Steve Cropper facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Steve Cropper
Cropper performing in 2008
Background information
Birth name	Steven Lee Cropper
Born	(1941-10-21) October 21, 1941 (age 83) Dora, Missouri, U.S.
Origin	Memphis, Tennessee, U.S.
Genres	R&B soul southern soul electric blues blues
Occupation(s)	Musician songwriter producer actor
Instruments	Guitar
Years active	1958–present
Labels	Stax Provogue

Steven Lee Cropper (born October 21, 1941) is a famous American guitarist, songwriter, and music producer. People sometimes call him "The Colonel". He was the main guitarist for the Stax Records house band, Booker T. & the M.G.'s. This band played music for many big stars like Otis Redding, Wilson Pickett, and Sam & Dave. Steve also helped produce many of their hit songs. Later, he joined the Blues Brothers band. Rolling Stone magazine named him one of the 100 greatest guitarists ever. He has won two Grammy Awards for his amazing work.

Steve Cropper's Early Life

Steve Cropper was born on a farm near Willow Springs, Missouri. When he was nine, his family moved to Memphis, Tennessee. In Memphis, he heard a lot of black church music. This music really inspired him. Steve got his first guitar when he was 14 years old.

He loved the band the Five Royals. He also looked up to other guitarists like Chuck Berry and Chet Atkins.

Steve Cropper's Music Career

Steve Cropper and his friend Charlie Freeman started a band called the Royal Spades. This band later became the Mar-Keys. They got their name from the sign outside Stax Records studios. The Mar-Keys started playing for recording sessions. They even had their own hit song, "Last Night", in 1961.

Steve Cropper (second from right) with Booker T. & the M.G.'s, 1967

The head of Stax Records, Jim Stewart, was very impressed with Steve. He saw that Steve was very professional, even at a young age. Steve became a founding member of the Stax house band, Booker T. & the M.G.'s. The band included Hammond organ player Booker T. Jones, bassist Lewie Steinberg (later Donald "Duck" Dunn), and drummer Al Jackson Jr..

As a house guitarist, Steve played on many famous songs. These include "(Sittin' On) the Dock of the Bay" with Otis Redding. He also played on Sam & Dave's "Soul Man". In that song, he was even mentioned by name! When the Blues Brothers remade "Soul Man", lead singer John Belushi also mentioned Steve. Steve often played a 1956 Fender Esquire or a blonde Fender Telecaster guitar.

Steve Cropper's fame grew beyond the United States. The Beatles loved his guitar playing and his work with Otis Redding. John Lennon and Paul McCartney even planned to record with him in Memphis. But their manager canceled the plans.

Booker T. Jones once said about Steve: "He's very sound-conscious. He gets a lot of sounds out of a Telecaster. He does it just by using his fingers, his picks, and his amps."

Steve also helped write many hit songs. He co-wrote "Knock on Wood" with Eddie Floyd. He also wrote "In the Midnight Hour" with Wilson Pickett. And he co-wrote "(Sittin' On) The Dock of the Bay" with Otis Redding. In 1969, Steve released his first solo album, With a Little Help From My Friends.

Steve Cropper at the Hamar Music Festival, 2007

When Steve left Stax Records in 1970, the company lost a very successful producer and songwriter. Steve then started TMI Studios. He worked with many musicians like Rod Stewart, John Prine, and John Lennon.

In 1975, Steve moved to Los Angeles. He reformed Booker T. & the M.G.'s with Jones, Jackson, and Dunn. Sadly, Al Jackson was murdered before they could make their comeback. In 1978, Steve and Dunn joined Levon Helm's RCO All-Stars. Then they became important members of the Blues Brothers Band. This led to two albums and appearances in the movies Blues Brothers and Blues Brothers 2000. Steve also re-recorded "(Sittin' On) The Dock of the Bay" in 1979 for Sammy Hagar.

Steve Cropper had a small role in the movie The Compleat Al (1985). He played a bit of "Soul Man" in a funny scene.

In 1991, Steve played at the Expo '92 Guitar Legends concerts. This event celebrated the 1992 Expo exhibition in Seville. Many of the world's best guitarists played there, including Steve, BB King, and Eric Clapton.

In 1992, Booker T. & the M.G.'s were added to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Steve played with the band at the Bob Dylan 30th Anniversary concert. They played songs by Dylan and backed up other stars like Eric Clapton and George Harrison.

In 1996, Mojo magazine called Steve "the greatest living guitar player." Guitarist Keith Richards said Steve was "Perfect, man." In 1998, Steve released The Interview — Play It, Steve!. The album title came from the famous line in "Soul Man."

In 2004, Steve played with Dunn and Jones at Eric Clapton's Crossroads Guitar Festival. In 2005, Steve Cropper was added to the Songwriters Hall of Fame.

Cropper toured Australia with Guy Sebastian, playing on Sebastian's The Memphis Album tour in March 2008

He helped produce The Memphis Album (2007) for Australian singer Guy Sebastian. Steve also played guitar on the tour for the album. In 2008, Steve and Felix Cavaliere released the album Nudge It Up A Notch.

In 2009, EMP/SFM gave Steve Cropper their "Founders Award." In 2010, he was inducted into the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame.

In 2011, Steve released Dedicated, an album honoring the "5" Royales. In 2013, he was a special guest on Peter Frampton's Guitar Circus Tour. He also appeared at Eric Clapton's 4th Crossroads Guitar Festival.

In 2021, Steve's album Fire It Up was nominated for a Grammy Award. In 2022, he played on stage with Ted Nugent at Graceland. In August 2024, Steve Cropper and the Midnight Hour released the album Friendlytown.

Awards and Nominations

Steve Cropper has won several awards for his music.

Discography

Here are some of the albums Steve Cropper has released:

• 1969: With a Little Help from My Friends
• 1969: Jammed Together (with Albert King and Pops Staples)
• 1981: Playin' My Thang
• 1982: Night After Night
• 1998: The Interview — Play It, Steve!
• 2008: Nudge It Up A Notch (with Felix Cavaliere)
• 2010: Midnight Flyer (with Felix Cavaliere)
• 2011: Dedicated — A Salute to the 5 Royales
• 2017: Steve Cropper, Lou Marini and the Original Blues Brothers Band — The Last Shade of Blue Before Black
• 2018: Telemasters (with Arlen Roth)
• 2021: Fire It Up
• 2024: Friendlytown

Collaborations

Steve Cropper has worked with many other artists on their albums. Here are a few examples:

Filmography

Steve Cropper has also appeared in some movies:

• 1980: The Blues Brothers as himself
• 1988: Satisfaction as Sal
• 1999: Blues Brothers 2000 as himself
• 2008: Be Kind Rewind as himself
• 2017: Rock 'n' Roll Guns for Hire: The Story of the Sidemen as himself

See also

In Spanish: Steve Cropper para niños