Steve Cropper, guitarist and member of Stax Information’ Booker T and the M.G.’s, has handed away. He was 84 years previous and the reason for loss of life isn’t referred to as of press time.
Cropper’s passing was introduced yesterday (December 3) by way of a press release posted to his official Fb web page: “It is with profound sadness that we share the news of the passing of Stephen Lee Cropper, who died peacefully in Nashville today at the age of 84. Steve was a beloved musician, songwriter, and producer whose extraordinary talent touched millions of lives around the world. As the legendary guitarist for Booker T. & the M.G.’s and the architect of the Stax Records sound, he helped create some of the most enduring songs in music history, including “(Sittin’ On) The Dock of the Bay,” “Soul Man,” “Knock on Wood,” and “In the Midnight Hour.”
A Rock & Roll Corridor of Fame Inductee, Grammy Award winner, and Songwriters Corridor of Fame honoree, Steve’s affect on American music is immeasurable. Whereas we mourn the lack of a husband, father, and buddy, we discover consolation figuring out that Steve will reside ceaselessly by means of his music. Each be aware he performed, each music he wrote, and each artist he impressed ensures that his spirit and artistry will proceed to maneuver individuals for generations. Steve is survived by his loving spouse, Angel Cropper; his kids Andrea and Cameron Cropper, Stevie, and Ashley, together with numerous musicians and followers whose lives he reworked by means of his extraordinary reward. The household thanks everybody for his or her love, help, and respect for his or her privateness throughout this tough time.”
Cropper was born Oct. 21, 1941, close to Dora, Missouri. His household moved to Memphis when he was 9. He started taking part in guitar at 14, citing Chuck Berry, Jimmy Reed, Chet Atkins, Lowman Pauling of the R&B group the “5” Royales, Billy Butler of organist Invoice Doggett’s combo and Bobby “Blue” Bland’s longtime accompanist Wayne Bennett as his early inspirations.
Cropper was one of many early signees of the legendary Stax Information, years earlier than it was named Stax. (Based by Jim Stewart and Estelle Axton in 1957 as Satellite tv for pc Information, it was later modified to Stax Information in 1961.) Cropper and his instrumental band, the Mar-Keys (beforehand referred to as the Royals Spades), joined the label, releasing the hit single “Last Night” in 1961.
Whereas different members of the Mar-Keys grew to become the label’s horn part, Cropper and his remaining bandmates fashioned Booker T. and the M.G.’s. That includes Cropper on guitar, keyboard participant Booker T. Jones, bassist Donald “Duck” Dunn, and drummer Al Jackson, the band is thought for his or her hit instrumentals “Green Onions”, “Cling ‘Em High”, and “Time Is Tight”. As the house band of Stax Records, Booker T. and the M.G.’s additionally performed on a whole bunch of recordings by artists together with Otis Redding, Wilson Pickett, Invoice Withers, Sam & Dave, Carla Thomas, Rufus Thomas, Johnnie Taylor, and Albert King.
At a time when segregation was nonetheless the legislation, the band bravely included Black and white members. “When you walked in the door at Stax, there was absolutely no color,” Cropper as soon as stated. “We were all there for the same reason — to get a hit record.”
Cropper is thought to be one of many main gamers who helped outline the sound of Memphis soul music. Alongside together with his guitar work, he was additionally a songwriter and file producer. He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Corridor of Fame in 1992 as a member of Booker T. and the M.G.’s. In 2005, Cropper was inducted into the Songwriters Corridor of Fame and acquired a Grammy Award for lifetime achievement in 2007.
He remained lively till his passing, scoring a Grammy nomination this yr for his 2024 album, Friendlytown. Many artists have paid tribute to the late Cropper, together with Joe Bonamassa, Tyler Bryant, Dave Mason, Mick Fleetwood, and Huey Lewis. “So sad to hear of Steve Cropper’s passing,” Lewis shared on Instagram. “He was a giant. One of the architects of Memphis soul music, he wrote, produced and played on so many important songs. His music will live on forever. He was also as generous and sweet as anyone I’ve ever met. It’s a sad day for American music, but heaven just got funkier.”
