The music world is in mourning following the death of Steve Cropper, the revered guitarist and songwriter whose work formed the backbone of the legendary Memphis soul sound. He was 84 years old.
The Passing of a Soul Pioneer
Pat Mitchell Worley, president of the Soulsville Foundation, confirmed that Cropper's family informed her he passed away on Wednesday in Nashville. The foundation runs the Stax Museum of American Soul Music in Memphis, situated at the historic site of Stax Records where Cropper spent pivotal years of his career.
A specific cause of death has not yet been released. However, a close associate, Eddie Gore, revealed he had visited Cropper just the day before his passing at a rehabilitation facility in Nashville. Cropper had been recovering from a recent fall. Remarkably, Gore noted that during his visit, Cropper was actively working on new musical material.
"He's such a good human," Gore said. "We were blessed to have him, for sure."
Architect of the Memphis Sound
Cropper was not a flashy, showboating guitarist. Instead, his genius lay in his spare, catchy licks and impeccable rhythm work, which became the defining texture of countless soul classics. In an era rife with white musicians appropriating Black music for greater profit, Cropper stood out as a rare collaborator who prioritised the music over personal fame.
His influence was so profound that his name was immortalised in Sam & Dave's 1967 hit 'Soul Man', where singer Sam Moore shouts "Play it, Steve!" mid-song. Cropper created the track's signature slide guitar sound using a Zippo lighter. He later recreated this iconic moment as a member of The Blues Brothers band in the late 1970s.
In a 2020 interview, Cropper described his philosophical approach to playing: "I listen to the other musicians and the singer... I play around all that stuff. That's what I do. That's my style." This selfless artistry earned him the highest praise from peers like The Rolling Stones' Keith Richards, who simply called him "Perfect, man."
A Legacy Etched in Vinyl
Cropper was a foundational figure at Stax Records almost from its inception. He was part of the instrumental band the Mar-Keys, which evolved into the legendary, racially integrated house band Booker T. and the MG's. Alongside Booker T. Jones, Donald "Duck" Dunn, and Al Jackson Jr., they crafted timeless instrumentals like 'Green Onions' and backed icons including Otis Redding and Wilson Pickett.
His songwriting partnership with Otis Redding yielded the posthumous number-one hit '(Sittin' On) The Dock of the Bay'. Cropper finished the recording after Redding's tragic death in a 1967 plane crash, later recalling, "This song, we knew we had it."
Cropper's accolades are a testament to his impact:
- Inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1992 with Booker T. and the MG's.
- Ranked 39th on Rolling Stone's list of the 100 Greatest Guitarists.
- Inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2005.
- Received a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award in 2007.
His creative spirit endured until the very end. His 2024 album 'Friendlytown' received a Grammy nomination, and earlier this year he was honoured with the Tennessee Governor's Arts Award, the state's highest artistic honour. The death of Steve Cropper marks the closing of a seminal chapter in American music history, but his riffs and songs will continue to resonate for generations.
