If Yankee Stadium is “the house that Babe Ruth built,” Stax Records is “the house that Booker T. and the MG’s built.” Integral to that potent combination is MG rhythm guitarist extraordinaire Steve Cropper. As a guitarist, A&R man, engineer, producer, songwriting partner of Otis Redding, Eddie Floyd and a dozen others and founding member of Booker T. and the MG’s and The Mar-Keys, Cropper was literally involved in virtually every record issued by Stax from the fall of 1961 through year end 1970. Such credits assure Cropper of an honored place in the soul music hall of fame. As co-writer of (Sittin’ On) The Dock of the Bay, Knock on Wood and In the Midnight Hour, Cropper is in line for immortality.
In addition to his career with Booker T. and the MG’s, Steve was part of the original Blues Brothers band and also performed with Blues Brothers 2000 for the 1998 film. Other album credits include performances with Paul Simon, Ringo Starr, Buddy Guy, Johnny Lang, Elton John and Steppenwolf.
Perhaps the ultimate testament to his contributions to popular music were Steve’s rankings by England’s Mojo Magazine in 1996 as the number two guitarist of all-time (Jimi Hendrix was number one) and being voted in among the Top 100 Guitar Players of all-time by Rolling Stone magazine readers in 2003.
We were extremely proud to have Steve Cropper perform at the 2009 Bruce Burch & Friends Honor John Jarrard Concert.
