Honoring Steve Cropper, Guitar Legend, Through the Years

Born in Missouri in 1941 and raised in Memphis from childhood, Steve Cropper picked up the guitar at 14, drawn to gospel, R&B and early rock and roll. In 1961, at just 20 years old, he joined the staff at Stax Records, then a fledgling Memphis label, and soon became a founding member of Booker T. & the MG's. What began as studio backing soon produced pure magic, their 1962 instrumental hit 'Green Onions' turned them into soul legends. Over the next decade, Cropper's understated yet distinctive guitar — lean, rhythmic, and deeply soulful — would help define the 'Memphis soul' sound.

Beyond instrumental grooves, Cropper co‑wrote some of soul and R&B's greatest hits. He helped craft '(Sittin' On) The Dock of the Bay' with Otis Redding, a tender, haunting track that became a landmark in soul and pop music. He also co‑wrote 'In the Midnight Hour' (recorded by Wilson Pickett), another enduring classic. And, with Eddie Floyd, he penned 'Knock on Wood', a song whose groove remains instantly recognisable decades on. Cropper didn't chase flash or excessive solos. Instead, his genius lay in his feel, sharp rhythm and tasteful lines that served the song. As he once said, he considered himself 'a rhythm player'.

After leaving Stax in 1970, Cropper remained musically active, evolving with the times while staying true to his soulful roots. In the late 1970s he joined The Blues Brothers, appearing in their films and helping popularise soul among new audiences. His influence grew over generations. The magazine Mojo ranked him the second‑greatest guitarist of all time, behind only one master. Even in his later years, Cropper continued to record, his 2024 album earning praise and a Grammy nomination. In 2025, at age 84, the world bid farewell to a humble genius whose guitar shaped the very soundscape of soul. His music will live on, in every echo of a soulful riff, every groove that moves you, every tear and every smile inspired by those unforgettable songs.