Booker T. and the M.G.'s guitarist and songwriter Steve Cropper, a pillar of Memphis soul music, has passed away at the age of 84. His death was confirmed on Wednesday in Nashville, where he had been after a recent fall.
Cropper's musical legacy is one of understated genius. Behind his lean, soulful guitar playing and sparse, catchy licks lay a deep understanding of rhythm and collaboration. As a member of Booker T. and the M.G.'s at Stax Records, he helped define the sound of Memphis soul music. The band's iconic instrumental tracks, including "Green Onions," "Hang 'Em High," and "Time Is Tight," showcased Cropper's unique ability to fill gaps with essential licks.
Cropper was also known for his willingness to collaborate with artists from different backgrounds, often working with non-Stax musicians to create hits. His work on Otis Redding's "(Sittin' on) the Dock of the Bay" is a prime example of this approach. Completed shortly before Redding's death in a December 1967 plane crash, the brooding ballad was a bittersweet reflection on his triumphant appearance just months earlier at the Monterey Pop Festival.
Throughout his career, Cropper has been recognized for his contributions to music. He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1992 as a member of Booker T. and the M.G.'s and received a Grammy Award for lifetime achievement in 2007. Rolling Stone magazine ranked him 39th on its list of the 100 Greatest Guitarists.
Cropper's impact extends beyond his music. He was an advocate for arts education, receiving the Tennessee Governor's Arts Award in 2023. His commitment to preserving the legacy of Stax Records and Memphis soul music continues through the work of the Soulsville Foundation, which operates the Stax Museum of American Soul Music.
The music world is mourning the loss of a true original. As Eddie Gore, a longtime associate of Cropper's, said, "He's such a good human. We were blessed to have him, for sure."
Cropper's musical legacy is one of understated genius. Behind his lean, soulful guitar playing and sparse, catchy licks lay a deep understanding of rhythm and collaboration. As a member of Booker T. and the M.G.'s at Stax Records, he helped define the sound of Memphis soul music. The band's iconic instrumental tracks, including "Green Onions," "Hang 'Em High," and "Time Is Tight," showcased Cropper's unique ability to fill gaps with essential licks.
Cropper was also known for his willingness to collaborate with artists from different backgrounds, often working with non-Stax musicians to create hits. His work on Otis Redding's "(Sittin' on) the Dock of the Bay" is a prime example of this approach. Completed shortly before Redding's death in a December 1967 plane crash, the brooding ballad was a bittersweet reflection on his triumphant appearance just months earlier at the Monterey Pop Festival.
Throughout his career, Cropper has been recognized for his contributions to music. He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1992 as a member of Booker T. and the M.G.'s and received a Grammy Award for lifetime achievement in 2007. Rolling Stone magazine ranked him 39th on its list of the 100 Greatest Guitarists.
Cropper's impact extends beyond his music. He was an advocate for arts education, receiving the Tennessee Governor's Arts Award in 2023. His commitment to preserving the legacy of Stax Records and Memphis soul music continues through the work of the Soulsville Foundation, which operates the Stax Museum of American Soul Music.
The music world is mourning the loss of a true original. As Eddie Gore, a longtime associate of Cropper's, said, "He's such a good human. We were blessed to have him, for sure."
what a legend he was behind those iconic guitar riffs on green onions and time is tight his legacy is more than just the music he played he paved the way for so many collabos with artists from diff backgrounds that's real genius right there also super proud of him getting arts education recognition in 2023 
... steve cropper was def one of them legends 
and he was so down to earth too 
his legacy is gonna live on through all the music he made with booker t and the m.g.'s 
and otis redding 
i mean, "(sittin' on) the dock of the bay" is still giving me chills 
he was like the ultimate team player, always looking out for others and collaborating with artists from all walks of life... his guitar playing was so understated yet so powerful 
i mean, have you heard "green onions" or "(sittin' on) the dock of the bay"? those songs are still giving me chills to this day 
This is such sad news 
. I mean, can you believe Steve Cropper was only 84?! That's crazy old age, right? 
. And wow, did you know he worked with Otis Redding on that song "(Sittin' on) the Dock of the Bay"? That's like, super legendary 
How can we celebrate his life and legacy in 2025? Should we be thinking about new ways to preserve Memphis soul music and Stax Records' history? 
