The music world is mourning the loss of Steve Cropper, the pioneering guitarist whose economical style defined the sound of Stax Records and shaped soul music. Cropper, a key member of the instrumental group Booker T. and the MGs and a prolific songwriter, has died at the age of 84.
The Architect of the Stax Sound
In a musical landscape often dominated by speed and showmanship, Steve Cropper championed the power of restraint and precision. His work, characterised by perfectly timed chords and concise phrases, became the backbone for countless hits emerging from Memphis in the 1960s. His most famous contribution came with the 1962 instrumental 'Green Onions', recorded with Booker T. and the MGs. Initially intended as a B-side, the track's cool, minimalist riff propelled it to become one of the decade's defining instrumentals.
As a cornerstone of the Stax house band, Cropper's guitar provided the essential groove for legendary artists. He backed Otis Redding on timeless tracks like 'Respect' and 'Try a Little Tenderness', and helped craft hits for Wilson Pickett, including the classic 'In the Midnight Hour', which he co-wrote.
A Songwriter's Lasting Legacy
Beyond his instrumental prowess, Cropper's songwriting cemented his place in music history. His most poignant collaboration was with Otis Redding on the reflective '(Sittin' On) The Dock of the Bay'. The pair finished the song just days before Redding's tragic death in a plane crash in December 1967. Released posthumously, the single soared to number one on the charts in early 1968, earning Cropper a Grammy and standing as a soul masterpiece.
His songbook also includes enduring favourites like 'Knock on Wood', written with Eddie Floyd. The multiracial harmony of Booker T. and the MGs, featuring two Black and two white musicians, stood as a powerful symbol during the civil rights era, notably during a triumphant European tour in March 1967.
From Memphis to Global Recognition
Born on 21 October 1941 in Dora, Missouri, Cropper moved to Memphis as a child, where he absorbed blues, R&B, and country influences. His first band, the Royal Spades, evolved into the Mar-Keys, who scored Stax's first significant hit with 'Last Night'. After departing Stax in 1971 following business disputes, Cropper's reputation ensured a busy freelance career.
He worked with an astonishing array of artists, from John Lennon and Rod Stewart to Dolly Parton and Etta James. He found a new audience in 1980 with a memorable role in the hit film 'The Blues Brothers', performing alongside John Belushi, Dan Aykroyd, and icons like Aretha Franklin and James Brown.
Cropper was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame with Booker T. and the MGs in 1992. He continued to record and perform, releasing his final solo album, 'Friendlytown', in 2024. 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.
Steven Lee Cropper, guitarist, songwriter and record producer, died on 3 December 2025. His legacy is not one of blistering solos, but of soulful spaces and perfect notes—a testament to the profound impact of less being more.
