Maurice Thomas "Maury" Muehleisen (January 14, 1949 – September 20, 1973) was an American musician, songwriter, and artist known for his studio work, live accompaniment, and impact on the music of Jim Croce.
With steady gigs and a growing fan base, Muehleisen invited Croce to back him up as a second guitarist at local Philadelphia-area venues just prior to the release of the Gingerbreadd album by Capitol Records in November 1970.
The result was a sound captured by Cashman and West's sparse production on Croce's three albums—You Don't Mess Around with Jim; Life and Times; and I Got a Name, which was released posthumously.
A typical concert venue featured Muehleisen and Croce in a two-guitar acoustic duet, playing to audiences sometimes as large as 10,000 people (Chicago's Ravinia Folk Festival, July 1973).
Occasionally, producer Tommy West would join them onstage, typically on the TV appearances, playing the piano.
The official report of the accident said that the charter pilot had severe coronary artery disease, had run a portion of the three miles to the airport from a motel, and may have suffered a heart attack, causing him to crash the twin-engined Beechcraft E18S into a pecan tree at the end of a clear runway with excellent visibility.
In an August 12, 2010, article in Inside [New] Jersey magazine, Muehleisen's sister, Mary, discussed his music and his association with Croce.