50 Amazing Facts You Need To Know About Steve Cropper

Photo Credit: Spotify

Steve Cropper’s passing yesterday in Nashville marks a moment of reflection for everyone shaped by the sound of American soul music. At 84, after time in a rehabilitation facility following a recent fall, he leaves a legacy filled with generosity, groove and unmistakable tone. His guitar work guided the heartbeat of Stax Records, lifted the voices of Otis Redding, Wilson Pickett and Sam & Dave, and brought Memphis spirit to stages around the world. Cropper’s music continues to shine with warmth, precision and feeling, offering a lasting reminder of an artist who helped define the language of soul. Here are 50 facts you didn’t know about the man himself.

  1. Steve Cropper was born in Dora, Missouri on October 21, 1941.
  2. He was raised in both Dora and West Plains before moving to Memphis at age nine.
  3. Black church music in Memphis had a major impact on his musical development.
  4. He acquired his first guitar at age fourteen.
  5. His early guitar influences included Tal Farlow, Chuck Berry and Jimmy Reed.
  6. He also admired Chet Atkins and Lowman Pauling of The 5 Royales.
  7. Earl Cate of The Cate Brothers Band and Billy Butler of Bill Doggett’s band were among his heroes.
  8. Cropper and Charlie Freeman formed a group called the Royal Spades.
  9. The Royal Spades later became the Mar-Keys.
  10. Their name referenced the marquee outside Stax Studios, then known as Satellite Records.
  11. The Mar-Keys scored a 1961 hit with “Last Night.”
  12. Stax co-founder Jim Stewart saw unusual professionalism in Cropper at a young age.
  13. After Chips Moman left Stax, Cropper became the label’s A&R man.
  14. He co-founded Booker T. & the M.G.’s with Booker T. Jones, Lewie Steinberg and Al Jackson Jr.
  15. Donald “Duck” Dunn later replaced Lewie Steinberg on bass in the band.
  16. Cropper played guitar on “(Sittin’ On) The Dock of the Bay.”
  17. He co-wrote “Dock of the Bay” with Otis Redding.
  18. He played on Sam & Dave’s “Soul Man,” where he was mentioned by name in the lyrics.
  19. John Belushi repeated that name-shout when the Blues Brothers covered “Soul Man.”
  20. Cropper used a 1956 Fender Esquire on early Stax recordings.
  21. He later used a blonde Fender Telecaster.
  22. The Beatles admired Cropper’s guitar work and his production for Otis Redding.
  23. John Lennon and Paul McCartney once planned to record with Cropper in Memphis.
  24. Manager Brian Epstein canceled those sessions due to security concerns.
  25. Cropper co-wrote “Knock on Wood” with Eddie Floyd.
  26. He co-wrote “In the Midnight Hour” with Wilson Pickett.
  27. He released his first solo album, “With a Little Help from My Friends,” in 1969.
  28. After leaving Stax in 1970, he co-founded TMI Studios.
  29. He worked with Tower of Power, Rod Stewart and John Prine during the TMI years.
  30. He also worked with José Feliciano, The Jeff Beck Group, Ringo Starr and John Lennon.
  31. Booker T. & the M.G.’s reunited in 1975, but drummer Al Jackson Jr. was murdered before the comeback.
  32. Cropper and Dunn joined Levon Helm’s RCO All-Stars in 1978.
  33. He became a core member of the Blues Brothers band.
  34. He re-recorded “(Sittin’ On) The Dock of the Bay” for Sammy Hagar in 1979.
  35. Cropper appeared in the film The Blues Brothers as himself.
  36. He lived in Los Angeles for thirteen years before moving to Nashville.
  37. In The Compleat Al (1985), he attempted to join Weird Al Yankovic’s band in a cameo scene.
  38. He performed at the 1991 Guitar Legends concerts in Seville.
  39. He appeared with Booker T. & the M.G.’s at Bob Dylan’s 30th Anniversary Concert in 1992.
  40. He toured with Neil Young after the 1992 tribute concert.
  41. Mojo magazine named him “the greatest living guitar player” in 1996.
  42. Keith Richards once described Cropper’s playing simply as “Perfect, man.”
  43. He released the album The Interview – Play It, Steve! in 1998.
  44. Cropper backed Eric Clapton at the 2004 Crossroads Guitar Festival.
  45. He was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2005.
  46. He co-produced Guy Sebastian’s The Memphis Album in 2007 and toured Australia with him.
  47. He released a tribute album to The 5 Royales called Dedicated in 2011.
  48. His 2021 album Fire It Up was nominated for a Grammy.
  49. In 2024, he released Friendlytown with Billy Gibbons featured throughout.
  50. Steve Cropper died in Nashville on December 3, 2025 at age 84 after complications following a fall.