Steve Cropper


Stephen Lee Cropper, sometimes known as "The Colonel", was an American guitarist, songwriter and record producer. He was the guitarist of the Stax Records house band, Booker T. & the M.G.'s, which backed artists such as Otis Redding, Wilson Pickett, Sam & Dave, Carla Thomas, Rufus Thomas, Johnnie Taylor and Neil Young. He also acted as the producer of many of these artists' records. He was later a member of the Blues Brothers band. Rolling Stone magazine ranked him 36th on its list of the 100 greatest guitarists. He won two Grammy Awards out of his seven nominations.
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Early life

Cropper was born in Dora, Missouri, on October 21, 1941. He was raised in Dora and West Plains before moving with his family to Memphis at age 9. In Memphis, he was exposed to black church music, which had an impact on him musically. Cropper acquired his first guitar at age 14. He attended Messick High School.
He admired guitarists including Tal Farlow, Chuck Berry, Jimmy Reed, Chet Atkins, Lowman Pauling of The "5" Royales, Earl Cate of The Cate Brothers Band and Billy Butler of the Bill Doggett band.

Career

Cropper and guitarist Charlie Freeman formed the Royal Spades, who eventually became the Mar-Keys. The name referred to the marquee outside Stax studios, known as Satellite Records at the time. Eventually, the Mar-Keys began playing on sessions and had a hit single of their own with "Last Night" in 1961.
Besides being impressed with the young guitarist's playing, Stax Records president Jim Stewart saw professionalism and maturity beyond Cropper's years. When American Records founder Chips Moman left Stax, Cropper became the company's A&R man. He became a founding member of the Stax house band Booker T. & the M.G.'s, along with Hammond organ player Booker T. Jones, bassist Lewie Steinberg and drummer Al Jackson Jr. As a house guitarist, he played on many recordings such as "(Sittin' On) the Dock of the Bay", co-written with and performed by Otis Redding and Sam & Dave's "Soul Man" on which he was mentioned by name. When Cropper played on the song's remake by the Blues Brothers, lead singer John Belushi again mentioned Cropper. On the early Stax recordings, Cropper is known to have played a 1956 Fender Esquire and later used a blonde Fender Telecaster.
At this time, Cropper's fame was not limited to the United States. The Beatles favored Cropper's playing, and his production on Otis Redding records. John Lennon and Paul McCartney made tentative plans to record in Memphis and to work with the guitarist. However Brian Epstein canceled the sessions, citing security problems.
Along with influential work with Booker T & The M.G.'s, Cropper co-wrote "Knock on Wood" with Eddie Floyd, "In the Midnight Hour" with Wilson Pickett and "(Sittin' On) The Dock of the Bay" with Otis Redding. In 1969, Cropper released his first solo album, With a Little Help from My Friends.
When Cropper left Stax in the fall of 1970, the label lost one of its most successful producers and songwriters. Cropper then set up TMI Studios with Jerry Williams and former Mar-Key Ronnie Stoots. He worked with many musicians including Ringo Starr, Rod Stewart, John Prine, and Jeff Beck.
By 1975, Cropper had moved to Los Angeles and along with Jones, Jackson, and Dunn, reformed Booker T. & the M.G.'s. Jackson, whom Cropper called "the greatest drummer to ever walk the Earth," was murdered in his Memphis home before the group could make their comeback. In 1978, Cropper and Dunn became members of Levon Helm's RCO All-Stars and then went on to figure prominently in the Blues Brothers Band with drummer Willie Hall. This led to two albums, appearances in the movies The Blues Brothers and Blues Brothers 2000, and the movies' soundtracks. Cropper also re-recorded " The Dock of the Bay" for Sammy Hagar. Cropper lived in Los Angeles for the next thirteen years before moving to Nashville and reuniting with the Blues Brothers Band in 1988.
Cropper has a cameo in the "Weird Al" Yankovic mockumentary The Compleat Al, where he plays a bit of "Soul Man" in an unsuccessful attempt to join Al's band.
In 1991, Cropper played on two separate nights of the Guitar Legends, Seville 1991 concerts as part of the celebration of Seville hosting the 1992 Expo exhibition. The concerts over five nights included some of the world's best guitarists such as Cropper, Keith Richards, BB King, Robert Cray, Eric Clapton, Bo Diddley, Brian May, Albert Collins, Bob Dylan, Joe Satriani, and Steve Vai.
In 1992, Booker T. & the M.G.'s were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Cropper appeared with a new line-up of the group for the Bob Dylan 30th Anniversary concert, in October 1992 at Madison Square Garden, where they performed Dylan's songs in tribute. The concert was recorded and later released as The 30th Anniversary Concert Celebration.
In 1996, Cropper was named "the greatest living guitar player" by Britain's Mojo magazine. When asked what he thought of Cropper, the guitarist Keith Richards said, "Perfect, man." In February 1998, Cropper released The Interview – Play It, Steve! which was a series of recording meant to reflect on his own career. The album title came from the "shout" of the title phrase by Moore on Sam & Dave's "Soul Man" and later by John Belushi.
In June 2004, Cropper appeared with Dunn and Jones as the backing band for Eric Clapton's Crossroads Guitar Festival, held at the Cotton Bowl in Dallas. Others who appeared included Joe Walsh and David Hidalgo. On June 9, 2005, Cropper was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame.
He co-produced The Memphis Album, recorded by Australian soul singer Guy Sebastian. Cropper also played guitar on the subsequent promotional tour, which was recorded and released two years later as The Memphis Tour. On March 2, 2008, Cropper and Sebastian were guests on the Vega Sunday Session with host Mark Gable from the rock band the Choirboys. On July 29, 2008, Cropper and Felix Cavaliere released the album Nudge It Up a Notch. In August 2008, Cropper appeared at the Rhythm Festival alongside the Animals.
On November 12, 2009, EMP/SFM presented Cropper with their "Founders Award". On October 17, 2010, Cropper was inducted into the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame.
On August 9, 2011, Cropper released the album Dedicated which was his tribute to the "5" Royales. In 2013, he was a special guest at selected concerts as part of Peter Frampton's Guitar Circus Tour, including the first performance which featured Frampton, Robert Cray, and Vince Gill. Cropper appeared in April of that year with Jones, Matt "Guitar" Murphy, as well as Booker T. & the MG's at Eric Clapton's 4th Crossroads Guitar Festival at Madison Square Garden in New York City.
In November 2021, Cropper's Fire It Up was nominated for a Grammy Award in the Best Contemporary Blues Album category.
In August 2024, under the band name Steve Cropper and the Midnight Hour, Cropper released the album Friendlytown. Billy Gibbons of ZZ Top is featured on lead guitar throughout the album, while Brian May of Queen guests on the single "Too Much Stress".

Death

Cropper died in Nashville on December 3, 2025, at the age of 84. A cause of death was not immediately known. A few days before, he was at a rehabilitation facility in Nashville recovering from a recent fall.

Discography

  • 1969: With a Little Help from My Friends
  • 1969: Jammed Together
  • 1971: This Is... Steve Cropper & His Friends
  • 1981: Playin' My Thang
  • 1982: Night After Night
  • 1998: The Interview — Play It, Steve!
  • 2008: Nudge It Up A Notch
  • 2010: Midnight Flyer
  • 2011: Dedicated — A Salute to the 5 Royales
  • 2017: Steve Cropper, Lou Marini and the Original Blues Brothers Band — The Last Shade of Blue Before Black
  • 2021: Fire It Up
  • 2024: ''Friendlytown''

Collaborations

With AlabamaSouthern Star
With Jimmy BarnesSoul Searchin'
With William BellThe Soul of a Bell Bound to Happen
With Barbi BentonSomething New
With Big StarThird/Sister Lovers
With Stephen BishopBish
With Frank BlackHoneycomb Fast Man Raider Man
With Bobby and the MidnitesWhere the Beat Meets the Street
With Booker T. & the M.G.'sGreen Onions Soul Dressing And Now! In the Christmas Spirit Hip Hug-Her Doin' Our Thing Soul Limbo UpTight The Booker T. Set McLemore Avenue Melting Pot Universal Language That's the Way It Should Be
With Ronnie Baker BrooksTimes Have Changed
With Jimmy BuffettHot Water
With Billy BurnetteTry Me
With Brian CaddWhite On White
With Cate BrothersCate Bros. In One Eye and Out the Order
With ChicagoChicago XXXIII: O Christmas Three
With David Clayton-ThomasDavid Clayton-Thomas
With A. J. CroceJust Like Medicine
With Patti DahlstromYour Place or Mine
With Delaney & BonnieHome D&B Together
With Ned DohenyHard Candy Prone
With Yvonne EllimanRising Sun Night Flight Yvonne
With José FelicianoCompartments For My Love... Mother Music
With Eddie FloydKnock on Wood Down to Earth
With Peter FramptonWhere I Should Be
With Richie FurayI've Got a Reason
With Art GarfunkelBreakaway
With Cyndi GreccoMaking Our Dreams Come True
With Richie HavensThe End of the Beginning
With Levon HelmLevon Helm & the RCO All-Stars Levon Helm
With Chris HillmanSlippin' Away
With Rebecca Lynn HowardRebecca Lynn Howard
With Iron City HouserockersBlood on the Bricks
With Etta JamesSeven Year Itch The Right Time
With Wynonna JuddTell Me Why
With Albert KingBorn Under a Bad Sign Years Gone By
With B.B. KingKing of the Blues: 1989
With Al KooperWhite Chocolate
With John LennonRock 'n' Roll
With Ann-MargretBorn to Be Wild
With Marilyn McCoo and Billy Davis Jr.Marilyn & Billy
With Craig MorganCraig Morgan
With Aaron NevilleThe Tattoeed Heart
With Wayne NewtonTomorrow
With Harry NilssonFlash Harry
With John Oates1000 Miles of Life
With Nigel OlssonNigel Olsson
With Roy OrbisonMystery Girl
With Dolly PartonHeartbreak Express
With Wilson PickettIn the Midnight Hour The Exciting Wilson Pickett
With Michel PolnareffMichel Polnareff
With John PrineCommon Sense
With Otis ReddingPain in My Heart The Great Otis Redding Sings Soul Ballads Otis Blue: Otis Redding Sings Soul The Soul Album Complete & Unbelievable: The Otis Redding Dictionary of Soul King & Queen The Dock of the Bay
With Bruce RobertsBruce Roberts
With Leon RussellWill O' the Wisp
With Sanford & TownsendDuo-Glide
With Leo SayerHere
With Poncho SanchezRaise Your Hand
With Guy SebastianThe Memphis Album
With Neil SedakaThe Hungry Years Steppin' Out
With Paul ShafferCoast to Coast
With Paul SimonSongs from The Capeman
With Percy SledgeBlue Night
With Broderick SmithSuitcase
With The Soul ChildrenSoul Children
With The Staple SingersSoul Folk in Action
With Mavis StaplesMavis Staples Only for the Lonely
With Ringo StarrRingo Goodnight Vienna Vertical Man
With Rod StewartAtlantic Crossing A Night on the Town Foot Loose & Fancy Free Every Beat of My Heart
With Livingston TaylorMan's Best Friend
With Carla ThomasMemphis Queen
With Mickey ThomasAs Long as You Love Me
With Tower of PowerWe Came to Play!
With The Manhattan TransferPastiche
With Wendy WaldmanThe Main Refrain
With Dale WatsonJukebox Fury
With Jerry Lynn Williams
  • ''Gone''

Filmography