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), also known as "The Colonel", is an American guitarist, songwriter, and music producer. He was the main guitarist for the Stax Records studio band, Booker T. & the M.G.'s. This band played music for many famous artists like Otis Redding, Wilson Pickett, and Sam & Dave. Steve Cropper also helped produce many of their hit songs. Later, he became a member of the Blues Brothers band. Rolling Stone magazine named him one of the greatest guitarists of all time. He has also won two Grammy Awards.

Early Life and Musical Start

Steve Cropper was born on a farm in 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.

Cropper got his first guitar when he was 14 years old. He looked up to many guitarists, including Chuck Berry and Chet Atkins.

Becoming a Music Star

Joining the Mar-Keys

Steve Cropper and another guitarist, Charlie Freeman, started a band called the Royal Spades. This band later changed its name to the Mar-Keys. The name came from the sign outside Stax Records studios. In 1961, the Mar-Keys had their own hit song called "Last Night."

Playing with Booker T. & the M.G.'s

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 Cropper. He saw that Cropper was very professional and talented. When another important person left Stax, Cropper became the company's A&R man. This meant he helped find new artists and songs.

Cropper also became a founding member of the Stax studio band, Booker T. & the M.G.'s. The band included Hammond organ player Booker T. Jones, bassist Lewie Steinberg (later replaced by Donald "Duck" Dunn), and drummer Al Jackson Jr.. As the main guitarist for Stax, Cropper played on many famous songs. These included "(Sittin' On) the Dock of the Bay" with Otis Redding and "Soul Man" by Sam & Dave. In "Soul Man," Steve Cropper is even mentioned by name!

Steve Cropper was known for playing a 1956 Fender Esquire guitar and later a blonde Fender Telecaster.

Working with Famous Artists

Steve Cropper's talent was recognized all over the world. Even The Beatles admired his guitar playing and his work producing Otis Redding's records. John Lennon and Paul McCartney even thought about recording music with him in Memphis.

Booker T. Jones once said that Steve Cropper was great at getting different sounds from his guitar. He could do this just by using his fingers, his picks, and his amps, without changing any settings.

Besides playing with Booker T. & the M.G.'s, Cropper 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 "(Sittin' On) The Dock of the Bay" with Otis Redding. In 1969, Cropper released his first solo album, With a Little Help From My Friends.

Steve Cropper at the Hamar Music Festival, 2007

After Stax Records

Steve Cropper left Stax Records in 1970. He then started his own studio called TMI Studios. He worked with many different musicians there, including Rod Stewart and John Lennon.

In 1978, Cropper joined the Blues Brothers band. He played a big part in their two movies, Blues Brothers and Blues Brothers 2000, and their movie soundtracks. He also re-recorded "(Sittin' On) The Dock of the Bay" in 1979 for Sammy Hagar.

In 1991, Steve Cropper 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 BB King, Eric Clapton, and Bo Diddley.

In 1992, Booker T. & the M.G.'s were added to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Cropper played with the band at the Bob Dylan 30th Anniversary concert. They backed up famous artists like Eric Clapton, George Harrison, and Neil Young.

In 1996, a British magazine called Mojo named Cropper "the greatest living guitar player." The famous guitarist Keith Richards said Cropper was "Perfect, man."

In 2005, Steve Cropper was inducted into 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. Cropper also played guitar on the tour for this album. In 2008, Cropper and Felix Cavaliere released an album called Nudge It Up A Notch.

In 2011, Cropper released Dedicated, an album that honored the "5" Royales. In 2013, he was a special guest on Peter Frampton's Guitar Circus Tour.

In November 2021, Cropper's album Fire It Up was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Contemporary Blues Album.

In August 2024, Steve Cropper and his band, Steve Cropper and the Midnight Hour, released a new album called Friendlytown. Billy Gibbons from ZZ Top plays lead guitar on the album, and Brian May from Queen is a guest on the song Too Much Stress.

Awards and Nominations

Steve Cropper has received many awards and nominations 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

Film and TV Appearances

Steve Cropper has also appeared in movies and TV shows, often playing himself or a musician.

• 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