Steve Cropper, Stax Guitarist Who Defined the Memphis Soul Sound, Dead at 84
Steve Cropper, the acclaimed guitarist, songwriter, and producer whose work at Stax Records helped shape the landscape of American soul music, died Wednesday in Nashville at 84. His family confirmed the news in a statement, noting he “died peacefully” and that his influence “will continue to move people for generations to come.” A cause of death was not immediately released.
Cropper’s contributions, both as a member of Booker T. & the MG’s and as a behind-the-scenes architect of the Stax sound, left an unmistakable imprint on modern music. His clean, economical guitar playing became the backbone of classics by Otis Redding, Sam & Dave, Wilson Pickett, and countless other artists who recorded at Stax’s storied Memphis studio in the 1960s. His parts were foundational: the opening of “Soul Man,” the simmering tension of “Green Onions,” and the melodic fills that guided “(Sittin’ On) The Dock of the Bay,” which he co-wrote with Redding.
Pat Mitchell Worley, CEO of the Soulsville Foundation, described Cropper’s impact as “immeasurable,” adding that his work “shaped the very language of soul music.” Rolling Stone, which ranked him No. 45 on its list of the 250 Greatest Guitarists of All Time, once called him “the secret ingredient” in some of the genre’s most enduring recordings.
Born in Missouri and raised in Memphis, Cropper was exposed early to gospel and rhythm and blues. As a teenager, he co-founded the Mar-Keys, whose 1961 instrumental hit “Last Night” became one of Stax’s earliest successes. That group evolved into Booker T. & the MG’s, the label’s tight, disciplined house band whose understated chemistry laid the foundation for Stax’s golden era. Beyond backing nearly every major artist who came through the studio, the MG’s also released their own material, including the perennial hit “Green Onions.”
Cropper’s writing partnership with Otis Redding produced some of the singer’s most iconic work. He helped finish “(Sittin’ On) The Dock of the Bay” in the days following Redding’s 1967 death, completing the mix during an all-night session. “One of the hardest things I ever had to do was mix that song,” he recalled in an interview earlier this year. The track became a posthumous No. 1 hit and remains one of the most recognizable recordings in American music.
After leaving Stax in the early Seventies, Cropper relocated to Los Angeles and built a prolific career as a session musician and producer. He worked with John Lennon, Ringo Starr, Rod Stewart, Leon Russell, and John Prine, among others. He became widely known to mainstream audiences through his role in the Blues Brothers band and its 1980 film, where his dry humor and steady stage presence made him a fan favorite.
Cropper continued to record and tour throughout the decades, collaborating with artists ranging from Neil Young to John Mellencamp. His accolades included two Grammy Awards and a 1992 induction into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame as a member of Booker T. & the MG’s. In 2007, he received the Recording Academy’s Lifetime Achievement Award.
Despite his legacy, Cropper often emphasized his preference for collaboration over individual spotlight. “I’m a band member, always been a band member,” he once said, a modest summation of a career that shaped the sound of an era.
He is survived by his family, who wrote, “Every note he played and every song he wrote ensures his artistry will continue to be felt long after his passing.”
