On Saturday, January 11 at 8 p.m., State Theatre New Jersey presents “Croce Plays Croce — The Jim Croce Birthday Bash.” Tickets range from $29 to $99.

A.J. Croce performs this special night of music featuring a complete set of classics by his late father Jim Croce, some of his tunes, and songs that influenced him and his father. Such songs as “Operator,” “You Don’t Mess Around with Jim,” “Time in a Bottle” (a song written for A.J.), “Rapid Roy (The Stock Car Boy),” and “Lovers Cross,” are among those on the program. Classic covers may include songs by Lieber and Stoller, Bessie Smith, and other folk and roots artists.

A.J. Croce, a Billboard charting singer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist, taught himself guitar and several of his father’s classics, debuting with a concert that celebrated the legacy of his father’s songs, stories, and music, as well as his own. That show featured two generations of Croce music and many songs by other artists which connect father and son as performers.

Over the past three decades, he has established his reputation as a piano player and vocal stylist in blues, soul, pop, jazz, and rock n’ roll. A virtuosic piano player, Croce toured with B.B. King and Ray Charles before he was 21. Since then, he has performed with a wide range of musicians, from Willie Nelson to the Neville Brothers, to Béla Fleck and Ry Cooder.

State Theatre New Jersey is at 15 Livingston Avenue in New Brunswick. Visit stnj.org for tickets.