{"id":832,"date":"2025-12-07T12:33:32","date_gmt":"2025-12-07T18:33:32","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/nassaubaymusiclessons.com\/?p=832"},"modified":"2025-12-07T12:33:32","modified_gmt":"2025-12-07T18:33:32","slug":"steve-cropper-guitarist-songwriter-and-shaper-of-memphis-soul-music-dies-at-84","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/nassaubaymusiclessons.com\/?p=832","title":{"rendered":"Steve Cropper, Guitarist, Songwriter and Shaper of Memphis Soul Music, Dies at 84"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n
\n
\n
<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\"A<\/picture><\/div>
Steve Cropper in 1973. His guitar licks could be heard in hits by Otis Redding, Sam & Dave and Wilson Pickett, among many others.<\/span>Credit…<\/span>David Reed Archive\/Alamy<\/span><\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/header>\n<\/div>\n
\n
\n
\n
\n

As a member of Booker T. & the MG\u2019s and as a producer, he played a pivotal role in the rise of Stax Records, a storied force in R&B in the 1960s and \u201970s.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/header>\n

\n
\n
\n
<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n

By <\/span>Bill Friskics-Warren<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

\n
\n
\n

Steve Cropper, the prodigious guitarist, songwriter and producer who played a pivotal role in shaping the lean gutbucket soul music made at Memphis\u2019s Stax Records in the 1960s and \u201970s, died on Wednesday in Nashville. He was 84.<\/p>\n

His death, at a rehabilitation facility, was confirmed by his wife, Angel Cropper, who did not specify the cause.<\/p>\n

As a member of Booker T. & the MG\u2019s, the house rhythm section at Stax, Mr. Cropper played the snarling Fender Telecaster lick on \u201cGreen Onions<\/a>,\u201d the funky hit instrumental by the MG\u2019s from 1962. He also contributed the ringing guitar figure that opened Sam & Dave\u2019s gospel-steeped \u201cSoul Man<\/a>,\u201d the 1966 single on which the singer Sam Moore<\/a> shouted, \u201cPlay it, Steve!\u201d to cue Mr. Cropper\u2019s stinging single-string solo on the chorus. Both records were Top 10 pop hits and reached No. 1 on the R&B chart.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n