with death. I loved those Jim Croce albums and I never knew how big a part he really was with those songs. What a talent he was. Thank You for sharing those precious memories.
Wednesday, March 11, 2009 at 17:27 |
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Twenty years ago I was visiting my
brother on marthas vineyard.He lived in a great boarding house near the ferry and the local bars where his freind played guitar.The weekends would bring a long list of characters to my brothers room to hang out and play guiatr. One night a whole bunch of us were partying and playing guitars.Someone asked my brother who his favorite guitar player was.Maury Mueleisen,he said.his answer was pretty funny to us all because noone knew who he was talking about.Soon we were all trying to do some of Maurys phrasing and fills.He really was a great guitar player.I can remember that being one of my favorite nights on the island.
Monday, March 09, 2009 at 16:32 |
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Australia was always 'behind' in what was happening overseas - we have our own world. I recall (as a teenager - 16) returning home on a Saturday night, not wishing to go to bed straight away - watched "Tribute to Jim Croce" on MTV on our Government channel. From then on I was mesmerised with the music, introducing it to my family.
Not being musical beyond singing, recently realised Maury & Jim's talents when watching my own sons playing guitar & drums.
We are all the better for Maury & Jim having been on this earth.
Sunday, March 08, 2009 at 18:47 |
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Rain Desmond's letter is a marvel. I know that I have mentioned my song in regards to other pieces on the guestbook, but she has almost exactly captured my own original experience with Maury's album. My song, "Second-String Songman," on the "songs for Maury" page of this site, tries to evoke that same ethereal, mystical musical connection that his songs evoke.
I was more of a music hound (i.e., I really tried to track down every musical joy I encountered—I didn't just want that one cool Danny O'Keefe song or that quirky Townes Van Zandt piece, I wanted everything that they ever did, and I was seldom sorry in my quests). It took several years for Maury to pop up on the Croce album (we had no internet back then, so news was zero until somebody reemerged on album liner notes or in an article), but suddenly there he was on the albums and the tv shows.
And when you compared the pre-Maury Croce to the post-Maury Croce, you heard a remarkable transformation in Croce's phrasing and melodies plus those incredibly fluid and innovative guitar accompaniments that Maury contributed. So when I heard about the tragic crash, I mourned the loss of JIm, a great performer who was just coming into his own, but even before they said it, I felt the heart-crushing realization that Maury had to have been on that plane too, and that we had lost a second remarkable talent, but unlike JIm Croce, Maury Muehleisen had never really received the renown that he so richly deserved. This site, and letters like that of Rain Desmond, and the thousands of heart-felt affirmations of Maury's affect from friends and strangers, helps assuage the pang of such a loss.
Rain—your friends should be proud to be the recipients of such wonderfully thoughtful and evocative missives, and I, for one, thank you very much for sharing with the readers of this site.
Tim McMullen
http://www.youtube.com/TimMcMullen
http://www.myspace.com/tcbijou
Thursday, March 05, 2009 at 00:13 |
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Anche se sono italiano sono cresciuto con la musica di Jim e sopratutto di Maury.
L'ho sempre ammirato per la sua bravura.
Sono contnto di aver trovato un sito che lo ricordi.
Ciao Maury
Tuesday, March 03, 2009 at 11:36 |
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Having loved Jim's music for so long I'm embarassed not to have known until today how much Maury was part of that.
Thanks Maury I'm a richer person because of you and Jim
Monday, March 02, 2009 at 16:29 |
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Unbeleivable talent. There will never be two guitarist who complement each other this way... Never.... Possibly the two greatest song writers of all time. At 47 they still get my vote.
Sunday, March 01, 2009 at 10:39 |
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I was watching VH-1 and they were doing a special on music of the 70's adn they had a feature showing Jim and Maury singing "Bad Leroy Brown". I then recall the first time I met Maury at Glassboro State College in New Jersey. He was a friend of my roommate Nancy and I met him when she brought him up to our room. He lived in Hawthrone Hall and we often saw each other in the co-op where student gathered to eat, socialize play the jukebox and sing along with the sound or just sing to be singing. My frien Michael was a music major and him and Maury use to sing songs together. Muary was excellent on the guitar and one time I said to him, "you're good and you'll probably be famous one day". Maury was so oh so modest, saying "Okay, if you say so". and giving that smile which was always on his face. When I heard about his and Jim's deaths, I felt that the music industry had lost yet another set of great artist. But they're up there in "rock and roll heaven" making beautiful music with those others that we lost too soon.
Thursday, February 26, 2009 at 16:47 |
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This is personal letter penned to a friend just yesterday: You might find this interesting. You might not. Eh, we endeavor to communicate because we are expressive and the pain of not doing so would drive us more insane than the doing.
Do you remember Maury Muehleisen? I don't expect you to, but perhaps you will if I continue. I have been having frequent dreams that feature my mother and other dead relatives and friends. In the process of this, I was prompted to go to the library in search for books by Leo Buscaglia. One of the dead friends in one of my dreams had introduced my to Leo in the 80's. She literally introduced me to him. We went to Vt. to see him and after his talk she introduced me to him. I have a very dear photo of him hugging me. So, she comes to me with my mother in my dream and then in my day time hours I remember Leo (he's dead too by the way) and so, I get the urge to go to the library to retrieve some of his books because it is mid-winter in NY and I am getting brain starved, psychologically starved, emotionally starved - starved on so many levels starved. I used to make it a habit to go to the Saratoga Springs library every Wednesday afternoon. I got out early from work that day and so would head down there to peruse the shelves and see what book or books vibrated enough to me to catch my fancy and take home and read. But I haven't done that in may be 3 years. So, last Thursday I purposely headed to the library to find Leo books. That done, I wandered back down stairs, headed for the music cd bin to find The Essential Leonard Cohen, which I never found, but in the futile process of looking I serendipitously vibrated to the Jim Croce (he's dead too) Classic Hits cd. On the Classic Hits cd is Time in a Bottle which I have always and will always hold dear as the song for my mother - because, sincerely, she really was someone I would want to go through time with. So, here I am dead people coming to me in dreams, dead people singing songs, and dead people telling me some pretty essential and beautiful stuff that I needed to hear about loving. Well, so after having the cd in my possession for five days, last night I wandered over to where the plastic cover laid since opening it and sticking the cd in the stereo. I'd listened to the cd enough and was contemplating bringing it back to the library before the dog ate it or something and I decided well, I might as well read the liner notes. And I'm scanning over them because I have a hard time concentrating sometimes and in the process came across the words "On September 20th, 1973," and I think, oh, this must be when Jim died and the details of that held some interest to me. So I concentrate harder and re-read "On September 20th, 1973" and remainder of the sentence.
Do you remember Maury Muehleisen?
After Blue was born and I was living at home and we were friends (this is kind of like one of your "where were we when we were..." moments) and on one of our walks to Woolworths at the Loblaws (yes, I said Loblaws) Plaza (Blue was probably with us) we were sorting through the album bin (remember albums?) and Maury's album did it's little vibrational "me! me! take me!" chant to me and I bought the thing and brought it home. Do you remember this? And how I loved that album. Over and over and over I'd play it. "Eddie was a good man. He lived his life so free..and sometimes Eddie smiled at me." I let you borrow it too. It was all original work. He had some great songs and a clear as a bell voice. This must have been 1971 or 72. Over the years I would think about him and wonder why he never made it big and I would sometimes even laugh at myself for buying his album and who was he and what the heck ever happened to him? But when I would think about the album and the songs, I would thing, gee I really liked him and just figured, well, he was probably just some small guy who had the fortune of having an album produced and that was the end of him. I sometimes imagined him singing in small cafes still trying to make it.
So it is 37 years later and I have been dreamed into and vibrationally pushed into picking up the liner notes of Jim Croce's Classic Hits cd and the sentence reads, "On September 20, 1973, Jim Croce and his friend and guitarist Maury Muehleisen died in a plane crash along with four others in Natchitoches, Louisiana." And on the same page as this sentence is a photo of Jim and Maury. And I felt like I was kicked by a metaphysical mule in the stomach. I immediately burst out crying.
This is why my Maury never made it beyond that one little tiny album that happened to call to me 37 years ago in Woolworths.
So my mother and these dead people are sending me messages and (despite the fact that this is what your father hated about me) I am receiving them loud and clear and there is a lot of love going on in the nether world towards me. I imagine my mom up there chatting all these people up. Telling them about me and how I did this, and how I liked that, and Ollene (my old friend) is telling her xyandz about me and she brought over Leo and then Jim Croce showed up and then Maury.
I love winter in NY when I am starved on so many levels and the bridges are up and the mountain passes are closed and nothing is getting through but my own thoughts and voices from some other place.
Love you, Rain
Wednesday, February 25, 2009 at 13:25 |
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Maury has been an inspiration to me and so many other musicians in my life and just wanted to say thanks maury (and jimbo too!) for the gift of your music even you were only on loan from heaven for a short while your music will be a gift cherished for a lifetime . thanks guys hope i meet up with you both at that great jam session in the sky! also thanks mary for building this wonderful shrine to a magical guitar picker.
Tuesday, February 24, 2009 at 00:14 |
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i'm 53 now....born in 1956.....i play lead guitar in temple,tx....maury's guitar work was a great inspiration for me in highschool...i'll never forget the first time i heard"operator"...rarely... have i ever been moved,such as that....when i first hear a song...i still wonder what he would be doing today if he and jim were still alive....oh well...as george harrison said"all things must pass'
THANK YOU MAURY...AND REST IN PEACE!
Monday, February 23, 2009 at 14:41 |
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I was just watching a VH1 show tonight called "Billboard's Hits of the 70s", and it features a live performance of Jim Croce playing "Bad, Bad Leroy Brown". It was just Jim on acoustic and vocals plus a groovy-looking dude playing delicious little acoustic licks and singing backup vocals. I realized I had seen this cat in other Jim performances, and tonight I had to figure out who he was.
After doing a little investigation (thanks Google and Wikipedia!) I discovered that this guy was named Maury Muehlelsen and that his sound, talent, influence and vibe looms incredibly large in the Jim Croce story. I've always adored the guitar playing on "Operator" and "Time In A Bottle" - it's ridiculously brilliant, taking the songwriting to an even more stunning place - and am grateful that I was able to find out more about this man on this important website. What a talent. Of course nothing will ever take away the tragedy of his loss, but he's alive forever, every time his art is once again sent out into the world, with his soul pouring out over those strings and out into the universe on those wonderful records.
Sunday, February 22, 2009 at 02:42 |
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My father's mother was Cary Muehleisen. I remember my mother telling us that cousin Maury had died in a plane crash, but I hadn't ever met him, just knew he played the guitar. I spent a lot of time with other Muehleisen relatives near Trenton - Aunt Freida who raised my dad. Uncle Jonah who was a local engraver and artist, one of his paintings hangs in my apartment. Our family comes from talented stock. There was always music in our house. I got my first guitar when I was thirteen, a piano a few years later and played constantly through high school and college. I still have that first guitar, and a second guitar I bought 10 years ago an Ovation. I just recently learned Maury played one along with some Martins on the road. I still play once in a while but not as much as I wish I could. I'm very excited to be able to learn more about the cousin I never knew but heard while I was growing up.
Saturday, February 21, 2009 at 17:30 |
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I can't get enough of Jim Croce's songs and to find out Maury's special influence on them all is so interesting to me. I just wanted to say I appreciate all his work and I know its been 35 years since his passing, his music and contributions are so much appreciated today. Thank you
Saturday, February 21, 2009 at 12:09 |
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This is pure and honest talent that will endure through all time.
Friday, February 20, 2009 at 01:04 |
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Jim and Maury were a talented, personable duo with much to give and did in a much too short time. Thirty-five years later, their music still produces peaceful thoughts and a smile for me. They will never be forgotten.
Saturday, February 14, 2009 at 11:31 |
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Maury and Jim inspired me greatly as a young man. In watching some YouTube videos, I notice Jim's Ovation is exactly like the one I have (and still have). As a songwriter, they have also inspired me. Today, at 53, I am going to resume playing because, at long last I realize THIS is what I love. God bless Maury and Jim.
Friday, February 13, 2009 at 14:56 |
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I knew Maury in college. He was one of my very best friends. I was cleaning out a closet the other day and notice a box of albums untouched for years but dragged around unopen for many moves. Of course Maury's album was in the box. I remember many of my conversations with Maury about life, living and the future. God bless to his family. He was a wonderful man. And not until I started to write this note did I realize how often in life I thought about his advice. The thing is--I think I should ahve followed it more.
Wednesday, February 11, 2009 at 20:45 |
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Just want to say..you are not forgotten
Sunday, February 08, 2009 at 15:44 |
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To all of Maury's family and friends,
I feel the love. Thank you for sharing his/your life with the world. Great information, great sentiment. God bless you all and all of us.
And, to Maury, thanks for sharing the talent.
Thursday, January 29, 2009 at 20:21 |
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Shelia Lenahan Sulkowski |
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Hello Mary and Robert...
This has evolved into a haunting and beautiful site. Your love for your brother is evident in every word on every page.
Hope you are all well. Write when you can - same addy as always.
Happy Birthday Maury. I watch you and Jim on YouTube. Timeless.
Love, your cousin, Shelia
ps. my oldest son looks so similar to Maury - the Malone/Muehleisen gene bonanza!
Saturday, January 24, 2009 at 22:46 |
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Peggy
Thank you to all Maury & Jim's fans for keeping them alive & passing on your interest in their music to your friends & families. I enjoy reading your messages to our family through this website. (Thanks, Mary)
As I am surrounded by Eagles fans at work every day, I would like to remind you of the movie "Invincible" The Vince Papale story, another Philadelphia local success story. "I Got a Name", with Maury's guitar playing, is the song played during the credits.
Thanks again, Maury's sister, Peggy
Sunday, January 18, 2009 at 07:46 |
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Well it's just a week now since I got Gingerbreadd and Before the Ever Since from you, Mary. I've listened to nothing else since! Maury's singing, guitar playing and songwriting are outstanding. These are quite simply the best songs I've heard in years. Love them all.
Thanks so much Mary!
Saturday, January 17, 2009 at 10:23 |
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Dean Little the one who posted below me is my dad. when i was little my favorite song was leroy brown. i have allways been a fan. my dad called me into his room one night and was like check out what i bought. it was Jim and Maurey. i really loved it. they both play guitar very well. i really appricate good music. todays music isnt near as good as the old stuff.
Jim and Maury live on through the music. =]
Friday, January 16, 2009 at 20:00 |
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i am 44 and have known all the words since jims 3 albums came out. bought the dvd a few years back,and enjoy watching maury and jim over and over.they were very special in my life and my older sister who originaly turned me on to it. got a text this week from my 15 year old son with the words to operator, he loves the dvd, great music always remains timeless. thanks for the great music....
Friday, January 16, 2009 at 19:31 |
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what a lovely site. you know, at 52, i still cry sometimes at some of jim and maury's songs because they are so missed. but what a gift they left for us all. bless you, love. i wish you peace.
Friday, January 16, 2009 at 17:14 |
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What an honor to be able to leave a message to Maury. I was only 15 years hold when I heard the tragic news and cried as if I had lost a member of my on family. I begged my mom to buy me a guitar and have been playing the same one ever since. I loved Jim Croce's songs and memorized every word but I new I would never be able to play like Maury or sing like Jim. However their work was truly an inspiration for me in playing the guitar. Now with the internet I search for every piece of video out there just watch them and see the beauty in what they created. What a joy. Now I have two birthdays to celebrate on January 15th. Maury's and my son James.
Thursday, January 15, 2009 at 17:59 |
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I was thinking of Maury on his birthday yesterday.Unfortunately,my compter crashed and I just got it working,but I want to say that Maury is always remembered and his music forever appreciated!
Thursday, January 15, 2009 at 16:20 |
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A posthumous birthday celebration is unusual, but we do it for the greats: Lincoln and Washington, MLK. Our Great Aunt Pearl died two years ago at the age of 102; her birthday was this week. We have continued to celebrate her birthday each year since, as we did when she was alive, by having dinner at her favorite restaurant. I encourage your site visitors to celebrate Maury's birthday by listening to his songs from Gingerbreadd and Before the Ever Since. His beautiful pieces still resonate deeply, and if you haven't heard them, you can buy them at this site. I coined the double-entendre—second-string songman—to describe Maury's career, but make no mistake: he was first-string all the way. I can't recommend his songs highly enough!
Happy Birthday, Maury
Thursday, January 15, 2009 at 03:30 |
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Thanks for the various remembrances of Maury. He would have celebrated his 60th birthday today, January 14. The kind words you all share during the year are much appreciated.
Peace and Love,
Mary
Wednesday, January 14, 2009 at 22:41 |
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Happy Birthday Maury! He will always be remembered. A talent likes his will live forever through the music.
GAB
Wednesday, January 14, 2009 at 19:22 |
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Just wanted to say "Happy Birthday" Maury, where ever you are! Your music will live on for many many generations to come.
Wednesday, January 14, 2009 at 16:21 |
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In 1975,Donna,one of my coworkers, loved Jim and Maurys music so much she wanted "Time in a Bottle" played at her wedding. When she found out I played guitar ,she asked me to perform it. After weeks of trying to get it perfected, I finally just had to wing it. Of course ,it was no way close to the beautifull original, and in embarassment ,I declined payment for the gig. Jim and Maury...your music will forever be a part of our memories...and I'm sure,will never be duplicated...
Wednesday, January 14, 2009 at 14:00 |
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Wow,just came to know his guitar style and singing.very impressive,what a huge loss and condolences to the family.
Monday, January 12, 2009 at 14:38 |
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Rest in peace, Maury. You and Jim. Your music lives on forever.
Saturday, January 10, 2009 at 18:07 |
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I first heard Jim Croce's songs when I was in College. It was the back up singer's voice that i really like..that's why when I sing along Jim's song, I sing the back up part...I Love the guitar playing too.....
I used to wonder whose voice or who was the back up voice behind jim Croce's Song???
NOW I KNOW His Name...and I read his Story....
May You Rest in Peace, Maury.
Tuesday, January 06, 2009 at 22:30 |
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Happy New Year, Mary, to you, to your family, to all the visitors to this site, and to Maury's memory and the great musical legacy that he and Jim left us.
Have a great new year!
Tim
http://www.myspace.com/tcbijou
Thursday, January 01, 2009 at 04:04 |
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Great Music, Maury.
Tuesday, December 30, 2008 at 01:32 |
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What beautiful music. I stopped by You Tube recently just to see how it was done and became fascinated by Maury's incredible guitar work and understated singing voice. Like George Harrison, he was the one that made it work. That magic musical formula that so few share. It's a shame we've missed so much over the last thirty-five years but we were lucky to have them and lucky to have their music - always.
Monday, December 29, 2008 at 21:11 |
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When I first heard Jim Croce I was really impressed with the ability he had in writing pop songs. But what actually drew me into his songs were the guitars. First of all they played those damn Ovation guitars. Don't tell me how good they [Ovation guitars] were. They were a pain in the butt to play, BUT. I never in my life heard two guys make those guitars sound that good. I know they didn't stay with them throughout the 3 albums and that's okay. What I liked was what lead guitarist Maury Muehleisen was doing with the guitar. He made the Croce sound. Jim could write good commercial tunes and Maury polished them up so good that you just couldn't help notice. Like peanut butter and jelly, these guy were a natural fit. I thank God we all got to know them and sadden that we were left wondering what other great music would they have produced. Can't beat a PBJ. Thanks Maury your playing is still being talked about and your family should be proud of you and your accomplishment.
garagebandman
Thursday, December 25, 2008 at 00:07 |
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I have been a huge fan of Maurys and Jim sence i first heard them for the first time from a joot box from a reastraunt in Big Spring Texas where i worked as a busboy during the summer before school started...i remember that day like it was yesterday...you dont mess around with jim..played over and over and over...everybody loved it...everybody played it..and to this day i miss maury and jim and the "what might have been"..and wonder from time to time...when is hollywood going to make the movie about Maury and Jim
Tuesday, December 23, 2008 at 00:31 |
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i was a kid living in amsterdam when i discovered jim croce's music and, through it, the voice and guitar of maury muehleisen. recently i have been playing it a lot and have been watching the many videos on youtube. the music is timeless, so beautiful.
Monday, December 22, 2008 at 07:18 |
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To this day I listen close to Maurys guitar work. He impressed me then and still does to this day. I played in many duets and had the honor of playing his riffs. I was 16 when he passed. Thank you for having this website up for us who will never forget him.
Saturday, December 20, 2008 at 20:12 |
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i am friends with his brother and just found out who he was related to , i love jim croce and his passing upsets me, great musicians need to be reconginized. great memorial from his family.
Thursday, December 04, 2008 at 19:50 |
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I heard "I remember Mary". Makes a big impression. Such a powerful voice. And such strange but nice harmonies. He came a long way in a short time. Thanx.
Tuesday, November 25, 2008 at 16:10 |
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I still listen to the music and wonder why no one has duplicated what they did. Maury complimented Jim's music like no one else could have done. What an amazing talent. Never forgotten. Let the music live on!
Sunday, November 23, 2008 at 18:41 |
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thank you very much for the music. goodbye maury. by the way, i just learned about you today.bought jim croce's dvd and i got curious about the the backup singer so i searched the internet and read everything about you and you touched my heart. i will buy your music. thank you maury for sharing your music.
Wednesday, November 19, 2008 at 23:11 |
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Maury was such a talented young man. He and Jim made magic together.
Friday, November 14, 2008 at 11:13 |
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The music from Maury & Jim inspired me to make a career of the music business. I still fondly listen to their music now 35 years since I first heard them. It's timeless. Thank you for the inspiration.
Wednesday, November 12, 2008 at 12:39 |
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I met maury at Glassboro in the dorm. He heard me playing guitar and ducked his head in to say hello. We hung out off and on for the next semester. He borrowed my amp once. We were both dating girls in the same dorm and always found ourselves dropping our girls of at the same time on the weekends. Maury, myself and our friend Guy Kern roadtripped to Boston one bored weekend. I lost touch with him as his career blossomed, but did see him a few more times and every time got a smile and enthusiastic hello. Maury had lots of enthusiam. I have other memories and they are still clear and pleasant. Goes without saying I was shocked and greatly saddened by his death.
Tuesday, November 11, 2008 at 23:49 |
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Thanks a lot for sharing the memories of Maury, a wonderful musician, Jim Croce and Maury are probably the sound which best represents my teen years, and their songs were the motivation for me to learn English. They will always have a place in my heart.
Greetings from Santiago, Chile
Wednesday, November 05, 2008 at 11:19 |
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No Comments
Sunday, November 02, 2008 at 07:39 |
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What a wonderful musician!
Thursday, October 23, 2008 at 14:55 |
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The "what if" factor. That's what I cant stop thinking about, when I see Maury and Jim play together.
The world seems like a truly unfair place some days. I still love to watch those guys play. I'm nowhere near the musician Maury was but I recognize that grin when he and Jim would play. The grin says, "I am exactly where I want to be right now....doing exactly what I want to be doing"
Anybody who plays, knows that feeling, when you hit the groove and you can't help smiling. Thanks for this page. Your brother was a genius and taken from you...and the rest of us....far too soon.
Tuesday, October 21, 2008 at 13:00 |
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What a gifted talented musician Maury was
what a wonderful song: a song i heard
ive listened to it about 20 times in a row now, trying to find out which chords he used
but really wonderful to listen to
thanks
Hansw16
The Netherlands
Saturday, October 18, 2008 at 09:26 |
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I found this site today after thinking about Maury's history. I took up guitar at an early age but it was after watching Jim and Maury on TV that I realized what a tremendous talent Maury was. Not since the Buffalo Springfield days had I heard the melodic fills that Maury brought to the music. There was always a song within the song. God bless his family members and like you I can only imagine how much more special he would have been had he lived.
Tuesday, October 14, 2008 at 15:46 |
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How blessed the world was for having Maury an Jim in it. I still smile every time I hear I got a name. I was 13 at the time and I still remember when my 8th grade teacher told us of the accident. She loved their music too we played their albums the rest of the day.Thank you for sharing this web site with us.
Saturday, October 11, 2008 at 01:31 |
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All these years, and I still can't believe he's gone. I remember so clearly the morning I arrived to my office, and my younger sister telling me that Maury and Jim had been killed in a plane crash. My heart ached for the rest of the day as I just sat in dis-belief. I had been too young to know what it felt like to those hearing of Buddy Holley's death and how one could only feel that the magic was gone. Now I knew. But what I didn't know at the time, was how Maury and Jim would stay in my heart all my future years, and how their music would shape mine.
My love to all Maury's family, friends, and fans.
Monday, October 06, 2008 at 09:14 |
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Had Maury and Jim lived on, the entire face of music as we know it would have changed. God Bless Their families.
Sunday, October 05, 2008 at 23:04 |
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after all these years, i still get a tear in my eye when i hear maury and jim. the best ever.
Saturday, October 04, 2008 at 12:11 |
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92) Linda Bonine
lindabonine@yahoo.com
I was just a little girl when they were playing. I don't even remember how I came to know of them but I do know that I still have my album that I bought with money I earned babysitting. I only bought a few albums as a child but You Don't Mess Around With Jim was one of them. Tonight I took it out to share with my son who is a guitarist. I told him that this was one of my "favs" as a kid. Don't worry, Maury's not forgotten - not ever forgotten!
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Sunday, September 21, 2008 at 01:55
Thursday, October 02, 2008 at 13:36 |
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What a wonderful tribute to Maury. It is clear in everything that is done on this site, just how much you love and are proud of Maury. He was an incredible singer/song writer/musician. I think he must have been blessed to be part of a big supportive family.
Monday, September 22, 2008 at 14:50 |
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There's nothing that I enjoy more than playing those beautiful songs on my guitar and trying to make them sound good (they sounds much better when I am alone).
The best part is that watching Maury and Jim play is soooo easy these days with so many of their performances on YouTube. It's just two guys sitting on stage playing and singing, but I like it so much more than most things I see on a stage these days.
Thanks for giving us the music.
Sunday, September 21, 2008 at 23:55 |
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35 years, I remember sitting in the grocery store parking lot in disbelief. They are not forgotten and the music they made has stood the test of time and continues to show that it is timeless.
Sunday, September 21, 2008 at 02:08 |
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Can it really be 35 years?
Mary, their music will live forever.
Saturday, September 20, 2008 at 19:51 |
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I was feeling sad about Maury and Jim all day.
Saturday, September 20, 2008 at 16:54 |
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Dear Mary and all,
I have been thinking of Maury and Jim all day today.I have played their beautiful music as I do so often,and thought about how very much their spirits go on because of all the joy that their voices and guitar playing is still bringing us,today,exactly 35 after they passed away...and always will.
Hugs...
Saturday, September 20, 2008 at 16:38 |
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To Maury's family:
For some reason, my subconscious mind kicked in and I was playing my Jim Croce DVD and CDs this week and I was once again in awe of the chemistry between him and your brother. I never got to see them live in concert but they were two of the driving forces to get me playing the guitar. After 35 years, their music is still unmatched.
Thanks and Peace to all of you.
Saturday, September 20, 2008 at 11:36 |
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It was amazing when I had a chance to watch Maury, a great musician to work with Jim and showed his talent to everyone.
I began to learn Jim's songs when I was in high school,
I played with one of friend together, we often practice the songs like time in a bottle, I have to say I love you in a song, these dreams...We enjoyed being a part of playing the songs, especially the chords created by Jim and Maury, it was hard but super.
The next song I am planning to learn is " I got a name " 'cause I really like Maury when he started to play this song and lead all the way to the end, it is absolutely wonderful.
Thanks you.
Alex
Friday, September 19, 2008 at 16:11 |
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Bless you and your family on this upcoming aniversary.
I was only 13 in 1973 but I remember the music so well and the horrible news of the accident on the evening news.
Mury and Jims Music have never left me .
Today im a musician myself and The music that Maury helped create is a part of me and always will be.
Friday, September 19, 2008 at 05:57 |
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Mary,
I don't have words that add to the value of the screams of love and adoration that already adorn this website. Reading the stories and respect reminds me of my own family and how lucky we all were. A love that you all had and maintain, albeit in Maury's spirit. The world knows Jim Croce, and those who cared to understand knew and appreciated Maury. I believe Maury would have been as big a star as Jim, however like a man's man, Maury recognized that it was Jim's time, and that his would come. It didn't come on this earth, but I promise you, 35 years after me or 99 percent of the world pass, people won't be burning words on websites in homage, as they do Maury. Love and God Speed to your family. PS- Gingerbread is one of my favorite albums and I have it in the thickest plastic imaginable!
Thursday, September 18, 2008 at 02:35 |
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Mary—
The love that you have poured into maintaining the memory or your brother—the opportunity for family, friends, and fans as well as visitors newly introduced to the musical marvel that was Maury Muehleisen—has allowed this fantastic outpouring of admiration and tribute to your brother. The anniversary of a tragedy has the potential for merely emphasizing our loss, but I commend you and the visitors to this site for consistently remembering and praising the incredible inspiration and lasting legacy of Maury and Jim.
I may have used the double-entendré to call him "Second-String Songman," but Maury was incomparable. He will forever remain #1 with a bullet...
Sincerely, Tim McMullen
http://www.youtube.com/TimMcMullen
Thursday, September 18, 2008 at 00:55 |
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Hi, Everyone,
Thirty-five years this coming Sunday - September 20, 2008 - since Maury and Jim died in a plane crash in Natchitoches, Louisiana. It's hard to believe.
My gratitude is overflowing right now. I feel so blessed with the good fortune of unconditional friendship with people all over the world - people who have taken the time to visit this website and leave such kind messages for me and my family.
Thanks for being there for all of us!
Peace and Love,
Mary
Wednesday, September 17, 2008 at 17:10 |
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1973 was such a huge year in my life and I lost two iconic figures in a short time-span: Jim Croce and Bruce Lee, but as a guitarist, I KNEW, and as technology advancements have proven, the extraordinary guitar music in so many Croce songs, ie. Lover's Cross, Dreamin' Again, and many others, came from the fingers and strings of Maury Muehleisen. The loss of such a great musician, and as Ingrid Croce describes, fantastic friend and person, is not to be overshadowed by the horrible loss of Jim Croce. I will miss them both all my life, even though I never had the pleasure of meeting, or hearing them in concert, and I still listen to and play on my own guitar, though I am sure I hardly do their great music justice, their songs quite often. Thank you! Respectfully, Tim
Wednesday, September 17, 2008 at 10:05 |
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Mom just reminded me that tomorrow (September 16) was the last day we saw Maury alive 35 Years ago. I can't believe it's been that long since we last said goodbye. I was only 12 at the time. What a special day that was. He had so much joy and hope for his future. Maury was so happy that day to be with all of his family and friends. I can still see his face in my mind's eye smiling at all of us. I will forever cherish that day. There was so much music and laughter. My sister Mary was very pregnant with her twins who would join us only months later. We were all so skinny back then. Maury especially. He could not have weighed more that a buck 20. I remember laying underneath his grand piano that day listening to him sing and play and also listening to other music including Patti Dahlstrom's album. One song called Emotion sticks out in my mind. Today is a day that my emotions are all coming back to me of that last day. Thank you Mom for reminding me and thank you Mary for giving us this wonderful site to remember our brother every day. Thanks to all of the people who are keeping my brothers memory alive by writing in to this site. You have no idea how much it means to our family. Love to all. Robert
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Monday, September 15, 2008 at 21:21
Tuesday, September 16, 2008 at 21:51 |
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I have had this webpage marked since July 2005 when I found it. I don't know why it took me so long to post how much I admired Maury and his playing ability combined with his low-keyed, humble attitude displayed in the films and live albums I have listened to over the years.
I was in Law School at LSU on the morning I received the news of Jim and Maury's death. My clock radio woke me up to "Time in a Bottle" but it was just the lead in to the tragic news that Jim and his long time duet partner, Maury Muehleisen, had been killed just a few hundred miles from where I was living. I was in shock and the whole school was buzzing with the news and the rumors of what had actually happened to cause the plane to crash.
I am still saddened when I think about the loss of such a great talent so young. I guess God needed another angel in Heaven just at that time.
Doug
Saturday, September 06, 2008 at 22:28 |
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Hi Mary. Great site, keep up the good work!
BTW.... I'm a computer field tech for a medical transcription company. Last week while doing some work in the Trenton NJ area, I got the chance to visit Maury's resting place at Saint Mary's cemetery.
Friday, September 05, 2008 at 09:05 |
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As many posters on this site, I too have recently discovered Maury. I also have been a Croce fan myself, performing many of his songs for crowds along the beaches of West Florida for years. I always knew there was that other guy laying in those great licks. I am glad to have found this information about him and his life. He was another incredible talent, lost too soon. His family and friends deserve to be as proud as humanly possible of him.
Wednesday, September 03, 2008 at 15:27 |
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I have always been a huge Jim Croce fan and could just listen for hours. Everytime a saw something with Jim, there was Maury. These two men had such wonderful talents and where taken from the earth much to soon. Thank you for the website about Maury and for sharing him with us all. Many prayers and blessings.
Tuesday, September 02, 2008 at 22:05 |
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I just recently found out about maury, during my research on him, I am big Jim Croce Fan and never new who the other guitarist was, until I did some research... Really amazing I listen to Maury's songs and I love them, he is such an awesome guitarist, and I look forward to learning more about Maury, I myself play guitar and taking lessons and working on some Croce tunes and most definitely going to tackle one or more of Maury's songs from his album just reall really amazing
Sunday, August 31, 2008 at 23:57 |
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maury and jim were the best 2 man band of all times.
ive been playing guitar for 40 years even tho im only 43 years old .
i remember the duos of maury and jim and they were the greatest .
i hope GOD enjoy's them half as much as i do may GOD bless the family and personal friends of the people who was tragically takin away from us
Wednesday, August 27, 2008 at 01:42 |
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I think that it is great that you have got this website set up to remember one of the greatest musicians of his time, and many of my favourite recordings are of him with jim. Do you ship the cd's to the uk or should I order via amazon or something?
Friday, August 22, 2008 at 17:44 |
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I was a senior in high school in 1973 when Maury Muehleisen and Jim Croce lost their lives on that tragic evening. Jim Croce's music greatly influenced my life and I know the influence Maury had with Jim's music. Just listen to any Croce song and listen to the phenomenal finger-picking. It's Maury.
Thanks for the site - Maury needs the recognition and tribute for his contribution to his legacy as well as Jim Croce's. Together they made magic.
Saturday, August 16, 2008 at 22:15 |
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Love You Maury and your incredible music.
Friday, August 15, 2008 at 17:51 |
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Hello Mary,
we spoke to each other at the registration in front of the Martin factory recently. I saw your name and thought there might be a connections with 'Maury's Music'. But a completely different story then followed!
It was nice having spoken and met you!
As for many people I too have good memories of the music Jim and Maury. I heard their music at the time I justed started playing acoustic guitar and their songs are great examples.
One thing I still have very clear on my mind was a documentary on the Dutch television where they mixed parts of a live version of a song with the studio version. It was so cool to hear that songs flowing so smooth, you would easily forget it was editted from live and studio cuts.
Jim and Maury both left beautiful music and we have to be thankful for that.
Friday, August 15, 2008 at 03:25 |
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Mary,
I would have been thrilled to meet you at the Martin factory. I'm a UMGF member and come to the site from Mike's post.
You've heard Maury's praises before, but (honestly!) I was telling a friend at Martinfest '08 that of all the backup guitarists playing the really great guitar licks behind the stars of the 60's and 70's (like Denver, Taylor, Stevens, Chapin, Lightfoot and others), the one playing for Jim Croce was absolutely the best! But I couldn't remember his name. So it is with great reverence that I come to this site, and I'm thrilled to find it! Every time I learn a Croce song, I'm most interested in Maury's guitar part. It's great to think what he did still thrills us so much today, and will continue to do so in the future.
Wednesday, August 13, 2008 at 20:32 |
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Hi Mary...we met and spoke at the Martin Guitar Factory...under the tent during lunch. I enjoyed spending time with you, and have "introduced" you to the Unofficial Martin Guitar Forum members. Hope to see you onboard there soon.
I'm working my way through the site and enjoying it a great deal.
Tuesday, August 12, 2008 at 20:49 |
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Thank you for the Memories and the Beautiful Music.
But for all who read this - please find your only peace - as for Jim and Maury - in Jesus Christ! Without Him we all are lost.
These incredible musicians gave us some of the most beautiful music and songs of our age - their songs will stand the test of time for all time!!
We are blessed and I praise God that we are Blessed! May Both Jim and Maury be in God's Safe-Keeping awaiting our re-uniting in His Glory. Praise Our Might Saviour! Without Him We are NOTHING!!
None Come To The Father BUT BY ME!! That is by Jesus Christ Alone. If you don't understand this - seek out someone who can help you with this - there is NO other way!!
One Way - Jesus. Seek Him. He is the Only Way!!
Thursday, August 07, 2008 at 11:51 |
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As a young boy around 8-10 I would listen to Jim Croce songs with this fantastic guitar playing and the soft wonderful folk music. At the time, I really didn’t know it was called folk music (am a Caribbean Island man) but when they would play songs like “Time in a bottle” and “Operator”, man that just moved me every time.
It would be years later that I would purchase a cassette tape with all his songs. Whenever I seen a video of Jim, I had always noticed this other guy playing the guitar along with him, but never knew until now that it was Maury Muehleisen. I didn’t even realize he was on the plane that faithful day in September.
This is the first time I have been on this site and read about Maury’s talent and untouchable guitar playing.
Sometimes the good lord sends down a few of his angels to touch the lives of many with a soft and loving touch for all to embellish our souls to.
I can tell you and everyone that they were angels sent to this world to play and write songs that will continue to lift and smooth our souls forever.
Thanks for this web site, and the introductory of your loving brother. May God continue to bless you all.
Craig Merren
Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands
Thursday, August 07, 2008 at 03:50 |
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Just a note to pay tribute to an individual who influenced my music and though only 14 at the time of this huge loss I grieved and felt the emptiness that day!The memories of Maury sitting back quietly working the magic in Jim's songs as Jim brought his subjects to life always brings a smile and Thank You Mary for this site!
Sunday, July 27, 2008 at 20:52 |
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Dale's reminiscence perfectly captures why I wrote "Second-String Songman." Here was one of the country's finest acoustic guitar players with an incredibly unique sound, yet "nobody knew his name...it seemed like quite a shame!"
The great thing is that although his album Gingerbreadd was virtually unknown at his death, through the miracles of technology and love (aka, the loving persistence of his sister Mary) that album is again available after a thirty-six year wait (not counting the Japanese version), and the original solo demo tracks are available here for the first time. Anyone visiting this site has got to consider getting these albums. The snippets on the "songs" section show you what a beautiful and unusual voice Maury had, and what a marvelous guitar player he was—you can tell both in a few notes. Unfortunately, the brevity does not allow you to hear what a truly marvelous storyteller and songwriter he was. Jim gets all the glory in that domain, and his credit is well deserved; he wrote some great songs, but, clearly, he began writing his best work "after" he met Maury, and he was clearly influenced by Maury's musical sensibilities. You can only hear that when you hear Maury's songs in their entirety. Give them a listen. They will grow on you "like a song [you] heard one time...about [you], so much of [you]."
All the best, Tim McMullen
Friday, July 25, 2008 at 13:48 |
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I began playing the guitar in 1975 because of people like Maury, Jim Croce and James Taylor. I'll never forget when I heard of Jim Croce's death, I asked a friend, "Was his lead guitarist on the plane with him?" At that time, I did not know Maury's name, but I did know his guitar style and I absolutely loved it. I have not heard anything else like it before or since his death. And it truly makes me sad that we never got to hear more from Maury Muehleisen.
Friday, July 25, 2008 at 12:27 |
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Mary - I just checked in to see how the website was looking these days. I like the new look. The bluegreen on the home page is very soothing.
Nice touch!
Patti
Thursday, July 24, 2008 at 17:38 |
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Maury and Jim will always live in my
heart and mind. I've been playing
guitar since the age of 6 and for the
past 42 years since when I need
inspiration I listen to them I'm a
much better Guitarist and musician
because of Maury and Jim. God Bless
both families.
Thursday, July 17, 2008 at 10:40 |
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I have been playing guitar since I was 10 years old, more than 43 years ago. Upon first hearing Croce's album with Maury's amazing guitar parts I could not believe my ears. How did he get that tone? Where did this guy come from?
Recently, due to the iPod era, I was digitally loading some old tunes into computer. A couple of Croce albums were loaded...it made me listen to them again, and again, I am truly amazed.
The passage of time has not taken anything away from the genius that was Maury. Hearing all of it again, made me find this website.
God bless the Muehleisen family. Your son and brother is still missed by all of us, and to a much greater degree... all of you.
Thanks for this great tribute and I still want to know how to get that acoustic tone.
Sunday, July 13, 2008 at 09:00 |
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Maury and Jim created magic together. The world misses them both.
Wednesday, July 09, 2008 at 00:22 |
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I just discovered the website and I have enjoyed looking at all the information on it. I've always been a big fan of Jim Croce and I knew who Maury was, but really didn't know anything about Maury. I'm grateful for the chance to learn more about him.
It's hard to imagine what music these two guys could have made had they been around during the past 35 years. We have all missed a special treat that it didn't happen.
Thanks for keeping the memory and spirit of Maury (and Jim) alive for all of us to enjoy and appreciate.
Wednesday, June 25, 2008 at 12:26 |
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Hello Friends of Maury.I was most impressed by the the style that Maury had.I guess like most of us Maury represents the man of music not the man of limelight.This quiet gentle talent has had a deep impression on me personally.In Maury's music would always be the winner,and for that I thank him.To those who knew him personally I empathise with you all.Good luck to all in life. Hugh Murray Ireland
Tuesday, June 24, 2008 at 15:26 |
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Thank you Maury for all the wonderful music! Rest In Peace My Friend My Brother...
Saturday, June 21, 2008 at 07:10 |
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I started playing guitar in high school back in the mid 70s. One of my guitar heros was Maury Muehleisen. I loved playing acoustic 12 & 6 strings and tried to pattern some of what I did after what I heard Maury do on the radio. I still play a lot and I wish I could have met him and said thanks for making me want to be a better player. I would at least like to say thank you to his surviving family members. I miss him too. I hope you are doing well these days.
Monday, June 16, 2008 at 23:11 |
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THANKS FOR THE EMAIL. IT MEANS ALOT TO ME THAT YOU REACH OUT TO US-THE FANS. ONCE AGAIN THANK YOU. BY THE WAY I JUST VISTED THE MYSPACE SITE FOR MAURY. I HOPE YOU ADD ME!! THANKS FOR TAKING THE TIME FOR ME.
-PAUL
Thursday, June 05, 2008 at 19:54 |
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I HAVE ALWAYS LOVED THE MUSIC OF JIM AND MAURY. MY FATHER PLAYED ME THESE ALBUMS AND 45S GROWING UP. THEY ARE SO A PART OF MY BEING THAT I CANT SEE MY LIFE WITHOUT THEM. I WISH THAT THEY WERE STILL HERE. I RECENTLY GOT THE DVD OF JIM AND MAURY DOING LIVE SHOWS. I WATCH IT EVERY NIGHT FULL BLAST. GOD BLESS YOUR FAMILY AND THANKS FOR MAKING MAURY A PART OF MY LIFE AND FOR BEING VERY GIVING WITH RELEASING ALL OF HIS SOLO WORKS.
Thursday, June 05, 2008 at 12:58 |
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I've always loved photographs & memories, but i never knew jim croce until my husband had a chance to get a cd featuring jim, alive... and only then did i found out he died in 1973, the year i was born. i kinda got intrigued and started to browse the net for more info bout him, how he died, and so on. the same intrigue got the best of me to also learn more about maury. and im so touched of their life stories, as well as of their friendship, that even in death, they never parted...
Tuesday, June 03, 2008 at 04:57 |
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No Comments
Monday, June 02, 2008 at 17:46 |
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Just Happened across this site, And I am glad its here, I have been road mgr. for JOHN EDDIE and his band for the last 5 years, and many places we go Maury's name has come up when I mention i'm from Trenton. I proudly state that maury is indeed from Trenton, and that in my humble opinion, he is one of the greatest accoustic guitar players I have ever heard. although I was only 6-9 years old at the height of Jim And Maury's sucess, I was very aware of them due to the fact that I had a sister who was a generation older, and her future husband was a class mate of Maury's at cathedral high school. It still boggles my mind that two inner city northeast boys likeJim And Maury composed such a beautiful array of ballads, that even today challenge the very best of any country or americana ballads ever written. The sad things of course is that tradgedy put a stop to what may have been one of the graetest runs ever by anyone in thier genre. although i can say i have pretty much evey one of thier songs committed to memory, I have to say i was while rading my sisters record collection one night way back when, when i first heard "walkin' back to Georgia" i had never heard it before, nor had i ever been to macon georgia, but in that mere two minutes and forty seconds, the way I listened to music would be changed forever, It is to me the consumate ballad of all time, i just "works" and if anything probably statrted me on my way to the career that I have today, although i was not blessed with the ability to play an intrument" i still struggle with and old second hand sixstring" i always had a good ear, and 35 years down the road, i've still heard no one better at what the do than Jim And Maury....the real reason I'm writing is that I recently noticed a Mercer county Wall off fame ayt the sovereign bank Arena...I wonder what it would take to get Maury's name on that wall?...if it's possible, i'd like to help in any way I can, please let me know...Gino
Monday, June 02, 2008 at 01:39 |
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My 14 year old son Danny saved up his yardwork money and just bought his first acoustic guitar.When he first told me he wanted to learn to play the guitar,he told me it was because,'Mom,you have been playing Jim and Maury's music since I was a baby--OF COURSE I would want to learn after hearing those guys!'
That shows what kind of legacy they have--Danny was born 20 years after that tragic plane accident.
I am continually impressed with this website,Mary.It truly honors Maury in such a beautiful way:-)
Wednesday, May 14, 2008 at 14:18 |
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Maury passed away 3 months before I was born, but I grew up with Photographs & Memories playing throughout my childhood. Fast forward 30+ years and still memorized with the musical genius that came of the union between Jim and Maury. Tonight, I was listening to "Don't mess around with Jim" and out of the corner of my eye, saw my 4-year old dancing around singing a choppy version of the chorus. And so the music passes on to a third generation.
Godspeed, Maury and family.
Friday, May 02, 2008 at 22:07 |
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Man,today i had my birthday,with a lot of family,and now i am washing the dishich and playing Maury,and never felt so good.
Friday, May 02, 2008 at 16:53 |
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WELL, STOPPED BY AGAIN, TO VISIT WITH OLD FRIENDS...I HAVE BEEN BUSY WITH MY NEW JOB. I RELOCATED FROM ORLANDO, FL., TO CHESAPEAKE,VA.
WANTED TO SAY THANKS AGAIN MARY, FOR ANSWERING ALL MY E-MAILS. IT IS VERY TOUCHING, THAT YOU FIND TIME IN YOUR BUSY LIFE TO RESPOND. I AM SORRY I MISSED YOU AND YOUR HUSBAND WHEN YOU WERE IN TAMPA, FOR THE WEDDING.
HOPE ALL IS WELL. I STILL ABSOLUTLY LOVE THIS SITE.
MAURY'S MUSIC STILL LIVES, AND I LOVE THE TWO CDs.THANKS FOR SIGNING THEM.
BY THE WAY, INGRID SAYS HI!!
LOVE YOU GUYS.
JIM RUSSELL, SR.
CHESAPEAKE, VA.
4-19-08@8:10 PM.
Tuesday, April 22, 2008 at 23:32 |
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Thank you for this wonderful website to remember Maury and the gift he shared with us.
I'll never forget seeing him with Jim for the 1st time in 1972 on the Tonight Show with Johnny Carson. I was already familiar with "You Don't Mess Around with Jim", but it wasn't until I heard his beautiful lead guitar work on "Operator" that I just stared and thought 'who is this guy?'
I went out the next day and purchased the album.
As a guitarist myself, and like many others I know who feel the same, Maury was special, and could do things that people like me only dreamed of.
Thanks again for sharing all of this with his fans.
Wednesday, April 16, 2008 at 15:50 |
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Thank you for the wonderful music - you live on in gifts that you and Jim Croce gave to the world.
I am glad for the time you had to give to this world
Sincerely,
KRM
Wednesday, April 16, 2008 at 06:53 |
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man, it is such a tremendous bummer that you're not here right now. you were something very special, dude. you sure touched my heart tonight and i don't even know you except for the feeling i got when i saw you on a pbs special...maury, i hope you are at complete peace wherever you are and have some joy in knowing you are still touching hearts so long after your death. i know we would have been friends if the time had been right. you are eternally cool and everything good. rest peacefully knowing your life made an impact and deeply touched many lives.
your friend, tammi
Tuesday, April 15, 2008 at 22:37 |
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In a classic case of web surfing yesterday, I started out watching "Ambrosia" videos at YouTube and ended up totally immersed in the brief and wonderful lives of Jim Croce and Maury Muehleisen. Like, hours and hours and hours worth.
And when you become immersed in something, it inevitably seeps into your heart and soul, and you feel a connection to the times and the places and the people. And you ache when you discover that that amazing guitar player accompanying Jim in all those videos passed away with him on the same day in 1973. I will hear every Jim Croce song with a new ear from this day forward.
Thank you for creating such a wonderful place to visit and the privilege of meeting your brother through picture, song, and word.
Sincerely,
Clay
Jn 14:27
Monday, April 14, 2008 at 04:37 |
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Hi
Thanks for building such a great website around Maury . One of the best guitar players of the world , for that I'm sure.
What he has done on his short lifetime is amazing.
Grtz From a fan from Belgium
Friday, April 11, 2008 at 14:36 |
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dear Mary,
Congratulations on putting up a terrific website
We all remember Maury and his contributions to music
GOOD Luck
Monday, April 07, 2008 at 17:24 |
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I am amazed at the talent Maury showed at such a young age.RIP,buddy.Thank you for the music!
Saturday, April 05, 2008 at 16:50 |
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I an ashamed to say i had never heard of you and jim but now i do know and i have heard some of your music and was i impressed poetry in motion with your guitars. you may not be with us anymore but you will remain with us with your music thankyou
Saturday, April 05, 2008 at 16:12 |
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Was raised hearing Maury's guitar on Croce's tracks. Always felt a sense of safety and warmth in his music. He has inspired my own music:)
Sunday, March 30, 2008 at 13:42 |
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i'm forty years old and have been a fan of jims music for most of those years,i always marveled at the guitar work,and just recently watching youtube i found out why,an incredible musician named maury muehleisen who was content to do his thing ,that music would not have existed and the world would have been missing something without it, i'm sorry for your loss,and the music world's loss. dave c
Monday, March 24, 2008 at 23:34 |
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Dear Mary
I received the Jim Croce DVD last year and was very impressed with Maury's guitar playing. Such a gifted man.
It is only now I realised he also passed away in the plane crash with Jim in 1973.
Maury and Jim were two of the most soulful people I have ever heard and ever will hear.
Adrian Shorland
Melbourne
Australia
Sunday, March 23, 2008 at 04:17 |
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I loved Jim Croce's music and heart, but Maury's accompanyment made the music what it was. I agree it was pure Genius! He made the music and songs soar. I have been an avid fan for 35 years and will be until I die. I will be attending their concerts in heaven.
With much love, Elaine
Friday, March 21, 2008 at 12:08 |
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I often refer to my guitar playing, harmony singing , best friend as, "my Maury". I cant imagine what Maury would have become. I take a little of him with me to every gig I play.
Monday, March 10, 2008 at 13:24 |
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I remember Maury with Jim and thinking at the time how great the music was and how well they meshed. I am glad to se Maury remembered on this site.
Sunday, March 09, 2008 at 12:22 |
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It was the fall of 1972 (I believe most definitely it must have been) when I was at a concert in the round in Illinois. I saw Jim Croce and his friend, Maury, and listened as they carried me away! I was mesmerized by "Jim Croce's band" -- he would tune the guitar as he went along, knowing what was right and wrong. He kept his instrument peeled, and watched Jim constantly to assure that their music was "one voice". As Jim engaged the audience with his eyes and presence, I watched Maury a lot -- he was a driving force in that musicality. Uneducated in Music, even I recognized the power of this Musician! I recall Maury breaking strings that night, and both he and Jim would look at each other and smile knowingly, and yet, he (they) played on, and played beautifully. The evening is one that I have not forgotten. From their both wearing working man's jeans to even what the heck I wore! Maury, I believe wore more of a 'country' shirt with red appliques on his blue shirt. All this is not important, I suppose. What is important is their impact on me. I remember exactly when I heard that their plane had crashed and I inexplicably started crying and couldn't stop. They had both given me something joyful in my life at a time when things weren't all that joyful. I was riding in 1962 blue Corvette Stingray with Hollywood Pipes and it was at a stop sign downtown (our town) just at a flower shop. I remember mostly after these decades, the warmth and friendship and command these two had on the audience -- and me -- that sweet evening. Sorry for rambling. But, thank you for sharing a site to attempt to verbally lay flowers of thanksgiving upon the memory of one so very gifted and so very, very giving of himself. Mr. Muehleisen was indeed an Artist of incomparable quality and one who will not be forgotten by this one who was blessed to experience, and truly appreciate, his gift -- in my way. I know you must miss him the very most. Please know that he made a difference in my life and in my Spirit!
Thursday, March 06, 2008 at 21:12 |
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I just watched Jim Croce and Maury perform "Operator" on youtube.com. In the comments, someone asked - "who is the backup guy?" and someone answered - "Maury Muehleisen. He Was Quality." That says it all.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A2iS8XctJKo
Sunday, March 02, 2008 at 13:59 |
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I didn't mean to sign my post (below) as anon, sorry... I was just too caught up in the emotion.
Friday, February 29, 2008 at 03:47 |
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Ever since 1973, I dread Sept 2Oth. Up until that point, Maury and Jim filled my life with colors... following that date, they futher changed my life as I ventured into show business to follow my own musical career due to the emotions that their talents created in me. I'd like to believe they would have enjoyed knowing how many people they inspired to do the same. I'd like to believe they know it now.
People around me today in music... they just don't understand my feelings about them. And frankly- in a world now where anyone who can whistle is hailed as an "artist"- they never will. They'll ask me "Why do you listen to that same part over and over so much?". Because... it's perfect. It captures emotions. It makes time stand still for a moment- something even Einstein could't do.
I listen to it over and over for the same reason an artist looks at the Mona Lisa over and over.
I never knew them, such is my loss. But it's my belief that Maury and Jim lived true to the that title of artist. They created. They gave. What I wouldn't give to have been able to sit down with them and rap. About anything.
So I thank you, and thank God, for this website.. up till now, Maury had been a bit of a mystery to me with so little precious info out there about him. To know he's buried so close to where I live here in NJ... and yet is still so far away in another respect.. is an unfair paradox I think I share with countless fans.
They say it gets easier with time... but it doesn't. The hole feels deeper. The mystery of their death just as haunting. The list of "why's?" and "what if's" grows more painful each time you review it.
I suppose for some it's easiest to overlook those lists by simply putting on a record. Who could blame them? The one comfort we have is to listen to their musical creations, and for that short time at least be in their eternally young company once again...
They stamped their image on their times, shared their talents with us all too briefly.. and left the sound of their voices for a world to enjoy.
And I miss them.
Friday, February 29, 2008 at 03:45 |
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Love the music, and I to am born on January 14 so his music makes it even more
better
Tuesday, February 26, 2008 at 10:42 |
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In Remembrance Of Maury:
Today a beautiful snowflake fell unto my hand,
It was special and made me smile.
But soon it was gone from where it did
land,
But it will be thought of all the while.
Like Maury ,here only a moment but not forgotten,
He left a unique and special gift...
And for his talent we're forever grateful,
For it is an amazing,soul warming lift.
Wednesday, February 20, 2008 at 13:39 |
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Was just watching some Croce video earlier tonight.
Jim's songs would not have been the same without Maury. Both seemed like really cool guys. The accident that took both their lives occured on my 17th birthday. They left us way too soon.
Remember the good times.
Sunday, February 17, 2008 at 02:17 |
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Just wanted to say Maury's music lives on and he was a great inspiration to me! Maury's guitar style was amazing, detailed yet simple and beautiful at the same time. I can only imagine Maury's spirit is similar to his music!
Monday, February 11, 2008 at 23:12 |
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As a classical pianist, I did not discover Maury until my fiancee introduced me to his music (with Jim Croce) 2 1/2 years ago. Maury is one of the greatest musical geniuses I have ever heard, in any style or any period of music. I NEVER tire oflistening to him,no matter how often we play his recordings. I am SO deeply touched by his guitar playing, and SO grateful to him.
Thursday, January 31, 2008 at 17:13 |
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I was only 12 when the tragedy happened. I have always been a fan of Jim Croce's music, but it wasn't until I saw a video of one of his performances & a closeup of Maury's guitar playing.
I was blown away watching those talented fingers bendinging those strings & giving those songs the unique "sound".
To watch Maury's fingers work those strings on songs like "One less set of footsteps" or "Working at the car wash blues" is like watching a gifted athlete or artist. It's pure magic.
To this day, I've never seen anyone equal what he could do in such a unique way. I can listen to his guitar playing for hours!
Wednesday, January 30, 2008 at 02:14 |
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I never missed a performance Maury did at the Gold Bug in Glassboro. He really touched my heart with his spirit and his music. I have only ever seen one other performer (surpising to me, even, it was Liberace!) who had the same immense and selfless love for his audience. I still miss Maury and the people he brought together in those years of the Gold Bug.
Monday, January 28, 2008 at 14:01 |
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I've been thinking about Jim and Maury lately. I know their birthdays were recent.Man I miss those guys.What
I would have given to have been able to hang out with them and jam some.They both actually gave me guitar lessons and never even knew it.I can remember sitting out in my Dad's Lincoln Continental(he let me drive it to college) back in the 70's with my guitar - listening to Jim's music.It had a quadrophonic 8 track player
that you could separate the left and right and front and rear channels. Maury's guitar parts were in one
channel and Jim's in another. I would sit there for hours trying to figure out how to play all those great
songs! It was a very memorable time for me.They both were truly unique and super talented.
Saturday, January 19, 2008 at 15:55 |
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Thank you so much for this tribute to Maury. I attended Glassboro State College with him and miss his quiet presence. I so wish he had lived to be able to see what he would have become. He left a huge gap in the music world and was definitely a musical genius. Funny how I just bought a USB player to change over his album to a CD as I found out about this site. Thank you.
Wednesday, January 16, 2008 at 06:17 |
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Thank you all for your guestbook messages and e-mails - for remembering Maury on the date of his birthday. Your kind thoughts are so very appreciated today and through these past years since the website has been running.
Keeping you all in my thoughts and prayers - and wishing you all a world of
Peace and Love,
Mary
Monday, January 14, 2008 at 16:07 |
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On Maury's 59th birthday, my prayers and best wishes go out to his Family and Friends.
Monday, January 14, 2008 at 08:23 |
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I am thinking of Maury especially today,as tomorrow would have been his 59th birthday.Oh,how we all wish that fate had allowed him to be sharing birthday cake with us!But we feel the spirit of Maury through his wonderful music...it makes us smile,and that is a gift he gives to us for an eternity.
Happy Birthday,Maury!!
Sunday, January 13, 2008 at 14:40 |
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Wow! I never realized the Maury following was so strong!
Well, I am a huge Jim Croce fan. I recently purchased Maury's home recording CD from Mary. It was an incredible experience to hear the original home recordings of "I Remember Mary" and "A Song I Heard". I knew Maury was an integral part of Jim's success, but did not realize he was such an excellent solo performer. Thank you Mary for making Maury's music and memory available to all of us!
Saturday, January 12, 2008 at 22:42 |
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It took years of wearing out their albums and tapes for me to realize it was Maury's guitar pickin' that stood out and complemented the music. Jim and Maury's unique sound and story telling is what grabbed me back in that time.
Friday, January 11, 2008 at 14:27 |
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I "met" Maury thro Jim Croce's singing, back in the early 1970's. I was a keen folk fan, defining folk as 'one person with a guitar, and a story to sing.' It feels strangely satisfying now to know the details of this other gifted musician through this website. May the world continue to be blessed by one person with a guitar, and a story to sing.
Friday, January 11, 2008 at 08:47 |
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MARY I JUST WANT TO WISH YOU A HAPPY NEW YEAR!!! WOW IT'S REALLY 2008? TIME IS FLYING...PEACE YOUR FRIEND
EDUARDO GUERRA
Tuesday, January 08, 2008 at 09:20 |
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MARY I JUST WANT TO WISH YOU A HAPPY NEW YEAR!!! WOW IT'S REALLY 2008? TIME IS FLYING...PEACE YOUR FRIEND
EDUARDO GUERRA
Tuesday, January 08, 2008 at 09:18 |
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JUST ANOTHER NOTE. MAURY'S CD'S ARE FANTASTIC!! IF YOU HAVE NOT PURCHASED THEM, PLEASE DO. YOU WILL BE CARRIED TO A WARMER TIME IN YOUR LIFE. BACK WHEN, THE MUSIC REALLY MEANT SOMETHING. WHEN YOU LISTEN TO "BEFORE THE NEVER", YOU WILL BE CARRIED TO LAZY DAYS, AND OLD LOVES. YOU WILL REMEMBER THE DAYS WHEN YOUR LOVE WAS "REAL". THERE HAS BEEN NO ONE SINCE MAURY AND JIM, WHO CAN MAKE YOU FEEL THE LOVE YOU LOST, OR FOUND, FROM YOUR PAST. THANK YOU, MAURY,AND JIM. I MISS THE OLD DAYS....
THANK YOU MARY...YOU ARE THE BEST....YOUR SITE IS HEAVEN SENT.....
PEACE AND LOVE.....JIM RUSSELL, SR.
ORLANDO, FL. 1-6-08@6:58PM......
Sunday, January 06, 2008 at 18:59 |
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Hello Mary, and family,
Took a small time away. Just stopping in to wish you and your family a GREAT New Year. I look forward to your book coming out. This site is the greatest, for a GREAT man, and his music. I just bought an acoustic guitar last Friday. {Guess who inspired me?} I will never, ever be as good as Maury, or Jim, but they are fantastic teachers. Thanks guys!
Thanks again Mary, I still play BOTH cd's all the time. Maury is a great traveling partner, while out on the Harley.
Peace and Love to You..
Your friend, Jim Russell, Sr.
Orlando, Florida.
1/4/08 @ 8:30 am.
Friday, January 04, 2008 at 08:30 |
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Today 1/1/08 has been the day that I finally discovered the name of the person behind the wonderful guitar work on Jim's music. All these years, I had thought it was Jim himself, until I saw Maury and Jim performing on a YouTube video. Just wanted to say how much I appreciate and respect Maury's talent and incredible contribution to Jim's success. Not only was his guitar work unusually spot-on proficient, but his harmony vocals were also perfect.. not overwhelming, but totally on pitch. May they both rest in peace.
Tuesday, January 01, 2008 at 22:10 |
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Happy New Year, Mary, to you and your family and the rest of Maury's family...and to all the fans of Maury's music who have found their way to this site and its wonderful tribute and memories.
All the best in 2008.
Tim
http://www.youtube.com/TimMcMullen
Tuesday, January 01, 2008 at 12:01 |
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The clock has just ticked over to 2008, so I guess I'm the first one this year to leave a post. Mary, thank you SO much for this site. I was 12 when Maury passed, but had already been playing guitar for 3 years at that point. As a guitarist, when I'd watch Jim & Maury on the Midnight Special, as great as the material was, my eyes & ears were on Maury. I did a tour of Holland in 1980 with a band & I made friends with a guy on the night of our first show there because he looked so much like Maury. We are still friends to this day. I've been a studio and stage guitarist for 25 years & Maury's influence has been there every time I had to play or record an acoustic guitar solo or accompaniment. His sense of melody and what was right for the song was so keen and strong. I am glad that his gifts are being recognized through this site and all the videos on YouTube so the younger ones can see what we've been talking about all these years. Best to you in 2008!
Tuesday, January 01, 2008 at 01:13 |
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The clock has just ticked over to 2008, so I guess I'm the first one this year to leave a post. Mary, thank you SO much for this site. I was 12 when Maury passed, but had already been playing guitar for 3 years at that point. As a guitarist, when I'd watch Jim & Maury on the Midnight Special, as great as the material was, my eyes & ears were on Maury. I did a tour of Holland in 1980 with a band & I made friends with a guy on the night of our first show there because he looked so much like Maury. We are still friends to this day. I've been a studio and stage guitarist for 25 years & Maury's influence has been there every time I had to play or record an acoustic guitar solo or accompaniment. His sense of melody and what was right for the song was so keen and strong. I am glad that his gifts are being recognized through this site and all the videos on YouTube so the younger ones can see what we've been talking about all these years. Best to you in 2008!
Tuesday, January 01, 2008 at 01:12 |
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If everyone could have a friend like Maury..............
Friday, December 28, 2007 at 21:35 |
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I had just turned 12 and was a big fan of Jim Croce's music when I heard the news. Recently I began seeing performance videos of Jim for the first time and saw a good looking gentleman accompanying him. I don't know how to explain it, but I connected with this man. There was something about him that touched me. It wasn't just the exceptional playing and singing, but something more. So I began searching and my search has ended here. I did not know Maury had died that same day and so I grieve once more. But at the same time I am thankful that this man obviously has touched so many others as well and I'm not alone. Thank you so much for this site to give the searchers a place to stop, read, learn, and appreciate the man who continues to touch people to this day and beyond.
Thursday, December 27, 2007 at 03:54 |
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I had immediately fallen in love with Jim C. and noticed the talent of the guitarist with him. So found out his name just for the sake of knowing it. That sad morning, I was getting ready to go to school. Sadly gone from this world, he has yet been with us always.
Sunday, December 23, 2007 at 09:20 |
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Hi Mary. The new site looks really good! I am so thankful you are keeping Maury's legacy alive and wish for you and your family a very Merry Christmas! I pray for warm, happy memories for you this season.
Thursday, December 20, 2007 at 09:52 |
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I have been picking a guitar for 35 years and I have never been able to come close to playing like Maury.I have allways loved his playing and the world lost 2 of it's greatest talents in 1973.Thank you for putting up this site.
Thursday, December 20, 2007 at 07:13 |
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I saw Maury play at the Main Point back in 1971/72. Jim backed him up at that time. His guitar playing sounded like someone playing a harpsichord. Amazing. What a gift. Hy told me about this site. Glad to see it. The Best to you all!
Tuesday, December 18, 2007 at 19:22 |
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Maury will always RULE!!!
Thursday, December 13, 2007 at 09:57 |
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HI Mary,
I really love the new look to your website. Kudos to Sean, too. It is so soothing and pleasing to the eye. Well, I think that it is safe to say that my 13-year-young son Tristan has begun playing bass guitar in large part due to my jamming on electric guitar here around the house, but indeed to Maury too. Through him comes all of our musical and technical inspiration!
It's been a wonderful 3 + years of friendship, Mary. Please thank your Mom for everything!
Armand
Springfield, Oregon
Tuesday, December 11, 2007 at 19:28 |
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Hallo all Muehleisen
Viele Grüsse aus Germany( Pforzheim) an alle Mühleisen in der Welt !!
Tuesday, December 11, 2007 at 15:40 |
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As a guitarist for over 35 years myself,
I can't even BEGIN to describe how in-
credibly talented, no, GIFTED, Maury was. It's one thing to play the "notes".
Maury played the "music".
It's knowing EXACTLY, how hard to hit a note, or how soft. when to "kill" the
note , or let it ring. When to "bend"
a note, or "slide" one.
He truly "gifted".
His talent was definately "heaven sent"
And I have no doubt, he is in heaven,
giving Hendrix a few "pointers"!!!!
God Bless.
Saturday, December 08, 2007 at 01:33 |
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My son was 26 when he died last December. I had to leave my teaching job, go on disability - - and learn to live alone at night for he had been living with me since I had moved him in during 2004 following his graduating fromthe Art Institute at Pittsburgh.
Each night I play music from the '60's and '70's. Last week I began playing "Time in a Bottle," "I Got a Name" - - and I continued to see this outstanding, gifted guitarist sitting next to Jim. Since then, I have researched everything that I could find out about Maury. His voice is indescribable - - "angelic" is the best word I can think of. You are so right about his being the soul during the singing - - without him, there would NOT be the wonderful overall effect. I found Maury's song and played it today - -
I just wanted you to know that he is uplifting during my loneliness, and I will continue to listen to him in the next months. Your famaily must be so proud of what he did accomplish.
Friday, December 07, 2007 at 21:45 |
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Cristián García-Huidobro C. |
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Dear Mary,
Congratulations for the new look of the web page! I really like it!
Kisses from Chile, Cris.
Saturday, December 01, 2007 at 19:13 |
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Mary—
I liked the look of the old site, but the makeover is excellent (slick and professional new pull down menus, nice graphics, etc). Kudos to you and and your webmaster for the new look. The experience for all those who find Maury's site has been enhanced. Thanks again for doing such a beautiful job of maintaining Maury's memory and the ever since...
Tim McMullen
http://www.myspace.com/tcbijou
Saturday, December 01, 2007 at 03:24 |
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Hello, Hello, Maury Fans,
Welcome to the newly designed pages of my Maury Muehleisen website. Hope to have some new items on here soon.
Enjoy...
Peace and Love
Mary
Friday, November 30, 2007 at 12:48 |
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In everyone's lives there are "when we first heard" moments burned into our memories. For me, learning of Maury and Jim's untimely passing is one of those moments. It is vivid through the years. They were special people who brought delight to those they touched through their music,
There are many artists to which they can be compared, but none can ever replace them. Their music is timeless and their songs are treasures.
Accolades to Maury's family for keeping their music, memories and dreams alive for those who never had the opportunity to see them perform, watch them on late night TV or play 8-track tapes of their music in the car back in the early 1970's.
It's as if it was only yesterday.
Monday, November 19, 2007 at 22:22 |
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I've pulled out the Jim Croce recordings again and I've been listening to them like it's the first time. I'm still floored as much by Maury's musicianship as I am with the material. Man, I am so sick and tired of what passes for "music" today. Maybe I am just a fossil, by today's standards (Maury was only a little more than four months older than me when he passed), but the songs aren't as interesting, and the musicianship isn't even half of what Jim and Maury left behind. Guys, I really miss you not being here, more than 34 years later. Wherever you are, I hope you're tearing it up! God Bless.
Thursday, November 15, 2007 at 07:19 |
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Actually Mary when i tell my students to listen to Jim Croce I always say and tell them that jim's Lead guitar player was Maury and that he has a web site too!!!! Believe me i new from vey early that Maury was someone very gifted and YES MELODIC GUITAR PLAYING IS SO NATURAL AND PEACEFUL THAT I THINK THE FAMOUS CLASSICAL GUITAR PLAYER SEGOVIA JAMMED TO MAURY! AGAIN HE RULES!!!! THANKS FOR ALL U DO MARY YOUR BROTHER IS SPECIAL ALWAYS IN MY MUSICAL HEART...PEACE EDUARDO
WWW.PSALM6TEEN.COM
Tuesday, November 13, 2007 at 10:39 |
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What can I say but Maury your guitar playing was brilliant and the music world has never seen another..As a musician, music teacher, writer what can one say but listen to the beautiful melodic sounds you crafted w your 6 strings....Yes Jim was great but your playing has touched millions of guitar wan- na bees...Whenever i get a new student i say buy Jim Croce's music and listen and you will be inspired to play...WE LOVE YOU MAURY!!!! BUT IM SURE YOUR PLAYING FOR GOD! YOU RULE!!
Monday, November 12, 2007 at 21:11 |
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His music talent was just amazing. I saw Maury and Jim in concert and for some reason kept watching him. He was so into the music. A true musician.
Lovely family pictures and stories. I can only imagine the beautiful music he's making in Heaven.
Thank you for the website.
Friday, November 09, 2007 at 18:55 |
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Through the internet, many years later, I have come to know the wonderful talent, " behind the scenes ", that Maury truly was. Thank you for bringing this site to us,as I have enjoyed learning more about him.
Wednesday, October 31, 2007 at 23:40 |
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Hello again Mary,
I've been watching and listening to Maury and Jim again, on YouTube. I've introduced them to many young budding musicians, and non-musicians. I wish you could see their faces. The intensity of their appreciation of those songs is such a treat to watch.
Thank you again for keeping Maury's memory and talent alive. His talent will still be revered for decades to come.
Hope you're keeping well,
Peace,
Eric
Wednesday, October 31, 2007 at 22:25 |
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I just saw a dvd of Jim and Maury (replete with pre-song explanations)performing many of the great songs I had come to know as a "child of the seventies." I never really knew Marty was the sound I was hearing behind, or should I say along WITH Jim. Man! soulful, crisp and complimenting each other so well! I have fallen in love with the sound again. But more importantly, my kids are hearing this for the first time 34 YEARS later! They, like me, loved it immediately. But unlike me, they are HEARING Maury and I mention his name along with Jim's because I don't think the music they made would sound the same if either wasn't there. God bless you and Maury. Thank you Maury for timeless and wonderful music.
Tuesday, October 30, 2007 at 09:28 |
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I had to comment one more time. Maury's playing on this one:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A2iS8XctJKo just kills me. It's perfect. I was born in '72 and these sounds were imprinted in my brain. I went on to play guitar and go to Berklee and now make my living with guitar and music. Maury is a link in a long line of musicians. And what a link!
Saturday, October 13, 2007 at 17:20 |
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Wow! I just discovered the name of this fantastic player who's music has been in the back of my mind guiding my acoustic guitar playing all my life...Maury. It sounds like he's a great guy and I look forward to meeting him "upstairs" on the future.
God bless Mary, wonderful site.
Wednesday, October 10, 2007 at 22:26 |
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Thanks Mary.. thank you Maury.. and thank you Jim.. I can hear the two guitars ring like heavenly Earthly bells.. in my romantic soul of a mind.. and so lovely.. anytime I want.. and that's forEVER!.. God bless..
Tuesday, October 09, 2007 at 23:38 |
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Just sitting here listening to music in the early hours, of the start of my hectic day. I have Roy Orbison, "Mystery Girl" on. I sudenly had to smile, as I could see Maury, Jim, Roy, Hank, Ronnie,Conway and Buck, all in an acoustic jam. Man, can you hear it. Guitars all tuned together, playing the Greatest song you ever heard. Gives me chills. I look forward to the day to walk up on that stage with some of the GREATEST musicians, our world has ever been blessed to have known.
By the way, I am listening to "GINGERBREADD", next.Thanks Mary, for this site, and your friendship.
Jim Russell, sr.
Tampa, Fl.
10-9-07 @ 5:25 am.
Tuesday, October 09, 2007 at 05:25 |
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Last Saturday night I was to play an accoustic set at an outdoor party.
I'm the lead guitarist in a blues band with very little recent experience playing acoustic guitar. I played acoustic guitar exclusively from 1971 until 1981 when I recieved and electric guitar as a high school graduation gift and seldom played acoustic after that.
The other guitarist/singer and I had not even rehearsed as this was to be a casual event.
I turned to my Live Jim Croce DVD knowing that Maury's playing would inspire me, not to play his licks and style, but to be able to do my own thing.
The set went off really well. We had a great time playing and the people there enjoyed us.
Thanks to Maury.
Monday, October 08, 2007 at 08:36 |
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I was only 8 years old on that fateful day in 1973. Every since that time I'm still moved to hear Maury and Jim. I'm also still very much stumped trying to play like they did. Maury's guitar work is a soft explosion of technical brilliance. At a time when allot of artists on the top 40 were plugged in and turned up loud, Maury and Jim relied on microphones to pick up their guitars - and yet, they soared on the charts. We are all truly blessed to enjoy their timeless gifts. Thanks Maury for sharing your gift with us - I hope you and Jim are still together and making music!
Saturday, October 06, 2007 at 23:15 |
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As a guitarist who has been playing for over 30 years I still ask, how did he do that? I miss him.
Tuesday, October 02, 2007 at 18:41 |
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I was sitting there watching and listening to the DVD "Have You Heard Jim Croce Live" and kept noticing the amazing "teamsmanship" (I don't think that's a word, but it fits what I'm trying to say) between Jim and Maury. I realized that I didn't really know anything at all about Maury and decided to check on the Internet, and what a treat to find this website. I knew that Jim had died in a plane crash, but had no idea that Maury had also died in the same plane crash, that was a very sad shock to read that. I had been hoping that he was still around and still making music. But much thanks to this website, and now whenever I watch the DVD I'll know more about who Maury was and also that he died on that same tragic day. Many thanks for the information on Maury, and for sharing the wonderful stories.
Tuesday, October 02, 2007 at 09:16 |
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Me parece extrano no encontrar mensajes en otros idiomas pues no creo que los sonidos de la guitarra de Maury puedan pasar desapercibidos para quienes gustan de la musica y del sonido de una guitarra bien ejecutada. Sin tener vocacion de poesta o escritor he aqui estas breves palabras en reconocimiento al musico que le ponia alma a las canciones de Jim.
Sin su musica esas canciones nunca hubiesen sonado igual. Sinceramente Gracias Maury
Sunday, September 30, 2007 at 01:27 |
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hi
loved this music for years, years go by, so live for today everyone and take care. maury and jim were angels ahead of their time, and yet their music seems timeless. true artists, love to embrace these songs and i cry to them. i love the songs.xxx
Thursday, September 27, 2007 at 09:39 |
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I was a student at Pulaski Jr. High in Chester, Pa. when Jim Croce was a teacher there, saw him perform, followed his career, and was absolutely blown away by the arrangements Maury and Jim performed, nobody else was doing anything like that. Some people cite the Beatles as the great influence in their becoming a musician, but for me, it was Jim and Maury. I'm glad that their music lives on!
Wednesday, September 26, 2007 at 20:50 |
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So many years have gone by since my older sister came into my room on the morning of September 20, 1973 and told me that Jim Croce had died in a plane crash. I was 14 years old and in high school and already such a big fan. I rushed down stairs to read the paper for the details and wonfered if Maury Muehleisen had died too. Although only 14 I had been playing guitar for 2 to 3 years already. My friend Steve Xenakis and I did many of the Croce songs with our crude attempts at getting Maury's part right. We knew Maury's talent and even did our own rendition of Salon and Saloon. When I grew up I wanted to sing like Jim Croce, but play guitar like Maury Muehleise. Now at 48 years old, the sadness that their lives were cut so short has never left me. Never. Ironically I have two of my four sons now at Villanova University. The older one Mike Cali plays acoustic guitar and sings. He has played at open mike night in the Connely center in the shadow of an old lifesize photo of Jim Croce looking on. I will make sure Mike knows who Maury was and is. Love to all who were touched by Maury. Thank you for sharing him with us on this site.
Saturday, September 22, 2007 at 18:57 |
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Thank you all for remembering my brother this day. We all have so many great memories of him. All of you are making more memories for me and my family. Especially Mom. It's really neat to hear how everyone relates to and enjoys Maury's music and guitar. I get chills when I read all of your thoughts in your guestbook entries. You really understand the music. We are so proud of him and are thankful for his legacy.
Love and peace,
Robert Muehleisen
Thursday, September 20, 2007 at 21:41 |
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A great talent, too short a life. My best to family and friends.
Thursday, September 20, 2007 at 14:38 |
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Mary,
God bless you and your family. Music is His gift to us - and Maury shared that gift so beautifully. Through you - that sharing continues.
Thank you.
Patti
Thursday, September 20, 2007 at 14:32 |
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As every 20th September, I will remember dearly Jim and Maury listening to their records. I agree with Jim Russell that today there's gonna be a big party at Heaven... thanks Mary & family for keeping their true memory alive. From Santiago, Chile, kind regards, Cris.
Thursday, September 20, 2007 at 10:17 |
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I've always loved Jim Croce's music. But I was always kinda baffled that I never heard anything about his guitarplayer. The more I listened to Jim's music, the more I found that Maury's guitarplaying is essential to the Jim Croce songs. It is part of what makes the songs such classics.
I earlier heard a live recording of 'Operator' on www.xpn.org, in commemmoration of this day 34 years ago. And that brought up my admiration of Maury's brilliant guitarplaying again.
And so I found this site. Good to see I'm not alone in this ;-)
Thursday, September 20, 2007 at 09:06 |
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This morning, I took my moment of silence, just as I have each year before, on this day.
Except this year I added someone to my thoughts: My new "friends", Mary and her family.
I bet there is fantastic concert today in Heaven...
Bless all of you.
Your "friend" in Florida.
Jim Russell, Sr.
Thursday, September 20, 2007 at 06:27 |
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Oh, with the help of a friend, I created a Maury myspace recently - www.myspace.com/maurymuehleisen.
Come visit!
Thursday, September 20, 2007 at 00:57 |
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September 20, 2007 - 34 Years since September 20, 1973 - and yet it sometimes seems like yesterday that Maury and Jim were here. So many kind people sharing thoughts and feelings these past few years has been beyond what could be imagined. You have touched my heart and the hearts of my parents and siblings. Thanks and ever thanks...
With Gratitude and Love,
Mary
Thursday, September 20, 2007 at 00:24 |
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HAD MY WIFE WATCH THE JIM CROCE VIDIO "HAVE YOU SEEN-JIM CROCE", THE OTHER DAY FOR THE FIRST TIME. WE OPENED UP A BOTTLE OF WINE, AND LIT THE CANDLES. I HAD WATCHED IT SEVERAL TIMES OF COURSE, BUT A FIRST FOR HER. I WAS TOTALLY AMAZED WHEN SHE SAID, "WHO IS THAT HANDSOME GUY, PLAYING WITH JIM?" "HE PLAYS SO AWSOME, AND IT ACTUALLY GIVES ME A CHILL". I HAVE ALWAYS TRYED TO INTRODUCE HER TO NEW MUSIC, AND DIFFERENT STYLES. SO FOR HER TO NOTICE THIS,MADE ME PROUD. WE SAT AND TALKED ABOUT HIS PLAYING STYLE, AND THE GENTLE VOICE HE HAD. NOW, MY TWO CD'S OF MAURY'S ARE IN CORINNE'S CAR.WELL, LOOKS LIKE THERE IS ANOTHER "NEW" FAN TO ADD TO THE EVER-GROWING LIST. THANK YOU MARY, FOR YOUR HARD WORK. BLESS YOU.
YOUR FRIENDS IN FLORIDA.
JIM & CORINNE RUSSELL
Wednesday, September 19, 2007 at 06:57 |
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Thanks for sharing stories about your brother. Jim could not have been the success with out Maury and vice versa.
God Bless both of them
Tuesday, September 18, 2007 at 12:03 |
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There are precious few things that can reconnect us to people and places in our past. Live video clips of Jim and Maury have done that for me, and led me to this site. Many thanks to Maury's family for an outstanding tribute to an amazing talent and person.
Friday, September 14, 2007 at 23:17 |
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Turned 60 this year and find Maury and Jim's music as relevant now as when it was written. Getting married this weekend. "Time in a Bottle" will be the song I have played for my bride. Our children and grandchildren have discovered the heart of Maury and Jim! Pete C.
Wednesday, September 12, 2007 at 11:09 |
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Funny how things come together. I've been sitting at home this week recovering from recent surgery when I caught an old Jim Croce video on YouTube. While I was watching I got to thinking and wondering whatever happened to that talented guitarist that was accompanying Jim. Long story short, that lead me to this site.
I can only say that I think it is really groovy that people still remember Jim and Maury. They were two of the most talented gentlemen popular music has seen, or will see, in a long time. What a pity "they don't write 'em like that anymore."
Monday, September 10, 2007 at 17:14 |
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It's interesting how connections just happen. So, I'm up at work...walking with a group to go to lunch. A gentlemen started talking about a song he was learning on his guitar. I mentioned that I was working on learning a couple of new Croce songs. I could see his eyes light up as he said Croce had one of the finest guitarists he had ever heard--Maury. As I thought back on the Croce pieces I had learned over the years, I realized it was the magic of Maury's guitar playing the truly brought me to music of this unique pairing of storying telling and guitar playing...the next night I was searching the web to get a little more insight into the man playing next to Croce when I find Mary's tribute to her brother...Thank You...Carlos
[and Lee, yes I think your a gentlemen...thanks for the connection]
Wednesday, September 05, 2007 at 21:55 |
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MAURY WAS A GREAT TALENT.GINGERBREADD WAS GREAT. SO WAS HIS WORK WITH JIM CROCE.HE WAS ONE OF THE FINEST GUITAR PLAYERS I'VE EVER HEARD.HOPEFULLY YOUR WEBSITE WILL HELP KEEP HIS MEMORY ALIVE.
Monday, September 03, 2007 at 19:11 |
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I'm an avid fan of Jim his songs are wonderful,touches people and full of spirit. And now I know who was that man with a great hands in guitar,wow how I wish I could have copy for that CD's, are those CD's available in the philippines?
thanks , more power
allan lopez
cebu, phillipines
Friday, August 24, 2007 at 11:34 |
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Hello, music lovers. Just recieved my 2 discs from Mary. PLEASE-PLEASE-PLEASE buy them. They are fantastic. The artwork is fantastic. You can tell it was thought thru, with much love and devotion. And most of all, RESPECT. Mary signed my copys, and I am deeply touched. THANK YOU MARY. Thank you Tommy West also.
Thanks Maury, Jim, and all involved with this project.
Jim Russell, Sr.
Tampa, Florida.
8-22-07 @ 3:58pm
Wednesday, August 22, 2007 at 15:58 |
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Just a quick note to all who read this. I wanted to tell you how warm and kind Mary is. I did not believe it when I opened my e-mail, and here was an e-mail from her. And this was not a "cookie-cutter" e-mail. It was a warm, personal e-mail. I am deeply touched. I also ordered both of Maury's cds, and she actually autographed them for me. I have been on a Jim and Maury "kick" lately, and have been wearing my discs out. I love the warm, soft textures, and tones. It takes me back to a time when love was new, and my life was a little less hectic. I hope when I die, that I get the pleasure, and honor to meet Maury, and Jim. Maybe we could "jam" a little. Thanks Mary. For you, and for keeping a good man's name alive.
Your friend.Jim Russell, Sr. Tampa, Florida. @ 8-20-07.
Monday, August 20, 2007 at 11:28 |
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I saw Maury and Croce in 1972-73 at my university in NC. My first thought afterwards was, who is that guy on the guitar? He is awesome. That thought had bugged me for 30+ years and now I know his name. We lost some good people and a lot of talent in 1973. Thank goodness it is preserved for us and our kids to listen to, to sing to and cherish.
Monday, August 20, 2007 at 11:10 |
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Dear Mary, one of my best friend's father just passed away. The family requested me to play "Time in a bottle" at the funeral. It was tough, but I got through it. It just makes me so proud that Maury and Jim's music is still touching lives at all family occasions. Please say hello to your family.
Tuesday, August 14, 2007 at 22:08 |
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Maury,
I remember my mom buying me "You Don't Mess Around With Jim". I was hooked from the start. I young, and didn't understand how one man made such sweet music. Then as I got older, I found out about "the other guy". You!! Wow. What a talent. I recently bought the vidio of you and Jim. "Have You Seen Me?" You two were so great together. I wish I only played half as good as you two did. I found "Gingerbread", and love it. I also love "I Remember Mary".
I will always be a die hard fan. I always give a little quiet time on September 20th. For that was the day two real musicians went to Rock And Roll Heaven. Man, what a band "THEY" have up there.
Your friend, Jim Russell, Sr. Tampa, Florida. 8-14-07
Tuesday, August 14, 2007 at 15:40 |
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WOW! Just discovering Maury now 4 the 1st time...Was always a big fan of Jim Croce as a teen in the 70's, & of course LOVED the whole sound as well as the songs. Tonight a friend emailed a J.C. video from Youtube. I watched another 1 & thought, "WHO is that great guitar player w/ him?". Then I learned more in the comments posted & thought plz don't tell me he died, too. ( sigh) I came to this site & am full of admiration 4 Maury & his family. Will order his CDsoon
Tuesday, August 14, 2007 at 01:26 |
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Always enjoyed hearing the texture behind Jim Croce's songs, even as much as the melody itself. Obviosly, he had the more humble role in this duo, but I doubt if there are many who really appreciate music, musicians and listeners alike, who didn't understand how much Muehleisen contributed to Croce's success (Croce included), who weren't pleased as much by one of those great riffs as by Croce's cutup lyrics. I was a Croce fan in my college days in the 70s, and since then I've never forgotten Maury M's name (though I couldn't spell it without a second look at the album cover.)
Monday, August 13, 2007 at 23:19 |
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Dear Mary Muehleisen,
Thanks to your hard work and passion your brother's timeless music will not be lost in time. Because of you, Maury Muehleisen's "Gingerbreadd" recordings produced by Tommy West and Terry Cashman will be available to all music fans; the young, the old, and the yet to be conceived. Mahalo means thank you.
Robert Max Langpaap
Filmmaker/Music fan
Saturday, August 04, 2007 at 23:29 Host: cache-ntc-ac08.proxy.aol.com |
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Hi, Phil,
Thanks so much for leaving a message here about your plans to close out the remaining copies of your book, "Music's Broken Wings: Fifty Years of Aviation Accidents in the Music Industry" - a book filled with so many interesting facts about 34 notable aviation accidents and their investigations. Your thorough research and supplemental documentation - commendable.
I'm glad I was able to help you and hope that others will visit your site before you run out of copies.
Thanks for your good wishes, too.
Gratitude and Friendship,
Mary
Thursday, July 26, 2007 at 11:48 Host: cache-dtc-ae16.proxy.aol.com |
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Hi Mary,
It has been a pleasure corresponding with you over the years regarding my book, "Music's Broken Wings: Fifty Years of Aviation Accidents in the Music Industry." Your help with the Jim Croce/Maury Muehleisen chapter was invaluable.
Unfortunately, even with great reviews and beginning book sales that seemed to promise good things, the sales have tapered off and I must begin the process of closing out the remainder books and moving on. My flying career must take center stage at this point in time.
The project of my book has been a great one. No regrets. I researched, wrote and learned about the subject that interested me, and I am better for it. I would not change a thing.
I wish you all the best for your upcoming book. Hopefully, all the radio hosts that promised me some interviews, and then never called, will follow-up with you and give you the great exposure needed to continue Maury's and Jim's memory.
I will always remain available to you, should you ever need anything. Anything at all.
Blue skies always,
William P. "Phil" Heitman
Wednesday, July 25, 2007 at 19:07 Host: rrcs-70-61-222-210.midsouth.biz.rr.com |
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Mary:
I measure an artist performance on the total package. If you go to the "Grand Ole Opry" you would have to be a fool not to notice all the accomplished and talented musicians in the background eagerly waiting for an opportunity shine with their instrument. Maury's contribution really complemented Jim's music &
lyric and his vocal harmony and melodic guitar runs were a major force in that big sound. Best regards, Steve
Tuesday, July 24, 2007 at 00:48 Host: pool-71-112-198-8.sttlwa.dsl-w.verizon.net |
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I was just listening to Hey Tomorrow off the You Don't Mess Around with Jim album - and started thinking about Maury. I haven't listened to Gingerbreadd in years - it's buried in a closet - behind stuff that will all fall on my head if I start poking around. It will take a full day to find it I'm sure. But - I may take the easy way out and buy the CD version. Anyway - I got to thinkin - and remembering Jim & Maury playing in their kitchen in the farm house in PA - back in 71-72. I was a freshman at Glassboro State - and got introduced by some friends - Gracie LeGay and Jonh Emmonds. I was a struggling folkie myself - trying to find my way in a world where the coffee houses were already starting to close down. Maury visited me at the dorm at college - and we swapped songs all evening. He played my guitar - a brand new Martin D28 - and it has never rang more beautifully than when he touched it. His fingers held magic - and his soul just radiated such love and gentleness. He sang one song that I will always remember - though I've never heard it on recording. I still know every word.
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Hey Lady Lady sing me a song sometime
when you find yourself at home and I am on your mind
when you find that all your favorite words could rhyme with mine
when you know that your kind of woman is my kind
Hey Lady Lady come set the night a blaze
Let me see your golden hair go softly streaming
Let me see your emerald eyes so finely gleaming
Let me say I love you once and I'll go dreaming
When you get to feeling good all through and through
That's how I feel whenever I think of you
Hey Lady Lady come set the night aglow
when youg know that all you want to be I think of you
With your song so softly calling brings me shades of you
And until you say you need me I'll live in shades of blue
When you get to feeling good all through and through
That's how I feel whenever I think of you
Hey Lady Lady sing me a song sometime
when you find yourself at home and I am on your mind
when you find that all your favorite words could rhyme with mine
when you know that your kind of woman is my kind
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So in answer to that evening back in 71 - I wrote the following (but never had the chance to share it with him).
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Painter of Song
Patti Slevin (autumn 1971)
The happiness your singing brings to me
so light and loving
your spirit runs as the sea
over rocky shore - and windswept beach
with warm tranquility
The sun - it rose -
The night - it grew
In your eyes
So full a day of feelings locked inside
but by a quiet voice - a friendly laugh
I felt music in a sigh
So may I thank you now.
I'd like to sing along your rhyme
And give you all I know
In a song
and my guitar.
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I was so happy to find this website tonight.
Thank you.
And God bless Maury!
We are all better for having known you!
Sunday, July 22, 2007 at 23:43 Host: adsl-69-234-113-164.dsl.irvnca.pacbell.net |
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As a kid in the seventies, I saw Maury and Jim on some television programs. Although Jim was the lead vocalist, I was always encaptivated with Maury; him playing the guitar so splendidly!
Even as a kiddo I used to sneal away to hear my father's band, in Austin, Texas, practice in the garage, and it was always the guitarist whom I revered the most.
My dad used to say to me, "Son, it's always me, the front-man that gains most of the accolades, but I'm just a small piece of the whole. I am blessed to sing amongst so many artists!"
That's how I feel about Maury - he was an artist in the highest sense!
I remember a tv program about Maury and Jim - their life and death.
Today, I just logged-on to my computer today, and found your wonderful site. Good-luck with it!
Sunday, July 08, 2007 at 14:28 Host: cpe-24-27-23-115.austin.res.rr.com |
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Just for leaving my sign.
Monday, July 02, 2007 at 04:01 IP: 219.166.45.211 |
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Mary; Was so nice to meet you at the Martin Club event in Nazareth. Was thrilled to hear Maury's story. I've listened to his CD's acouple times now. It takes me back to a golden time, a golden Era. Also found the Martin Magazine with Maury's photo and guitar on the back. I will be making a collage of the events this past week for story telling in the future. Maury will be a part of it. Thanks for sharing your life with me, Susan, and Big Jim. Hopefully our paths will cross again,
Monday, June 25, 2007 at 13:47 Host: ns65.statefarm.com |
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Hi Mary -
We met today at the "Martin-Day" festival (I was the younger of the two guys in the gift shop). I went through the site and found it really interesting. It brings such a real-life and human side to a "rock-star" story. I'm glad to have met you and will now be listening to Jim's music a lot more - and a lot more closely! Keep in touch and please do let me know when your book is complete - I'd love to read a little more about a fellow "Jersey Boy" (even though I live in PA now, I'm originally from Woodbridge.
Keep in touch -
- Brad Jacob
Friday, June 22, 2007 at 23:30 Host: 65-78-109-142.c3-0.eas-ubr6.atw-eas.pa.cable.rcn.com |
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I finally figured this wifi out. THANKS for the time we shared at the C F Martin Owners Meeting,and introducing me to Dick Boak. You tought me to listen to Jim's songs in a very different way. Again Mary, Thanks a lot. I feel I have a friend for life. Jim
Friday, June 22, 2007 at 23:26 Host: pool-71-162-176-149.phlapa.east.verizon.net |
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Hi Mary,
I'm glad to have this opportunity to express the influence Maury's talent had on me. Any chance I got, when I'd see he and Jim on TV (I was about 12), I'd watch Maury playing, very closely. I have searched in vain for years for a guitarist for my music that matched Maury. It has been a long road for me, and at every turn, I was always looking for him. It's just not going to happen. Such a void. Thank you again,
Peace always,
Eric Benson, British Columbia
Monday, June 18, 2007 at 13:16 Host: d207-81-94-109.bchsia.telus.net |
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Thanks for the great website ,I have always been a fan of Jim's . Since seeing the vids on youtube and some fuzzy memories from High school , I have always wondered who played with him.
Maury was a great talent and I am glad to know more about him.
Saturday, June 09, 2007 at 15:58 Host: ip70-189-100-123.ok.ok.cox.net |
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Hi, Dave,
Thanks for writing. Maury had probably borrowed our sister's VW that day. Kind and softspoken...you've described Maury perfectly. Nice of you to recall that. I'll tell Joe and Tommy you remember them. Glad you like my website. Yes, we all wrote our names on records back then. Nice that she treasures her copy of Gingerbreadd.
Peace and Love,
Mary
Friday, June 08, 2007 at 16:30 Host: cache-mtc-ae16.proxy.aol.com |
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Dear Mary,I remember first meeting Maury as he gave myself and my girlfriend a ride as we were walking down West State street in Trenton. He was driving a Volkswagen back in the early seventies and was a very kind and softspoken person. I know you had quite a large family and I used to go to school with brothers Tommy and Joe at Blessed Sacrament. They were a year in front of me. Maury was a year behind(I believe) my sister at Cathedral High. This page is a great tribute to Maury and I wish you and your family all the best. And yes, my present girlfriend (of 29 years)has her original copy of "Gingerbreadd" at home with "her" name on it as was commonplace back in the day. Sincerely, Dave Stradling
Friday, June 08, 2007 at 13:15 Host: mail.lexpharma.com |
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To Maury's family,
I feel blessed to have found this fine tribute on the web. I was born in 1949, and Maury and Jim were part of my coming of age. (I am also from a large family, seven children)I watched Jim and Maury on black and white tv on the Midnight Special--what a talent Maury had! I miss him, but I know he goes on in my heart forever. A quiet,forceful presence.
Wednesday, June 06, 2007 at 00:37 IP: 76.209.83.225 |
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Thanks, CK, Sam, and Dan, for your recent guestbook messages. I truly appreciate hearing from you and know that my family and other visitors to the guestbook enjoy reading such kind words about Maury.
With gratitude,
Mary Muehleisen
Tuesday, May 29, 2007 at 17:40 Host: cache-dtc-ab14.proxy.aol.com |
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I caught a great YouTube clip of Jim Croce and his accompanist performing Operator, and was reminded that I'd always really dug the acoustic guitar licks behind Jim's songs. I thought, "gee, I'll see if I can find out who that guy was and what he's up to - I'd sure love to hear more". Happy to discover that that guitarist was Maury, but now very sad to learn that he passed away with Jim on that plane. It's pulls one up short, to realize that that keen musical intelligence is no longer in the world.
Sunday, May 27, 2007 at 12:57 IP: 74.12.96.43 |
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GOD Bless you...what a wonderful talented man!! Years ago.. I bought an acustic guitar wanting to learn how to play, well time goes bye and it's been sitting in the corner of my bedroom now for going on 4 years. Tonight I picked it up for the first time in a long time because of Maury....was watching "OPERATOR" video and somethng about him just stuck.. He still can inspire folks...even from Kansas!!! THANK YOU and R.I.P. MAURY Maybe you are up there in Heaven to bring inspiration to people...I Believe you are.
Saturday, May 26, 2007 at 02:50 Host: cache-mtc-ae16.proxy.aol.com |
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Really nice, really great to see this site. Wow. I'm not the only one to know Maury's name and appreciate his style. As a guitarist myself, his playing has been a big influence on me. Thanks so much for sharing this info and for keeping the sound and the spirit alive.
Thursday, May 10, 2007 at 18:58 IP: 137.90.48.26 |
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Thanks for putting Maury's album out on CD, Mary. Both of my vinyl copies are worn out.
Bob Mamrak
Thursday, May 10, 2007 at 09:49 IP: 216.79.146.128 |
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Life and Times and You don't mess
around with Jim were the first LP's
I ever bought in the 70's. The lead
licks from Operator are such a signature guitar sound, to play lead on
aucoustic like that was very special.
Such young talented lives lost Jim and Maury, no
words can change that over 30 years later, but the music is timeless and
terrific.
Sunday, May 06, 2007 at 21:32 Host: h24-207-93-71.cst.dccnet.com |
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Thanx for the site- My son and my family really enjoys the site and all of my guitr students are shown the site as well. Maury was truly talented and I enjoy letting people know just whom he was.
Friday, May 04, 2007 at 11:17 Host: tsbi.edu |
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hello,i received a dvd today called learn to play the songs of jim croce and it mentioned maury in the liner notes so i searched him and wound up here.i'am just a fan.seems all the good ones die young.
Monday, April 30, 2007 at 17:14 Host: ac86e796.ipt.aol.com |
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I was up on a Croce site and they had an rare interview with Terry Cashman (I think the only interview the guy has done over the years). As he went through the making of Bad Bad Leroy Brown he brought up Maury up saying "Jim Croce was great by Maury was a GENIUS and without Maury there would be no Jim Croce sound". After listening to several cuts I would have to say I know where Time in a bottle came from. I had always thought that Maury was older because he was so good. I had no idea until I saw the Croce DVD how young and good he really was. A great talent that had found a unique and everlasting chemistry with Jim that we lost way way to soon. I was only 13 in 1973 but we are coming up on 35 years and I still listen to his guitar playing every spring.
Saturday, April 28, 2007 at 01:09 Host: cpe-70-112-52-81.austin.res.rr.com |
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This is so weird. A couple of days ago i was talking with some co-workers and found out one of my co-workers (younger than myself) is from Hopewell Twp., NJ...well, that made me bring out my high school yearbook. As I was flipping through the pages, i came across Bobby & Michael's pictures...then i thought...you know, i heard somewhere (when in school) that the backup person for Jim Croce (who i was a big fan of) was their brother who was in the crash with Jim Croce. I don't know whether i thought about it then though. I know i was upset about the crash, but i guess being young, you don't dwell on as much as you do when you get older. So today, some 28 years later, i did a search on google and found this site on Maury. What an awesome site and a great tribute! I shared homeroom with Michael and Bobby. Hope they are doing well.
Monday, April 23, 2007 at 15:33 IP: 63.68.234.8 |
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We must have been watching the same show, Randell. It was a re-run of a PBS special that came out a few years ago to promote the Have You Heard Jim Croce Live DVD and the Jim Croce Classic Hits CD.
Thanks for your kind words about Maury...that you "instantly miss him indeed."
Monday, April 23, 2007 at 11:01 Host: cache-mtc-ae16.proxy.aol.com |
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Thank You for this site...For over thirty years I have wondered who is the man was sitting stage with Jim. I have only seen small amounts of video on television through the years. Who is this man that chimes in with the words "Right On" as Jim sings LeRoy Brown? And what ever happened to him...What is his name? And what is his significance to the band?.....After carefully perusing the Jim Croce web site, I was able to acquire his name..Next step, go to Google...And now we learn all about Maury...Jim Croce songs are as magnificent today as they were 35 years ago...The next time one of Jim's songs comes on the radio, its meaning will be pushed to an even more of a higher level, now that I have finally met Maury...
Saturday, April 21, 2007 at 23:06 Host: slip-12-64-126-198.mis.prserv.net |
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Saw some live footage tonite of Maury playing a few songs with Jim Croce and was taken with how gifted a guitarist he was.
Never been one for acoustic guitar driven music, but Maury was indeed a great talent. I was just more or less introduced to him and at the same time instantly miss him indeed.
Saturday, April 21, 2007 at 01:50 Host: c-71-230-93-188.hsd1.pa.comcast.net |
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Just stopping by for a brief visit down memory lane. It's amazing how songs touch our hearts and hold our memories...
Friday, April 20, 2007 at 16:40 Host: 216-229-83-203-empty.fidnet.com |
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Sande,
I'm so glad you got a record player in December and that you chose Maury's "Gingerbreadd" album at the antique shop. As teenagers, Maury and I used to buy records at the stores in downtown Trenton - brought them home and played them over and over again. It makes me happy to know how much you've enjoyed doing something so similar. Thanks for telling others about Maury and his music.
Monday, April 16, 2007 at 21:21 Host: cache-dtc-ab14.proxy.aol.com |
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About a month ago on the way home from my job, I stopped at a previously unvisited antiques shop. The women running the store were kind enough to point me in the direction of the records (I acquired a record player in December of this year). They were situated in a corner of a dark, nearly empty attic-- save for the four crates of records. I spent an hour rooting through these crates and eventually decided on a single record from a man of whom I had previously never heard. I was impressed by the beautiful artwork and care that was taken in compiling this record, and so although I was taking a chance of not enjoying it, I bought it. It was flung on the record player the moment I arrived home. It hasn't left the turntable once since then.
As you may have guessed, this record was titled "Gingerbreadd". I am continuously spellbound by Maury's amazing musicianship. I have been sharing the songs off of this album with virtually anyone who has come within audible distance of my record player. Many, many of my dearest friends haven fallen in love with his music.
I hope you rest assured that Maury is still finding his way into people's hearts and souls, even in today's teenage generation.
Friday, April 13, 2007 at 15:25 Host: c-68-48-200-55.hsd1.md.comcast.net |
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Thanks, Tim. I have to agree. Cris has done an admirable job. Thanks, Cris, and other musicians worldwide. It would be impossible for me to convey how much I appreciate all the people who have reached out about Maury. So many have touched the hearts of our family and filled a bit of our "missing Maury" with your kindnesses. Thank you all forever!
Peace and Love,
Mary
Friday, April 06, 2007 at 00:10 Host: cache-rtc-ad13.proxy.aol.com |
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I encourage all of Maury's website visitor's to check out Cristian Garcia-Huidobro's three tribute videos on youtube. They are beautiful.
See below where Cristian posted the addresses or see them and about 15 other videos of Maury and Jim (moslty posted by TheShadow01) on my Croce/Muehleisen playlist at youtube.com/TimMcMullen
Great job, Cris! And Mary, as you can see, your website continues to inspire!
Keep up the great work, Tim McMullen
Thursday, April 05, 2007 at 19:40 Host: cpe-75-84-10-111.socal.res.rr.com |
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Dear Mary,
What I promised... 'A Song I Heard' on youtube!
See you, Cris.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ztxbpp_4EAc
Sunday, April 01, 2007 at 15:40 IP: 201.215.2.39 |
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Dear Mary,
A little gift I've just made in the loving memory of Maury and Jim... Time in a Bottle in youtube!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wjnpfq_sRTs
Next will be Maury's A SONG I HEARD
Saturday, March 31, 2007 at 19:54 Host: pc-50-191-214-201.cm.vtr.net |
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Just dropping by to let you know how much I admire Maury's talent and his influence on the music he and Jim made together. I've watched the DVD now about 3 times, having just picked it up off Ebay last week, and I'm amazed at just how much beautiful music those two made. I've of course heard the music for decades, but seldom do you see any video of the two these days.
I watch their guitar licks, being a fledgling guitarist myself, at the age of 56 (just bought a new guitar). They're both so smooth. I can now see why Maury was so accomplished. His hand and wrist action on the guitar is flawless and those long fingers of his just carress those Ernie Ball strings on that beautiful Martin guitar.
These guys are really missed. They were sweet and lovely souls and we're all blessed to have have them in our midst for a short while.
Blessings in Jesus!
Jim
Saturday, March 31, 2007 at 18:56 Host: dpc6682009079.direcpc.com |
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With pages like this, Maury will live forever. I just found out about it thanks to a fellow alum.
I'll always see Maury & his girlfriend alone in the dorm lounge as she (we) listened & he strummed. It's a treasured memory.
Friday, March 16, 2007 at 16:28 Host: nj-71-1-58-111.dhcp.embarqhsd.net |
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I bought the Jim Croce DVD a few years ago, and rewatched it again last night. The whole time I was watching, I kept wondering who the second guitarist was, I looked for his name at the end in the credits, nothing! This is the only thing I didn't like about the DVD, it stood out like a sore thumb. Ingrid and AJ both spoke eloquently about Maury in the commentary section, so I don't understand why his name wasn't included in the credits or in memory. He certainly was an integral part of the duo, his graceful fluid style of playing was extraordinary. He came across as a humble, kind, and gentle soul, just as much as Jim Croce, and it is so apparent to me that those two had to share a deep friendship to coincide with the magic they created with their musical colloborations. After reading quite a few of the posts, the same theme kept popping up in many of them where people stated that they wanted to know who the second guitarist was and they, like me had to dilligently search to find the answer. Now I know who he is, and the credit he is so rightfully due will never be forgotten. He embellished the songs of Jim Croce like no other, and I am so glad that I was able to get to know him a little bit through this site. I'm a little younger than he was, I'll soon be 53, and I loved those songs back in the 70's, and now I know why, a gracious and humble spirit was providing an accompaniment that was so pleasantly appealing that one could not help but take notice. I hope the family will find peace and solace in these words that I write for a stranger who at the same time feels like a kindred spirit. Can you imagine the sweet sounds that are in heaven?
Thursday, March 08, 2007 at 03:44 Host: ca208-ch02-bl05.il-chicago0.sa.earthlink.net |
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Just wanted to say that your brother and Jim were highlights for me growing up. I remember hearing of the plane crash and not really understanding til I was older what the world had lost. I'm very sorry for your/our loss.
Thursday, March 08, 2007 at 02:34 Host: c-76-20-214-184.hsd1.ga.comcast.net |
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Recently watched some old Jim Croce video - first chance to really watch and listen to the guy playing with him - searched the web to discover who he was - low and behold it was Maury and to find this great web-site was a wonderful thing - God Bless the family.
This is definitely time in a bottle.
Peace
Monday, March 05, 2007 at 22:14 Host: itcdsl126232.iro.ptd.net |
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I really enjoyed reading the guestbook and family/friends sections of this wonderful website. What a beautiful tribute in memory of Maury. Some people may remember him as the man behind Jim Corce. I remember him as a musical genius that could play his guitar like no other. Maury's guitar work was spectacular, as well as his timing. I sit in awe as I listen to CDs or watch Maury play on video. Jim was so lucky to have the partner he had in Maury, the man who was responsible for his overall unique sound. Maury seemed like such a kind, gentle man and he is missed greatly. He will never be forgotten. Thanks again for the website and for allowing me to express my appreciation.
Monday, March 05, 2007 at 09:08 Host: c-68-43-141-188.hsd1.mi.comcast.net |
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Mary,
What a great tribute this website is to Maury. Maury & Jim will forever live on and their music and lives will never be forgotten. God Bless you and your family.
Tuesday, February 27, 2007 at 08:50 IP: 12.26.69.1 |
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Thank you for the opportunity to learn more about Maury. He was an amazing musician. I love the music of Jim Croce and Maury, especially when played together. I believe that Maury's influence helped refine Jim's music. I love Maury's song Salon and Saloon. R.I.P. Maury, and thank you!
Thursday, February 22, 2007 at 16:56 Host: c-68-43-141-188.hsd1.mi.comcast.net |
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Hi, Mary—
I thank Mona Marie for her kind words.
In fact, I have had a number of inquiries about "Second String Songman" and other songs from fans of your site, so I have finally put together a site at MySpace that includes a few songs and a few videos.
Thanks again for helping to keep alive Maury's unique contribution to the world of music.
Tim McMullen
Thursday, February 22, 2007 at 02:06 Host: cpe-75-84-10-111.socal.res.rr.com |
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Somehow I am related to Maury. My maiden name is Taylor. I am also related to the Devaney's of Trenton and I think that is the avenue how I am related. I distinctly remember the day of the plane crash. I was over Len and Rose Devaney's when it happened and they were upset. My father (Don Taylor) passed away in 1990 so I can't ask him, Rose and Len Devaney passed away also. I really would like to know how the two families are related. Does anyone know? It is ironic that after I had kids, my daughters became friends to Tom and Cindy's daughters. That's when I told them that they are relatives of some sort. Please advise.
Wednesday, February 21, 2007 at 21:37 IP: 12.107.95.254 |
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Dearest Mary,
Is Tommy's and Terry's Lifesong album available to the public? If so where can we purchase it. Their tribute song to Maury is great!
Tim Mc Mullen's song for Maury is also beautiful and has a touch of Maury's style and flavor. Where can I purchase this Second string songman Album?
Please thank Tommy and Terry for their song. I am still anxiously waiting for your book to be published and released.
I love you Mary! I am so grateful to you and I too am so touched to see and read the multitude of different multicultural people across the globe, caring thoughts and acknowledgements to Maury which he so much deserved! Remember Mary my offer is still open to you and yours if you come out West to California, to take you to Universal Studio's. And I will never ever forget my gentle good friend Maury and now you too Mary!
Love Always
As I am
Mona
oxoxoxox
Friday, February 02, 2007 at 15:20 Host: cache-rtc-ae10.proxy.aol.com |
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I'm from Argentina, and I love Jim Croce's music.
Today, searching in Internet details of Croce, developed "Maury", as the lead guitar duo with Jim, and also I could listen the Maury's second voices and chorus in several J. Croce's songs.
I realized about this nice page and this nice "musician"!! and I just only say "What a wonderfull and magic music left Maury to the world".
My regards for the related persons!
Gerardo Sanguineti
gsanguineti@hotmail.com
Wednesday, January 31, 2007 at 18:53 Host: host74.190-30-76.telecom.net.ar |
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I live in Thailand. More than 20 years ago I was the one who loved the songs of Jim Croce. I appreciated the line of guitar duo of Jim and Maury .So I and my friend start a duo for university folksong competition.When we were the first year medical student In Mahidol university.We played "I have to say I love you in a song".,no one there had known the song even the judge.When we were second year medical student,we studied hard but we still practiced the songs of Jim/Maury.We were the champ that year ,we had played "Time in a bottle" and "These dreams".Until now I and my friend had our own works as a doctor,I am a cardiologist ,my friend is an ophthalmologist.I collect all CDs that are available of Jim Croce. But it hardly to find Maury Muehleisen CD in Thailand.This morning I have just watched Jim Croce's DVD,I love their musics forever.I want to buy Maury's CDs but I have no credit cart.When I buy something online, I use my sister's card. I will order soon.
Wednesday, January 31, 2007 at 07:39 Host: 125-24-167-62.adsl.totbb.net |
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When I was 12 years old (15 years ago), my uncle played a record called "Time In A Bottle" for me. As beautiful as the words and melody were, what hit me was the elegant simplicity of the guitarist in the background. I took that LP home and tried my hardest to learn the parts I was hearing. To this day, despite 15 years of trying, I still fail to evoke the tone and purity of heart that I heard in Maury's strings. I was devastated when I received my letter back, unopened and marked "return to sender" from the now defunct ABC records. It was only then that I found out we lost a genius on Earth to gain a musical angel in heaven. The greatest compliment I can give a fellow musician is that I didn't hear *him*-- I heard the song.Thank you for putting up this wonderful tribute to a hero of mine; a tribute to a man who played so well that you never knew he was there. Fortunately for all of us, he did not become another nameless and faceless musician whose contribution to musican posterity went unrecognized. Thank you for putting up this wonderful tribute to a hero of mine, a tribute to a man who played so well that you never knew he was there; he was a true musician-- a master of his craft who knew to leave the forest of a song better than he found it, leaving no trace and sweeping the path behind him.
Saturday, January 27, 2007 at 18:05 Host: cpe-065-191-038-077.nc.res.rr.com |
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Mary, superb website on Maury....he was a truly gifted player and I've spent many enjoyable hours listening to the music..
But I need to ask: Do you have any of his old guitars around that you could post pics of?......would love to see some of his "tools of the trade"!!!!!!
Thanks again so much and may God bless the memory of Maury.
Ted from Massachusetts
Thursday, January 25, 2007 at 13:50 Host: w.meditech.com |
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He was a great guitar player,he played feelings through his fingers. Very tasteful and clean...he is missed.
Rest Forever in Peace my friend
Thursday, January 25, 2007 at 10:02 Host: adsl-149-247-166.pns.bellsouth.net |
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It always takes one or two to make a band.
Jim had Maury and thier Music together we still understand!!
One you hear sing the song and the other you hear the music play
With us always they both will stay!
Tuesday, January 23, 2007 at 17:57 IP: 67.36.26.16 |
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This website is such a beautiful tribute to Maury.What an incredibly talented musician he really was,and his spirit lives on in the melodies and memories.
Tuesday, January 23, 2007 at 17:17 Host: willowick-user.wepl.lib.oh.us |
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What a great musician!
Sunday, January 21, 2007 at 13:31 Host: bas6-toronto63-1096713130.dsl.bell.ca |
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I had the priceless privilege of getting to "hang out" with Maury and Jim at the old Cellar Door nightclub in Washington, DC, in the late winter/early spring of 1973 for several nights. I had only been playing music around town for a couple of years at that point, and I had so much to learn about this craft. What teachers both of these guys were! In 1994, I wrote "Down At The Old Cellar Door", a tribute to so many who taught me well. A day doesn't go by that I don't think about both of these guys. How different the musical landscape would be if that plane crash never took place. Thank you, Mary, for keeping Maury's memory alive for so many of us who loved what he did.
Len Jaffe
Barking Cherry House Concerts
Charlottesville, VA
Friday, January 19, 2007 at 08:01 Host: c-71-63-11-93.hsd1.va.comcast.net |
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January 14, 2007
Maury's 58th birthday
Sunday, January 14, 2007 at 23:37 Host: cache-dtc-af02.proxy.aol.com |
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Maury and Jim should be in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Although, their careers were tragically cut short, the musicianship and the quality of work they left us will last forever.
Sunday, January 14, 2007 at 19:54 Host: dialup-4.185.246.227.dial1.washington2.level3.net |
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Met Maury's brother Robert at Wildflowers, and by luck a Jim Croce song came on. I had mentioned to the friend that I was with that I remember the Trenton Times front page article about the plane crash in 1973 with Maury and Jim. It was a pleasure hearing about Maury and Jim. Thanks Robert for taking the time to speak to two bar flies!
Wednesday, January 10, 2007 at 09:55 Host: c-71-226-235-142.hsd1.pa.comcast.net |
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I'm just forty years old but I've always loved Jim Croce's music. It wasn't until the DVD came out that I saw for the first time who played the great licks and fills for Jim. What a great talented guy Maury was. A true inspiration for me to breakout my acoustic and learn those parts note for note. from what I've read from other people he was a good man - the kind who would be unaffected by stardom.
Sunday, January 07, 2007 at 22:08 Host: cache-dtc-af02.proxy.aol.com |
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Dear Mary—
Thanks for making this the best year for Maury's fans in more than thirty years. The release of two cd's was marvelous. Like I said on the first day of this guestbook, I look forward to your book! May the upcoming year be even better for you, for your family, and for Maury's fans.
Happy New Year, Tim McMullen
Monday, January 01, 2007 at 02:43 Host: cpe-75-84-10-111.socal.res.rr.com |
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I think of Maury often when I listen to Elizabeth tapes from the Gold Bug days. (I've missed his music since the advent of CDs). We had a cheap reel to reel tape recorder and Maury taped their concerts. We used the same tape the whole year (67-68), sadly taping over old concerts. Another person who died young was Wayne Ackerman an avid photographer who took pictures at the Gold Bug. I often wonder where all the photos of that time and place went.
Thank you for keeping Maury's memory alive and for helping me discover that I can get his music on CDs
Don
Saturday, December 30, 2006 at 23:20 Host: c-71-234-69-209.hsd1.ct.comcast.net |
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I'm an older guy, trying to learn guitar, having dropped it for about forty years.
Recently I saw some of the Jim Croce songs on video, and was just blown away by the fingerpicking harmony of Maury's playing. It's wonderful you are preserving and adding to the memory of one so talented. He has inspired me to try to do better, and his songs bring joy.
Tuesday, December 26, 2006 at 09:55 Host: pool-71-125-143-98.cmdnnj.east.verizon.net |
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I tour 250+ days a year with my wife, Stacey Earle, playing concerts on the folk-Americana circuit. I have many influences, but, it has often occured to me that Maury is an unsung influence on the way I shape my guitar playing in our duo. We have two acoustic guitars in our performance and it is very tricky finding a way for that to work out well. I think we have pulled it off and hear it from our fans nightly. I know that the best example of it (the two acoustic guitar approach) is Maury and Jim. Along with my Chet Atkins and Beatles and Merle Travis albums I studied Maury's playing alot as a young guitarist. And, I now know it affected my choices in choosing what to play against Stacey's guitar. We are so unlucky to be without Maury today, but, so lucky he left some great work for us to hear. Thank you, Maury,
Mark Stuart (Stacey Earle and Mark Stuart)
Thursday, December 21, 2006 at 00:03 Host: user-1120h3b.dsl.mindspring.com |
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Happy Thanksgiving to All!
I'm extra happy and extra thankful this year...thankful for all of you. I am so grateful for the many kind thoughts and feelings shared by those who visit this website for Maury.
I keep you all in my thoughts and prayers.
Peace and Love and Happiness,
Mary
Thursday, November 23, 2006 at 12:20 Host: cache-mtc-ae10.proxy.aol.com |
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I am a huge fan of Jim and Maury's. Been listening since I stole my mother's 8-tracks some 30+ years ago! Wish I could have thanked them personally for all the great music and free guitar lessons they have given me...but I will have only to thank Mary instead...so... THANKS MARY! Especially for devoting so much time and heart to this cool website for your brother. The Jim Croce story is truly a team story, and this surely helps the world to know that.
My best to you and yours.
Monday, November 20, 2006 at 20:57 Host: cache-rtc-ae10.proxy.aol.com |
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I was born and grew up in Trenton in the 60s and 70s. My dad was Jack Connell and I think I remember him saying he bought his suits from Maury's dad when I became a Jim Croce fan at age 13. I am still a fan after all these years and living 3,000 miles away in England. I introduce new audiances to Jim & Maury.
Monday, November 20, 2006 at 14:01 Host: 88-108-234-11.dynamic.dsl.as9105.com |
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I just came across this site dedicated to Maury. I've been a Jim Croce fan for years and to this day, when I listen to the songs that he recorded I'm still blown away and amazed at Maury's playing. Even though I've heard these songs thousands of times, Maury's guitar work never ceases to amaze me. He truly was amazing. I only wish that Maury and Jim were still around. I wonder what wonderful songs they would have recorded. So sad, but I'm thankful for the music.
Saturday, November 18, 2006 at 20:25 Host: cpe-24-94-87-105.hawaii.res.rr.com |
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maury thanks for your music ,you are inspiration for me and some friends living in my country HONDURAS
GOD BLESS YOU MY FRIEND WE LL LOVE YOU FOREVER
Thursday, November 16, 2006 at 23:21 Host: mundial.hn |
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Jim & Maury's music has always been my inspiration to play the guitar. Have always wondered who is that picker behind all these classics till i pick up a vcd of Jim with various footage of them playing together..my 1st look at the man on those strings. I was and still am in awe. RIP Maury...your pickings and music lives on.
Monday, November 13, 2006 at 15:04 Host: cm1.gamma9.maxonline.com.sg |
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I first came across Maury's solo album Gingerbread in 1970, just prior to my band Swampwater (Linda Ronstadt's band) recording our 2nd album for RCA.I fell in love with his tune "A Song I Heard" and recorded it on our 2nd album "SWAMPWATER", along with Herb Pederson on guitar. It was recorded in 1971 IN Hollywood at RCA STUDIOS with Jimmy Day's steel solo put on in Nashville.
I sang it and the track recieved alot of airplay. To this day I still get email about it.
Maury was an exceptional artist who, sadly, I never got to meet. I believe he would have been a major artist on his own had he not died so young.
Anyway, I just found this site...and will re-order Gingerbread.
God Bless you Maury & thanks for the wonderful music you gave us.
Cheers
John Beland
Flying Burrito Brothers
Austin TX
www.johnbeland.com
www.myspace.com/flyingb56
Sunday, November 05, 2006 at 19:04 Host: cache-dtc-af02.proxy.aol.com |
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nice to see the website to put a name and face to jims great guitar player what a unique style great job we still listen to his music
Sunday, November 05, 2006 at 17:20 Host: cache-dtc-af02.proxy.aol.com |
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I've always been a Jim Croce fan, but I'm glad I can finally put a name and face to "the guy who played guitar with Jim".
Maury was an incredible talent, God only knows the heights he and Jim would have reached with their collaborations.
As it is, what they did in a short time will live forever.
Sunday, November 05, 2006 at 01:32 Host: pool-68-163-136-242.bos.east.verizon.net |
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"MARY",
WHAT A WONDERFUL TRUBUTE TO YOUR TALENTED BROTHER...IT WAS NICE LEARNING MORE ABOUT HIM AND HIS GREAT FAMILY.
EVEN THOUGH "MAURY", HAD TO LEAVE US SO EARLY, HIS SONGS THAT REACH TO THE SOUL OF EVERY ONE WHO HEARS THEM WILL BE WITH US FOREVER....
THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THIS GREAT WEB SITE..
~DENNIS~
Thursday, November 02, 2006 at 21:41 Host: cache-ntc-ad10.proxy.aol.com |
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It has been an honor and privilege for me to have learned more about Maury through his family in the Trenton area of New Jersey. I love what was and miss what could have been.
Thursday, November 02, 2006 at 19:09 Host: cache-mtc-ae10.proxy.aol.com |
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I thoroughly enjoyed receiving the re-release of GINGERBREADD and the new Before the Ever Since CD's. The stories in the CD covers bring back so many memories for me. Thoughts of hangin' out with Maury in his room while he'd sit at his big wooden desk, late at night under a dim desk light, working out the words and music to another segment of his stringed magic. For those of us who knew Maury and those who know his music, the "ever since" is everlasting. Thank you Mary, for your perseverance and all your hard work on these projects. PS Still can't wait for the completion and release of your book. Luv ya! "Be Cool" Tom
Wednesday, October 25, 2006 at 11:39 Host: pool-71-245-114-218.cmdnnj.fios.verizon.net |
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Dear Rolland,
I know I've already sent you a personal thank you, but I want the world to know how much your poem means to me and my family. Space around me feels a bit warmer today - like a gentle hug coming from above and beyond...from Maury and from you. Thanks forever.
Peace and Love,
Mary
Wednesday, October 18, 2006 at 09:34 Host: cache-mtc-ae10.proxy.aol.com |
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Rolland:
What a lovely and fitting tribute to Maury's memory. Thanks so much for sharing your piece with the rest of his fans and friends.
Tim McMullen
Wednesday, October 18, 2006 at 01:11 Host: 69-167-6-104.lmdaca.adelphia.net |
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For Maury Muehleisen
I thought I heard a minstrel in the heavens late one night
'tis sure that others heard it for the tune was clear and bright
The night birds hushed their voices, the coyotes ceased to wail
It seemed the earth grew silent, from meadow, hill and dale
And every living being turnd their gazes toward the sky
In hopes they might discover the source up there on high
It was as I remember, a star up in the north
That seemed to be the center of this beauty springing forth
A campfire in the skyway where the minstrel stopped to rest
And sing a song of beauty on his gentle spirit quest
I don't know if he realized that others heard his song
So far below the heavens, from distances so long
Yet late one night we heard it, that sweet unearthly tune
That came from out of nowhere past the regions of the moon
No living thing that heard him would ever be the same
And something deep within me whispered Maury was his name.
(c)2006 Rolland B. Heiss
Sunday, October 15, 2006 at 23:28 Host: dialup-4.243.2.200.dial1.seattle1.level3.net |
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1973......heard the tragic news on our counter top radio in Flint, Michigan, I was 17 and just freaked, it was a constant struggle just to tune my darn acoustic. Maury was simply an amazing sound, I sure wish he and Jim had driven that day. Never could play Operator, sure could use Maury's instruction. RIP my friend.
Switching to DSL on Monday and changing emails, will update however.
Friday, October 06, 2006 at 05:01 Host: cache-ntc-ad10.proxy.aol.com |
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I just received Maury's "Gingerbreadd" CD in the mail today and am on my second listen. Simply put, it is AWESOME! Wow, what a beautiful, beautiful voice and such wonderful songs! Every song was written by Maury which is amazing to me. He was only 20 or 21 when he made this album. Such a talent!!!
A huge THANKYOU to Mary for working so hard to make this wonderful album available for us to enjoy.
Sheldon Castle
Monday, October 02, 2006 at 15:49 Host: twnd-216-37-226-88.ppp.twnd.epix.net |
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It is so coincidental that on September 20th, 2006 I check my mailbox to find the album "Jim Croce Classic Hits", which I ordered from my record club, has arrived.
The music of Jim and your brother Maury we the favourites of mine and my late wife. I remember so vividly the morning of September 21,1973 when my wife called me to tell me of the plane crash.
This album will be cherished by me as a memory of my late wife, your brother, and Jim.
Thank you for having this site.
I am hoping to order your brothers album very soon.
Sunday, September 24, 2006 at 18:34 Host: h209-135-110-24.gtcust.grouptelecom.net |
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Its a wonderful and tasteful tribute to your brother.He was an amazing artist and his talent luckily lives on here and in his body of work for future generations. If he is in our thoughts than he is with us. He also was lucky to have such a loving family.
God Bless You...Paul
Friday, September 22, 2006 at 21:18 Host: ool-44c5982a.dyn.optonline.net |
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On another note, Maury's music is available once again to family and friends. Visit my website for information on ordering.
With gratitude to all who are interested, and wishing you all Love in your lives,
Mary
Friday, September 22, 2006 at 08:16 Host: cache-dtc-af02.proxy.aol.com |
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Thanks, Ken, and all those who were kind enough to remember our family this week. Of course, September 20, 1973 is the actual date of the plane crash, but September 21 is another date that stays with us - the day we learned of the plane crash. We still miss Maury very much and cherish our memories of him.
Peace and Love,
Mary
Friday, September 22, 2006 at 08:06 Host: cache-dtc-af02.proxy.aol.com |
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That beautiful, full and unforgettable sound of Maury's guitar! I was just a young fan of the Croce songs at the time, and today-- so many years later-- playing some music got me to thinking of that unmistakable guitar sound, and wondering who the player was. Today I found out. My thoughts are for his friends and family, and for the days and music lost.
Thursday, September 21, 2006 at 14:44 Host: c-65-96-51-33.hsd1.ma.comcast.net |
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As every year on this date, I'll specially enjoy all the life and peace that Jim and Maury share with us through their music. Let's the magic begin with... "OPERATOR"... mmmm... great intro Maury!!!
Thanks Mary for your lovely site, and reserve a copy of Gingerbreadd for me!!! I'm travelling on October to US.
Greetings from Santiago de Chile. Cris.
Wednesday, September 20, 2006 at 18:16 IP: 200.27.126.154 |
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Hello, Hello. Hard to believe it's been thirty-three years now since Maury's been gone from our lives. Thankfully, though, he is well remembered. I am so grateful to all of you for visiting this site and leaving such beautiful messages and sharing your memories. Thank you so very much.
The best news on this day is that Maury's music is now available. "Gingerbreadd" by Maury Muehleisen is a reissue of Maury's 1970 Capitol Records LP and includes a 10-page folder. "Maury Muehleisen - Before The Ever Since" is a compilation, produced by me and Tommy West, of Maury's early home and studio recordings of the "Gingerbreadd" songs, plus two bonus tracks by Maury - "Salon and Saloon" and "I Remember Mary." The CDs will only be available through this website - an order form will be on the site any day now. Thank you for your patience.
The prayer in my heart today will be for Maury, Jim Croce, Dennis Rast, Ken Cortese, George Stevens, and Robert Newton Elliott.
Wednesday, September 20, 2006 at 08:52 Host: cache-mtc-ae10.proxy.aol.com |
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Hi Mary,
I think your brother would be proud of you and your efforts. I found this site a while back, but am now just getting around to writing this. I'm a long time fan of Jim and Maury's...I was 15 in 1973. Jim is still my favorite singer of all time, and as everyone says, Maury played a HUGE part in Jim Croce's success. Jim went from strumming the guitar to PLAYING the guitar with Maury's help.
When I bought the "Lifesong" album in 1974, I was so glad that Terry and Tommy did the "Maury" song to pay tribute to the musical genius the world would probably never know by name. The Jim Croce DVD that came out a couple years back really shows how Maury and Jim became ONE when they played together. I'm glad we finally have this video record that will live on forever.
Just as Maury will.
If there is a "Rock and Heaven", I'm sure that Jim and Maury are making people smile and feel good up there. And ya know what? They've never stopped doing that here on Earth.
Sunday, September 17, 2006 at 10:03 Host: bb-207-5-189-250.gwi.net |
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I have only recently seen the DVD of Jim Croce live, and had to find out the name of the lead guitarist.
Mary and family, thank you for this rare insight into the life of someone who has touched so many souls.
God bless.
Sunday, September 17, 2006 at 04:52 Host: 60-240-104-163-nsw-pppoe.tpgi.com.au |
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Listening to Jim and Maury, a little while ago prompted mr to write to you.
It just struck me how wonderful it was for Jim and Maury to find each other.
Both so talented, and for each to find the perfect complement for his talents is rare.
How fortunate for all of us that they did.
Thanks for keeping this treasure alive for all of us.
Wednesday, September 13, 2006 at 18:36 Host: 207-255-77-175-dhcp.aoo.pa.atlanticbb.net |
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wow! love this site! maury was really a great player , saw him and jim at the philly folk fest in 73 (at the tender age of 9 ! ) i grew up in langhorne pa and was surprised to learn that maury was from trenton nj (just across the river !! wow small world . i really have to agree with cashman and west when they say that jim's songs were greatly enhanced by maury's tasty riffs and whatnot . i sure wish i could find someone like that to ply my songs with ...... yeah right ! that aint happining maury was one of a kind ! thanks for the wonderful site i'll tell all my pickin buddies about it !! they all know and love maury's jams as much as me !!! chris
Monday, September 11, 2006 at 19:27 Host: ac81c557.ipt.aol.com |
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Please let me know when the cds will be available. Thank you.
Friday, September 08, 2006 at 10:25 Host: pool-71-248-143-46.dllstx.dsl-w.verizon.net |
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I am sooo glad this website is here. Music is not what it used to be, but the remembrance of what it used to be, makes it what it is now, it is still alive and you have kept it that way. Thanks. They left us way too early, but did not leave us with nothing. You have the physical memories and we have the intangible resevoir of thought and emotion provoking memories-through their music. We only wish we could grasp a portion of the memories you have, so here we are. Thanks for sharing.
Thursday, September 07, 2006 at 16:04 Host: cpe-70-122-71-6.houston.res.rr.com |
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Somewhere down this guestbook you will find an entry by a guy named Scott, my long time friend, teacher and former bassist (in that order). In Scott's comments he speaks of how watching Maury and Jim changed the course of his life forever leading him through a musical journey. While I never had the priviledge of viewing a live performance - that night in 1972 changed more than Scott's life. It changed mine. Maury's impact and influence can be directly traced to a deep friendship and musical internship between myself and Scott. It also made possible a musical ministry that touched countless other lives. As Scott so eloquently said, thanks for this website and for the gift of sharing.
Hg
Thursday, September 07, 2006 at 14:18 Host: usa.fmcti.com |
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I just learned of Maury...as tears fill my eyes I once again learn of a wonderful soul who truly graced this Earth with glory and grace. Thanks to Jim and Maury for all of the blessed song and beauty and truth. Thanks to their family/friends for encouraging and shaping them. Danke schone.
Saturday, September 02, 2006 at 00:20 Host: ool-4355f563.dyn.optonline.net |
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Some time ago on PBS there was a Jim Croce special or bio, and I remember watching and listening to Maury, thinking "What GREAT picking!" I didn't know who Maury was at the time, and during the show I wondered what he might be doing now. At the end of the show I found out... it was a moment.
Mary, your dedication to Maury and this website is truly marvelous. Thank you!
Friday, September 01, 2006 at 00:02 Host: sj-natpool-220.cisco.com |
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Hello, Hello, Everyone,
Thanks to Jan, a new friend of mine from Mississippi, I learned yesterday that the opening song in the new Disney movie "Invincible" about Eagles player Vince Papale is "I Got A Name." It's wonderful to hear Jim Croce's voice throughout the theater. Maury Muehleisen and Tommy West sang backup vocals on that 1973 hit song, written by Gimbel and Fox. You'll also hear Maury's tripled lead guitar parts, played on his Martin D-35. Tommy West played three guitar parts, using a twelve-string guitar and two six-string guitars.
Pardon me, my pride is showing.
The movie's great, too.
Wednesday, August 30, 2006 at 16:10 Host: cache-rtc-ae10.proxy.aol.com |
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I've always loved Jim Croce and coming across Maury Muehleisen adds a much needed dimension coming from the music of the both of them. So little do I know. Thanks for introducing me to Maury.
Jonathan
"I am still learning. . ." Michelangelo Buonarroti
Saturday, August 26, 2006 at 03:32 Host: ool-4574a341.dyn.optonline.net |
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It is always such a pleasure to read everyone's memories and thoughts about Maury's music and the duo of Maury and Jim. I'm so pleased that Maury's music will soon be available again, as it is apparent that so many of us are interested in keeping that talent alive. The one thing that has helped me all of these years after losing my brother, Maury, is that I have his voice and guitar music, as well as very fond childhood memories of him from my first 20 years of life. This is a treat that not many people have, and it brings such a feeling of peace to me and puts a smile on my face. It's certainly more than nice to know that so many people, of so many different ages, listen to his music and get such an emotional pull from it. You all make an angel smile when you write in. Thanks, Mary, for making all of this happen.
Love,
Ann
Wednesday, August 23, 2006 at 23:22 Host: cache-rtc-ae10.proxy.aol.com |
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What can I say?
I loved Jim's music... but even though I was just a high school kid with no musical training, I was immediately drawn toward the fills and back-up vocals of "that guy that plays with Croce" and I remember wanting to know more.
Unfortunatly, I didn't really pay attention to later... and now, some 30 years after getting my first guitar I find that I REALLY want to play.
Pete Huttlinger does a wonderful job of honoring Maury on his Croce instructional DVD. After a few weeks of watching those lessons, I have even more appreciation for Maury.
I sure hope I meet him someday... and I plan on mentioning Maury just about every time a Croce tune comes from guitar, as I play the little Coffee Houses of Northwest Indiana.
May his memory be eternal.
Wednesday, August 23, 2006 at 11:11 Host: c-71-194-192-180.hsd1.il.comcast.net |
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great guitar player
Monday, August 21, 2006 at 09:17 Host: 44.red-213-231-102.user.auna.net |
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He & Jim were perfect together. My friend and I keep their music alive every week as we try our best to play their songs note for note on our guitars. Currently working on "Car wash Blues" and I am working on Maury's part and it is soo intricate.
Dave
Wednesday, August 16, 2006 at 12:58 IP: 136.166.1.3 |
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Mary,
As a singer / songwriter, I cannot begin to tell you the impact your Brother and Jim Croce had on me as a young man.
I have always written music, but I would listen to a couple cuts off one of the Croce albums and feel an incredible inspiration to write "something new".
I have long been a Beatle fan, But only the music Jim and your Brother created ever has such an effect upon me.
My own 15 year old daughter plays acoustic guitar now and I have never been able to think of another guitarist, I would rather have her listen to than Jim and Maury. Their music was pure magic back then and it still works today.
My biggest regret is giving away tickets to a Jim Croce concert at the assistance of the girl I thought I would marry. I also later missed a trip to Europe on her account (only to have her leave me weeks later), but the missed European adventure still doesn't upset me as much as the third row seats I once gave away. It was only weeks later the boys were killed and my "I'll see them next time" became an unfulfilled opportunity.
I hope to get your Brothers CDs soon.
God Bless you and your family
Pastor Gary Holman
Sunday, August 06, 2006 at 18:27 Host: cpe-65-31-16-244.insight.res.rr.com |
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Music as it should be... Very few artists have touched me the way Maury's guitar and harmonies have. To this day I get chills listening to Alabama Rain. I can't wait to get a hold of Maury's re-released album. To the whole family, God Bless, and may Maury be in our hearts forever. His musical renditions are timeless masterpieces. He was a one-of-a-kind, a true genius. His music would have made many artists better musicians. That plane robbed the world of a fabulous talent. It is a tribute to their genius that they were able to record so much quality music in three years. I am humbled by the breadth and magnitude of the songs. mw
Wednesday, August 02, 2006 at 19:38 Host: adsl-69-212-158-82.dsl.bcvloh.ameritech.net |
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I was 12 when I "discovered" Jim Croce and was saddened when he died weeks later. Now I am 45 and watching the DVD I have "discovered" Maury. It feels like I have just "lost" him and am grateful that you started this site to honor his memory.
Wednesday, August 02, 2006 at 18:54 Host: highspeed65-174-20-110.peoplestelecom.net |
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I remember that cold and rainy morning of November 5, 1960 when I heard over my parents' car radio from the back seat, while coming down Barham Blvd. from Hollywood, CA into Burbank while passing by Warner Bros. Studios, the sudden death of country singer Johnny Horton from a tragic car accident that day. They announced, also on that very same day, that actor Ward Bond had died too. I learned of Maury and Jim's plane crash the same way, over the radio, on the morning of September 21, 1973. Both events have profoundly affected me still. We are all blessed to live in a century wherein the technology allows for us to still be moved by their music. Indeed, all of the billions of human beings who have come and gone from centuries past never had such a luxury as recorded music. Maury's crisp & clear touch will ring in my ears forever. I try to emulate his style on electric guitar, but not with much success, it seems. Thank you Mary for your constant friendship and continous e-mail contact. I am so hononed to be a small part of your upcoming book.
Armand
Springfield, Oregon
Tuesday, July 18, 2006 at 00:52 Host: c-71-193-221-103.hsd1.or.comcast.net |
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I ran across the DVD and wow, what a great tribute to both parties. Maury and Jim alike were "one of a kind" and the world lost two musical geniuses. We are lucky to have been left their blessings in their works.
God Bless!
Friday, July 14, 2006 at 13:12 Host: adsl-223-102-195.aep.bellsouth.net |
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What a great guitarist and singer. I greatly enjoyed looking at the pictures especially the one of the celebration cake for the new record deal. Its odd but when i look at it, i can see my family in a way.
Great sight
Tuesday, July 11, 2006 at 03:06 Host: viborgdhcp-194.64-179-168.iw.net |
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I would just like to say thanks to Maury and Jim for all the great music
they left for us. I've been listening to it for over 30 years and will never
get enough.
Sunday, July 09, 2006 at 20:12 Host: mo-67-76-74-8.sta.embarqhsd.net |
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What a great tribute to an amzing artist. I was 14 when I first heard Jim and Maury back in 1972 and their music spoke to me in a way none had before. I listened to them all the time. I was a bit of a brooding boy back then and they lifted me out of the dark. There is no doubt that there never would have been a Jim Croce without Maury. They were just meant to play together and each brought life to the other's work. I will never forget that September day just a few days before my 15th birthday when I heard the news. I was riding in the back of my parents' car coming home from someplace when the story came on the radio. I was devestated. How could we lose these fine musicians so soon, too soon? I still mourn their loss. I have continued to play their music all through the years and just picked up a compilation CD and the work and feelings it inspires are as timeless as ever. I miss them, Mary. Thanks for this website. I hope you know how much I recognized then how beautiful and amazing Maury's talent was and how much it still is amazing. It's always Maury and Jim with me, never one without the other.
Sincerely,
Dana Deering
Friday, June 30, 2006 at 11:48 Host: ptlegress.unumprovident.com |
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I remember seeing Jim Croce and Maury on the television and thinking, "Jim is good, but that other guy is great!"
I know we all miss them both!
Thursday, June 29, 2006 at 01:22 Host: krasnet-grps.etk.ru |
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Maurice played a great part in the success of Jim as an artist. I saw him play as a backup in one of Jim's concert. He played well. Jim's songs gained more soul and meaning with Maurice's excellent guitar play. It is only just yesterday that I found out that there was Maurice in Jim's popular songs.
Thursday, June 29, 2006 at 01:21 Host: krasnet-grps.etk.ru |
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For years, I thought Jim Croce's music was played on a 12-string guitar. After I saw the Croce documentary, I wondered, "who's the other guitarist?" I just found out about Maury today after hearing his music for more than 30 years! Maury is great!
Tuesday, June 27, 2006 at 17:54 Host: ppp-69-218-214-69.dsl.wotnoh.ameritech.net |
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Thank you to all who take the time to sign my guestbook. As many of you know, I personally answer all e-mails and guestbook entries. The only time you won't get a response is if your e-mail address bounces back as undeliverable. So, if you've never heard from me, feel free to write directly to my e-mail address.
Monday, June 26, 2006 at 10:42 Host: cache-mtc-ae10.proxy.aol.com |
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I remember seeing Jim Croce and Maury on the television and thinking, "Jim is good, but that other guy is great!"
I know we all miss them both!
Monday, June 26, 2006 at 09:28 Host: ob.saisd.net |
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Maurice played a great part in the success of Jim as an artist. I saw him play as a backup in one of Jim's concert. He played well. Jim's songs gained more soul and meaning with Maurice's excellent guitar play. It is only just yesterday that I found out that there was Maurice in Jim's popular songs.
Sunday, June 25, 2006 at 03:52 IP: 210.213.76.178 |
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in the best and worst times of life jim and maury's music seems to appear and mean so much. was two when they where around but its been 36 years since and they always appear in the right moment. had the inside sleeve of jims album on my wall for years with maury's picture above him. dont know the reason why i went on the web tonight to finally find out more about who he was, especially after soooo many years of Jims music (now will always think of it as their music) to see who he was. Pretty cool. thank you to whomever put this together. enjoy!
Friday, June 23, 2006 at 01:10 Host: adsl-69-108-123-112.dsl.irvnca.pacbell.net |
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The opening lick to "Operator" changed my life forever. In my opinion, Maury was the greatest acoustic guitar player in the world. Additionally, I'd like to add that if you really listen to the harmony he provided to all of Jim's albums, his voice is equally impressive. It just goes to show you he had the "big 3". That is he was a brilliant musician, singer, and songwriter. Special thanks to Mary and her incredible dedication. We can't wait for "Gingerbreadd".
Tuesday, June 20, 2006 at 20:08 Host: ip70-180-180-110.lv.lv.cox.net |
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It is always such a pleasure to read everyone's memories and thoughts about Maury's music and the duo of Maury and Jim. I'm so pleased that Maury's music will soon be available again, as it is apparent that so many of us are interested in keeping that talent alive. The one thing that has helped me all of these years after losing my brother, Maury, is that I have his voice and guitar music, as well as very fond childhood memories of him from my first 20 years of life. This is a treat that not many people have, and it brings such a feeling of peace to me and puts a smile on my face. It's certainly more than nice to know that so many people, of so many different ages, listen to his music and get such an emotional pull from it. You all make an angel smile when you write in. Thanks, Mary, for making all of this happen.
Love,
Ann
Tuesday, June 20, 2006 at 05:19 Host: cache-rtc-ae10.proxy.aol.com |
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Hello Mary,
It was nice to meet you at the Martin Guitar Factory on Monday. It was fun to hear your stories about Maury and Jim. I hoped you enjoyed my story about my sons guitar teacher wanting to know who was the amazing guitarist that played with Jim.
Best Wishes,
DW
Thursday, June 15, 2006 at 10:01 IP: 12.40.117.220 |
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Hello, Hello!
Check out the UPDATE page on my website. If you've been used to going directly to the site or the guestbook, you'll probably have to refresh your browser.
Peace & Love,
Mary
Thursday, June 15, 2006 at 05:40 Host: cache-rtc-ae10.proxy.aol.com |
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Mary, I think we emailed back and forth a couple of times some time back. I am the guy who was Jim Croce's squad leader in the Army while in training at Ft. Dix in late 1966 and early 1967. I have the original Facets signed copy from Jim and I'm thinking of selling it. I have tried to contact Ingrid to tell her my own little story fo being around Jim but have not had any success with a reply from the official Croce website. I would also like for people close to Jim know that I have the album.
Regards,
Larry Galaske
PS your site is very well done and a great tribute to Maury.
Thursday, June 08, 2006 at 12:12 Host: dsl-69-4-71-7.3z.net |
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A day does'nt pass without the thoughts and sounds of the angels fingers dancing along those strings and I continue to ask WHY? I have to go now. May I come back? I'm so very happy I've found this site. There is so much more to share. From the great township of Upper Darby, PA. Yep! I was born & raised & schooled in Croce country. I'll be around again. Thank you.
Tuesday, June 06, 2006 at 02:58 Host: cache-rtc-ae10.proxy.aol.com |
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Hello, Mary, and every lovely one of ya' that wrote so many beautiful and moving tributes to Maury. It's been a while since we've chatted, but I wanted to you know that they tell me many people still click on to the radio show we did together to honor Maury and Jim's works and life that's now on www.giantgene.com as a work of "love" for both of us. For those who do not remember Jim Croce playing back-up guitar for Maury, click over and give the program a listen. It's time for us to chat soon, Mary. Stay well.
Love to all and to your family
Giant Gene Arnold
Monday, June 05, 2006 at 18:26 Host: AC93B4ED.ipt.aol.com |
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Hello Mary- I accidentally stumbled upon this wonderful tribute,a great website dedicated to Maury. I, as with many who wrote to the guestbook, knew Maury from the ol' 'Boro days. I was Glassboro 1972- and fondly remember Maury as he was a dorm mate when I was a freshman. I remember how amazed I was - listening to his magical voice and guitar when he used to play on the couch in the dayroom lounge. I recall being mesmerized by his phenomenal talent. After reading another person's entry- I also recall when Maury was introduced to a girl named Mary. She was, as I recall a stunningly beautiful girl. We(the dorm guys) were as amazed at her beauty as we were with Maury's talent I suppose!! I recall him playing at the Gold Bug as well as a place on High Street in Glassboro called, I believe, Martha's- it was a small night club/coffee house type deal. It was fairly close to the corner of Main and High. When did his first album come out?- as I recall buying a copy- and when I get a chance I will see if I can find it around the house somewhere I also recall keeping a few mini-posters and flyers (sp) announcing gigs that Maury had in the South Jersey area. I will do some digging. Can you fill me in on the time frame that Maury attended GSC? I would appreciate it if you can email me directly with this info! Thank you.- Once again, thanks for keeping a wonderful memory alive- Best regards- D Wyckoff, NJ 6-3-06
Saturday, June 03, 2006 at 18:26 Host: cache-dtc-af02.proxy.aol.com |
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I’d like to be able to believe, despite the age, in some sort of benevolent plan or Providence – this makes no sense, just should not have happened. To watch these guys, enter into their spirit and genius. The music consistently hooks, the lyrics – authentic, no tinge of melodrama. “Is it not life? Is it not the thing?” Melancholy, then to soar with “I Got a Name”. And how did Maury make those bends with his middle finger on a D-28? Didn’t start guitar till he was 17? Really, puts tears in my eyes.
Friday, June 02, 2006 at 23:11 Host: 207-255-127-046-dhcp.unt.pa.atlanticbb.net |
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I had the priviledge of knowing both Jim and Maury. I worked for The Hit Factory Recording Studio back in N.Y.where they did much of their recording; we were all quite devestated by the loss. Maury was a great musician and even a greater human being. He will always be missed.
R.I.P.
Wednesday, May 31, 2006 at 16:49 Host: pool-71-106-142-212.lsanca.dsl-w.verizon.net |
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i accidentally heard maurys album when in the offices of lifesong records.it was spectacular.at one point several decades latter, i called terry cashman to ask if they had any of his tapes.now it sounds like this album will be available in cd.please e-mail me at that time.
thanks
r
Monday, May 29, 2006 at 12:50 Host: c-24-2-241-173.hsd1.ct.comcast.net |
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Mary, what great news that Maury's album will finally be available again, and what a sweet and appropriate tribute to your devotion and hard work that you will be the one to enable its return.
Below I have included a post that I made to www.jimcrocefans.com. Someone asked if anyone had seen Jim and Maury perform. The following response seemed appropriate for your site as well.
I had the opportunity to see Jim and Maury perform only once. They came to the LA area in '71 or '72 and played in a theatre in the round; the circular stage actually rotated during the entire performance. Having played in a lot of different venues myself during that time (but never on a revolving stage), I'm guessing that it was a slightly strange experience for them, especially since Jim's form of storytelling and performing was so intimate. A constantly moving target must have been slightly disconcerting....
Needless to say, Jim and Maury's performance was nothing short of amazing. I have seen hundreds of acoustic performers—pretty much every major folk performer who hit LA from 1965 to 1985, and anyone of significance who has come through since then. But Jim and Maury's performance is still vivid in my memory after 35 years.
Jim's stories and introductions were awesome. Not until I saw Cheryl Wheeler perform in the mid-nineties had I seen anyone offer such an inspired mix of trenchant story telling and brilliant song writing. Croce's persona on stage was both hilarious and spellbinding. However, when they began to play, Jim's identity was merged into Maury/Jim, the wizard songsters. Jim was a very good guitar player with a strong baritone, fun and interesting; Maury, however, was pure magic. He was everywhere in the song: rhythm, lead, syncopation, percussion, and incredible harmony vocals. Put simply—he was mesmerizing. Then, Jim would launch into the next intro, and Maury would sit, quietly bemused until the next downbeat when his flying fingers would reassert his remarkable authority in the musical mix.
Despite the billing, watch any of the videos, and you see that Jim and Maury sat side by side. They were a duo, a dynamic duo if ever there was one. The lack of acknowledgement on some of the Croce releases notwithstanding, it is quite clear that Jim and Maury regarded themselves as musical partners whose aesthetic empathy surpassed any that I have ever seen. Not even David Lindley and Jackson Brown, David Bromberg and Jerry Jeff Walker, Jesse Ed Davis and Taj Mahal had that perfect a connection. The only guitar player I have ever seen who might have matched Maury's intuitive complement to his partner was Brownie McGee with Sonny Terry. His hands never stopped. He really didn't play chords at all, or rather, he played bass runs, lead runs, and constant chord prograssions intermittently throughout a song. Maury is the only other guitar player that I have seen who had that intuitive, eclectic approach to completing a song. (This may seem strange and self-serving, but if you heard him, you would agree—the only other person I have ever heard with that kind of full-service sound was my younger brother, Tucker McMullen, when he played with Bob Ward and the Cigar Band in the late 70's, and his inspiration clearly came from David Bromberg, Amos Garrett, Jesse Ed Davis, and especially, Maury Muehleisen).
It would be nice to have the opportunity to see more of Jim and Maury's work, and perhaps more footage will be uncovered in the future. Also, I add my voice to those hoping that Maury's album will again become available. Though always regarded as a jewel, my vinyl recording is not as pristine as I would like.
Hopefully this little reminiscence hints at the wonder that was Jim Croce and Maury Muehleisen.
........Again, congratulations, Mary, for your pending re-release of Gingerbreadd. NOW, when will we have an opportunity to read/hear your book?
Warmest regards, Tim McMullen
Wednesday, May 17, 2006 at 19:01 Host: 69-167-6-104.lmdaca.adelphia.net |
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In 1969-70 I looked up to Maury and after 37 years as a performer I still do. Throughout all these years I remember how excited I was to get his Gingerbreadd album down at the local record store in Glassboro, NJ and how often it graced my dormitory stereo. What great music came through those 4" speakers. My copy disappeared a long time ago and I was never able to replace it. When I came across a copy at a new friend's house a few years ago I was so pleasantly surprised to hear how familiar these songs all sounded to me, like I had heard them just last week instead of three decades ago.
As a music major at Glassboro State in '69-'70 I was fortunate to briefly share a piano class with MM. Just classmates hating the 8:00 AM role call and having to try and be musical when all we wanted to do was sleep. Well, that's all I wanted to do, I can't speak for him. I don't remember any real personal connection but that was a long time ago.
I was elated to see and hear his great success with Jim so soon after that and just as crushed to wake up to the news of their tragic passing. Maury's graceful technique on the acoustic guitar, especially with his double-stop harmonized accompaniments and leads were (and still are) a level of focused musicianship that I still strive for whenever I accompany a performer.
I'm so glad that this tribute website exists, and I'm glad to hear that Gingerbreadd will finally be released on CD sometime soon. He was a tender soul who had a great future ahead of him and I'm glad to see that I am in some good company here - all folks that remember and still miss a very fine musician.
Sunday, May 14, 2006 at 21:56 Host: cpe-70-112-145-225.austin.res.rr.com |
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Hello, Hello, Maury fans!
Just wanted to let you all know the good news - I have recently received the license to reissue Maury's
"Gingerbreadd" LP. I will be getting the CDs manufactured soon and hope to have them available at a very affordable price sometime this summer. They will only be available through my website.
Peace and Love,
Mary
Monday, May 08, 2006 at 16:54 Host: cache-mtc-ae10.proxy.aol.com |
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I have been fans of Maury and Jim since I was 13. I bought Jim's album "You don't mess around with Jim" in the summer of 72 and I wore it out. A few months later I receognized Maurys name on the "Gingerbreadd" album and bought it too and became a fan of his. I hope one day that his album is finally released on CD.
Sunday, March 12, 2006 at 17:36 Host: c-71-198-200-247.hsd1.ca.comcast.net |
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Hi there,
thank you for this site. It´s great to see, that Maury isn´t forgotten. I admire his way of playing the guitar since i first heard a Jim Croce song. It´s a shame they had to go so soon. But they gave us a lot of joy and good times through their songs.
All the best
Christian
Thursday, March 09, 2006 at 13:51 Host: cache-frr-ad09.proxy.aol.com |
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I have long admired Maury's acoustic play, especially on the song "Operator". No one I have ever heard could bend notes and move up and down the fingerboard like he could. Amazing!
I was fortunate enough to hear Jim and Maury play at the Cellar Door in Washington, DC in 1972. Of the many concerts I've attended over the many years I've been listening to music, it stands out as one of the most memorable. In addition to being unique talents, they exuded warmth and charm
that is rare among performers.
I wish I had found this web site earlier. I look forward to getting a copy of the new CD that features their all acoustic recordings.
Tuesday, March 07, 2006 at 09:24 IP: 63.90.80.250 |
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Mr. Muehleisen is one talented man. I am 24, And I have been a fan of Jim Croce for a while, but I just did some research on his backup Guitarist (Have You Heard Jim Croce Live). Maury...Wow! Bad Dude! I Read some Bio's and Listened to Gingerbreadd, You can see why Jim Succeeded. True talent is few and far between!
Sunday, March 05, 2006 at 19:17 Host: c-69-255-76-28.hsd1.de.comcast.net |
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What a great guitar player.
Saturday, March 04, 2006 at 13:49 Host: rrcs-70-61-202-108.midsouth.biz.rr.com |
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very nice tribute, Mary! I know your brother was as nice as You. Good luck with the book. If ever you need anything, holler! M.
Friday, March 03, 2006 at 15:29 Host: 4Cust15.VR1.PAO1.broadband.uu.net |
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I 've also left a message at Jim's website a few months ago , and wanted to do the same here. I was a teenager when I first saw Jim and Maury perform ( I think it must have been one of the "Midnite Specials" ) and was TOTALLY blown away by their mastery of the acoutic guitar with the fingerpicken" and octaves that they played. If I could have traded places with anybody back then, it would have been Jim or Maury ( that is really saying something, 'specially at a time when real sports heroes walked the earth ). They probably had the best sound I ever heard. I have tried many times to get that sound , but just can't.No offense to Jim or his memory , but Maury's identity was never mentioned on any of the t.v. gigs they played, that I can remember. I'll soon be fifty years old . A lot of things go thru your mind at my age.I guess I am very lucky , in that a song can take me back to a certain time and place . Every one of Jim and Maury's songs "take me back to a happier day ". THANX FOR THE MEMORIES....
Saturday, February 25, 2006 at 15:50 Host: pool-151-201-115-148.pitt.east.verizon.net |
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Longtime fan of Maurys'extraordinary and beautiful guitar playing. I'm fortunate to have found your site. Thank you.
Friday, February 24, 2006 at 13:57 Host: cache-dtc-af02.proxy.aol.com |
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I was in high school in LA, 1970 or 1971. My girlfriend and I went to see Randy Newman. There were two opening acts. The first was a typical crunchy granola hippy girl. The second was a guy no one had ever heard of -- Jim Croce. His songs were great but the stories he told about the songs were even better. Best of all was the guitarist playing next to him. He didn't say a word, just played (as John Sebastian sang) "clean as country water, wild as mountain dew." About halfway through the show, someone from the audience yelled out, "Who's that guitarist playing with you? He's pretty good!" Jim told us a whole story about his partner and their travels together, then rolled into the next song.
Jim and Maury got a HUGE standing ovation, way way way more than Randy Newman did. They came out for their encore. From the middle of the theater, I could see their eyes absolutely shining, reflecting back the excitement they'd given the audience. They'd totally stolen the show from Randy Newman. We came away feeling we'd seen a star being born. It was probably the best concert experience I've had, made all the more exciting because they were unknown and we felt we'd discovered them just before the rest of the world did.
In the next couple of weeks, we started hearing "Operator" and "You Don't Mess Around With Jim" all the time on the radio, and I bought the album. On the record, I could still hear Maury's guitar, but it was covered up with bubble-gum generic record-company-type arrangements. It was great, and I'm sure the record companies and Jim and Maury knew better than me about what goes into making a hit record, but I don't think the record company had heard the saying, "Less is more." Anyway, the music didn't shine through the way it did live.
It seemed clear even to my 17-year-old ears that this act -- from Jim's relaxed voice to Maury's beautiful guitar lines to the really moving stories Jim told about the songs -- was made for the intimacy of coffee houses.
So I'm thrilled to find on iTunes now a live, unplugged recording. It's WAY better than the albums were, and it's a real gift to find that talent preserved.
All that was thirty-five years ago. Time moves on, but I want to express my sympathy to his family for their loss. Maury's talent touched lots of people and you'll never know the stories.
Anyway, now you know one more of those stories.
Wednesday, February 22, 2006 at 09:26 Host: 24-148-21-92.grn-bsr1.chi-grn.il.cable.rcn.com |
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I have been a fan of Maury's music from the mid 70's. I was around 15 when I first heard Jim Croce and Maury's style of acoustic music. My favorite tune was I Remember Mary. I was inspired to learn to play the guitar. I still play every day and enjoy acoustic music. Maury had an impact on my life that still affects me 27 years later. Thank you.
Tuesday, February 21, 2006 at 23:12 Host: ip68-106-82-207.rn.hr.cox.net |
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Hi. I'm also from the Philippines. Just happened to watch for the first time Jim Croce's DVD last weekend. Jim, no doubt, was a truly great musician but it dawned on me, when I saw the DVD, that backing up Jim in those songs I have been enjoying all these years, was an equally great, talented, (not to mention very good looking) guy -- your brother Maury. I have since watched the DVD several times not only bec I enjoyed their music but also bec Maury was truly a handsome sight. That's why as soon as I got the chance to surf the net, I wasted no time in looking for more info not only on Jim but also on Maury and I'm certainly thrilled to have found this site. Can't help but feel sad that they both had to go at a very young age. Thanks for this chance and more power!
Tuesday, February 21, 2006 at 20:16 IP: 202.47.140.17 |
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My Maury influence story to share:
I am a singer/songwriter from a musical family. I was exposed to Jim Croce's music from a very early age and had always noticed Maury's name mentioned in the credits.
It wasn't until the DVD release of Croce's "Have You Seen Me Live" that I finally realized what an integral part Maury played in Jim's music.
I've been a huge fan ever since.
My dear friend Bob Hoppa is the same sort of friend to me as Maury was to Jim. He has been an integral part of my musical sound on all three of my releases. I've often tried to talk him out of his bar band gigs and join me in my small, (usually non-paying), intimate shows.
To no avail I plead to him, "Bob, I need you, you're my Maury Muehleisen".
Tuesday, February 21, 2006 at 11:30 Host: mail.boothnewspapers.com |
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