Steve Cropper, one of the most quietly influential figures in American music — a guitarist, songwriter, and producer whose playing and direction influenced the sound of soul, R&B, and early rock died today at age 84.
Born in Missouri in 1941 and raised in Memphis, Cropper co-founded Booker T. & the M.G.’s, Stax Records’ legendary house band. With Booker T. Jones, Duck Dunn, and Al Jackson Jr., he helped define the Stax sound with his Telecaster. He favored tight, clipped chord stabs and clean, percussive lines that left space for the groove. You hear that perfectly on tracks like “Green Onions,” “Time Is Tight,” and “Melting Pot.”
But Cropper’s influence runs even deeper as a songwriter. He co-wrote Otis Redding’s biggest hits, including “(Sittin’ On) The Dock of the Bay,” “Respect” (before Aretha transformed it), and “Try a Little Tenderness.” That partnership between Redding’s raw emotion and Cropper’s musical instincts shaped a huge part of 1960s soul. Cropper understood restraint — knowing exactly when to step back and let a song breathe.
After Stax’s collapse, he stayed relevant in the 70s by producing and playing for acts as diverse as John Lennon (“#1 at the time on ‘Instant Karma!’”), Rod Stewart, and José Feliciano. He later found a totally new audience in the late 70s and early 80s as a member of The Blues Brothers band.
Gide had the good fortune to interview Croopper in 2021.where he shared many noteworthy stories.
