Steve Cropper, the legendary guitarist and Rock & Roll Hall of Famer known for shaping the Memphis soul sound with Stax Records, died on Wednesday (December 3) at the age of 84. No cause of death has been shared as of yet. “While we mourn the loss of a husband, father, and friend, we find comfort knowing that Steve will live forever through his music,” his family said in a statement. “Every note he played, every song he wrote, and every artist he inspired ensures that his spirit and artistry will continue to move people for generations to come.” As a founding member of the Mar-Keys, who eventually became Booker T. & The MG’s (fronted by Mar-Keys keyboardist Booker T. Jones) and the Stax house band, Cropper played on and co-wrote iconic tracks such as “Green Onions,” Wilson Pickett’s “In the Midnight Hour,” and Otis Redding’s “(Sittin’ On) The Dock of the Bay,” helping define the contemporary sound of soul and R&B music.
Revered for his distinctive, soulful guitar style, he went on to collaborate with numerous artists including John Lennon, Ringo Starr, the Blues Brothers, and Neil Young, and produced albums for major acts like the Jeff Beck Group, John Prine, and John Mellencamp. Cropper’s indelible musical contributions earned him two Grammys as well as the Grammys’ lifetime achievement award in 2007, and he was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1992 as a member of Booker T. & the MG’s, leaving behind a lasting legacy as one of modern music’s most influential guitarists. (Rolling Stone)
