The music world is mourning the loss of Steve Cropper, the masterful guitarist whose economical style defined the sound of Memphis soul and influenced generations. Cropper, a pivotal member of the instrumental group Booker T. and the MGs and a key architect of the Stax Records sound, has died at the age of 84.
The Architect of Soul: Stax Records and Timeless Hits
In a landscape often dominated by flashy, speed-driven solos, Steve Cropper championed the power of precision and feel. His work, from the iconic opening riff of Booker T. and the MGs' 1962 hit 'Green Onions' to his seminal collaborations with Otis Redding, proved that a perfectly placed chord could carry more weight than a torrent of notes.
As a cornerstone of Stax Records in Memphis, Cropper was not just a session player but a prolific songwriter and producer. He co-wrote some of soul music's most enduring anthems, including Wilson Pickett's 'In the Midnight Hour' and Eddie Floyd's 'Knock on Wood'. His most poignant collaboration was with Otis Redding on '(Sittin' On) The Dock of the Bay', a song they finished just days before Redding's tragic death in a plane crash in December 1967. The song became a posthumous number one, a bittersweet testament to their partnership.
From Missouri to Memphis: Forging a Musical Legacy
Born on a farm in Dora, Missouri on 21 October 1941, Cropper moved to Memphis at age nine, where he immersed himself in blues and R&B. His first band, the Royal Spades, evolved into the Mar-Keys, who scored Stax's first significant hit with 'Last Night'. This led to the formation of the label's legendary house band.
The genesis of Booker T. and the MGs was almost accidental. In August 1962, during leftover studio time, Cropper, organist Booker T. Jones, bassist Lewie Steinberg, and drummer Al Jackson Jr. recorded a blues number. For the B-side, they improvised a catchy riff, titling it 'Green Onions'. Radio DJs flipped the record, and it became a global instrumental phenomenon, defining the crisp, interracial sound of Stax. Cropper's childhood friend Donald "Duck" Dunn soon replaced Steinberg, solidifying the classic lineup.
Life After Stax: Film, Freelance, and Lasting Honour
After leaving Stax in 1971 following business disputes, Cropper's reputation ensured a busy freelance career. He worked with an array of stars including John Lennon, Rod Stewart, and Dolly Parton. In 1980, he reached a new audience with a memorable role in the hit film The Blues Brothers, performing alongside icons like Aretha Franklin and James Brown.
He continued to record and perform, with several reunions of the MGs following the murder of Al Jackson Jr. in 1975. A crowning moment came in 1992 when the band was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Cropper's final solo album, 'Friendlytown', was released in 2024.
Steve Cropper's legacy is one of understated genius. He demonstrated that soul resides not in complexity, but in the spaces between the notes. He is survived by his wife, Angel, whom he married in 1988, and their two children, as well as two children from a previous marriage.
