Steve Cropper, guitarist of Booker T and the MGs, dead at 84
Guitarist and soul music legend Steve Cropper has passed away at the age of 84.
Forever known as one of the defining figures of Booker T and the MGs, Cropper was always celebrated for the solid groove that came to epitomise what Memphis soul sounded like. Aside from his main gig, he was also recognised for his indelible mark on the session music scene throughout his career.
The news of his passing was confirmed by his son Cameron on December 3rd. As of yet, no cause of death has been revealed.
First getting his start with Booker T and the MGs in the 1960s, Cropper would become best known for adding the perfect guitar section to every one of their songs. Being an integral part of their tune ‘Green Onions’, Cropper would also carry a lot of what he had learned through his work with the Stax Records mainstays to the countless artists he worked with.
Aside from his work with his main outfit, Cropper would become a defining player in the Stax scene, working with Sam and Dave and contributing the guitar line of one of their most famous tracks, ‘Soul Man’. Cropper also had a hands-on approach in bringing Otis Redding‘s music to the forefront during his lifetime.
While Redding wasn’t around to see the release of his final album, The Dock of the Bay, Cropper helped oversee the production of the record, which would become one of Redding’s best-selling projects. Then again, Redding would also have a wealth of opportunities to play with countless other artists as the years progressed, working with everyone from power-pop icons Big Star to Chicago to Delaney and Bonnie.
But, perhaps, the most high-profile appearance that Cropper ever made was in The Blues Brothers movie with Dan Aykroyd and John Belushi. Along with countless other legends like James Brown and Ray Charles, Cropper starred as one of their band members and played guitar on a majority of their studio albums.
As well as with various appearances with the MGs throughout his later years, Cropper never stopped making music, continuing to put out solo material up until the album Friendlytown, which was released in 2024.
Cropper is survived by his wife, Angel, as well as his four children.
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