John Reno and Brett Gambino will perform their tribute to Jim Croce, “Bigger than Life: the Songs of Jim Croce & the Stories behind Them,” at the Struthers Library Theatre, 302 W. Third Ave., Warren, at 8 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 4.

For more than two decades, John Reno has been writing and performing his own music throughout the country. Several of John’s songs are in regular rotation on Sirius XM Radio. John’s partner in the Jim Croce Tribute, Brett Gambino, has been in the music business since the mid-80s. As a guitarist and songwriter, he has performed with, and recorded for, a long list of musical acts ranging from Jody Payne of “The Willie Nelson Band” to Jimmy Hall of “Wet Willie.” These two accomplished musicians team up to take you on a musical tour through the songs of Jim Croce. Check out the website, www.jimcrocetribute.com. There will be lots of great music to enjoy, “Bad, Bad Leroy Brown,” “Operator,” “Workin’ at the Car Wash Blues,” “Time in a Bottle” and more.

Forty years after his tragic death in a plane crash on Sept. 20, 1973, Jim Croce’s music is still played and well-known for his unique lyrics and guitar stylings. Pennsylvania born and raised in South Philly, Croce began his musical career at the age of 5 on the accordion. From 1961 to 1965, he formed various bands that performed blues, rock, a capella, folk and whatever was requested around the Philly area. By 1966, he had met and married his wife, Ingrid Jacobson, and released his first album, “Facets,” with a $500 wedding gift that was given to him specifically for a recording in the hopes of dashing his musical aspirations. It was, however, a success with all 500 copies sold. From the mid-late1960s, Jim and Ingrid Croce performed as a duo. In 1968, they moved to New York City and recorded their first album with Capitol Records, Jim and Ingrid Croce. After traveling more than 300,000 miles playing gigs to promote the album, they decided to give up their music careers and moved back to Pennsylvania. Jim Croce got jobs driving truck and working construction to pay the bills while continuing to write songs usually about his experiences and the people he met at his day jobs and at local bars, some of which inspired the song, “Workin’ at the Car Wash Blues.”

In 1970, the Croces returned to Philadelphia and a college friend introduced Jim to a classically trained musician named Maury Muehleisen who became Jim’s backup guitarist and vocalist. It was this partnership that would create the magical sound we associate with Croce’s songs. In 1972, Croce signed a three-record deal with ABC Records and recorded “You Don’t Mess Around with Jim” and “Life and Times.” Croce’s biggest single, “Bad, Bad Leroy Brown,” hit number one on the American charts in July 1973 and “You Don’t Mess Around with Jim,” “Operator,” and “Time in a Bottle” all received airplay. His third and final album, “I Got a Name,” was released on Dec. 1, 1973, more than two months after his death. It included three hits, “Workin’ at the Car Wash Blues,” “I’ll Have to Say I Love You in a Song” and the title song, “I Got a Name,” which had been used as the theme to the film “The Last American Hero” and was released two months prior to his death. The album reached number two, and “I’ll Have to Say I Love You in a Song” reached number nine on the singles chart. Three months after Jim’s death, “Time in a Bottle,” (which had been written for his then, in 1972, unborn son, A.J. Croce and was originally released on Croce’s first album hit number one on Dec. 29, 1973.

In 1990, Croce was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame.

John Reno and Brett Gambino will replicate the unique sound of Croce and Muehleisen and Croce’s wonderful lyrics.

Give the gift of music to yourself, your friends or your family. All seats are reserved. Purchase tickets today in Warren with cash or check at the Library Theatre Office, 302 W. Third Ave.; Virg-Ann’s Flower Shop, 224 Pennsylvania Ave. W.; and in Lakewood, N.Y., at Wing City Grille, 273 Fairmount Ave., or call (814) 489-3110.