Steve Cropper, the influential โguitarist and songwriterโค whose distinctive sound defined the eraโฃ of Memphis soul, has died at the age of 84.The โnews was confirmed by the Soulsville Foundation, tho a cause ofโฃ death wasโ notโ promptly disclosed. Cropper’s work as a founding member of Booker T. & the M.G.’s and a key contributor toโฃ Stax Records cemented hisโ legacy as one โขof music’s most important instrumentalists and producers.
Born in Missouri and โraised in Memphis,Cropper began playing guitar at 14. he first gainedโค recognition with the Royalโ Spades, who became the Mar-Keys after signing with the then-fledgling Satellite Records (later Stax). The Mar-Keys scored a hit in 1961 with “Last Night,” establishing the band as the label’s first house band.
Cropper’s role expanded in 1962 whenโฃ he was appointed A&R director at Stax and co-founded Booker T. & the M.G.’sโ alongside Booker T. Jones, donald “Duck” โDunn,โฃ andโ Al Jackson Jr. the instrumental group quickly roseโ to prominence, achieving a No. 3 Billboard hit in 1962 with “Green Onions.” Booker T.& the M.G.’s were inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 1992.
Beyond his work with Booker T. & the M.G.’s, Cropper’sโ guitar is featured โขon countless recordings by soul legends including Otis Redding, โขSam & Dave, โฃand โคCarla and Rufus Thomas. Heโ also co-wrote someโ of theโ genre’s most enduring โsongs, including “(Sittin’ On) โคThe Dock of the Bay” by Otis Redding, “knock on Wood” by Eddie Floyd, and “In the Midnight Hour” โฃby wilson Pickett.His influence was even โdirectly acknowledged inโ Sam & Dave’s 1967 song “Soul โขMan,” were sam Moore famously ad-libbed, “Play it, Steve!”
Cropper released his debut solo album, With a little Help from My Friends,โข in 1969 and leftโ Stax in โฃ1970. He subsequently founded Trans-Maximusโฃ (TMI) Studios in Memphis, producing albums for artists like John Prine and Tower of Power, and performing with Ringo Starrโฃ and Rod Stewart. he also becameโฃ a prominentโ member ofโข the Blues Brothers Band, appearing on fiveโ albums and in two films alongside John Belushi and dan Aykroyd. He later rejoined Bookerโค T.& the M.G.’s for various performances. His final solo album, Friendlytown, was released last year.
