Iconic guitarist/songwriter/producer Steve Cropper, who helped shape the Stax Records sound, has passed away. He was 84 years of age.
In a statement about his death, the musician’s family confirmed the news, saying Cropper died peacefully in Nashville on Wednesday (12.03.) adding:
“Steve was a beloved musician, songwriter, and producer whose extraordinary talent touched millions of lives around the world.” “While we mourn the loss of a husband, father, and friend, we find comfort knowing that Steve will live forever through his music. Every note he played, every song he wrote, and every artist he inspired ensures that his spirit and artistry will continue to move people for generations to come.”
Cropper rose to prominence as a founding member of Booker T and the MG’s, the house band at Stax Records in Memphis, Tennessee, that pioneered a sound that became synonymous with soul music in the 1960s. In addition to his work with the group, Steve contributed to legendary recordings by artists as Otis Redding and Wilson Pickett, cementing his reputation as one of the most influential guitarists of his time, and considered by Rolling Stone and Mojo, as one of the greatest guitar players of all time.
In addition to being inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame with Booker T and the MG’s, the ?-born musician was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2005, and was later a member of the iconic Blues Brothers band.
Cropper’s career also extended into film, where he teamed up with director John Carpenter on the score for the 1998 movie Vampires, and throughout the years, he collaborated with such music luminaries as Sir Elton John, Sir Ringo Starr, and Paul Simon.
In later decades, Booker T and the MG’s continued to perform, most memorably when they served as the backing band for Bob Dylan’s 30th Anniversary Concert at Madison Square Garden in New York in 1992.
In 2024, under the band name Steve Cropper and the Midnight Hour, the musician released the album Friendlytown. Billy Gibbons of ZZ Top played lead guitar throughout, while Sir Brian May of Queen featured on the track Too Much Stress.
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Author: Saul Goode
Photo: Charlie Llewellin