Legendary guitarist and songwriter Steve Cropper, a founding member of Booker T. & the M.G.’s and key architect of the Memphis soul sound at Stax Records, has died at age 84. Cropper passed away on December 3, 2025, in Nashville, with his family confirming the news but not disclosing a cause of death. His influential career spanned decades, shaping hits for artists like Otis Redding and Sam & Dave.
Background and Early Career
Born in Missouri and raised in Memphis, Tennessee, Steve Cropper picked up the guitar at age 14. He co-founded the Royal Spades, which became the Mar-Keys and Stax Records' first house band, scoring a hit with 'Last Night' in 1961. Cropper then joined Booker T. & the M.G.’s alongside Booker T. Jones, Donald 'Duck' Dunn, and Al Jackson Jr., creating instrumental classics like the No. 3 Billboard hit 'Green Onions' in 1962.
Contributions to Soul Music
As Stax's A&R director and guitarist, Cropper's spare, soulful style defined the label's sound during the 1960s. He played on recordings by Otis Redding, Sam & Dave, Wilson Pickett, and Carla and Rufus Thomas. Cropper co-wrote enduring hits including Redding's '(Sittin’ On) The Dock of the Bay,' Eddie Floyd's 'Knock on Wood,' and Pickett's 'In the Midnight Hour.' He's name-checked in Sam & Dave's 'Soul Man' with the ad-lib 'Play it, Steve!'
After Redding's 1967 plane crash death, Cropper completed 'Dock of the Bay' in under 24 hours, earning a 1969 Grammy for best rhythm & blues song. The track topped charts posthumously.
Later Career and Legacy
Leaving Stax in 1970, Cropper founded TMI Studios in Memphis and produced for John Prine, Tower of Power, and others. He played with Ringo Starr and Rod Stewart, and joined the Blues Brothers Band in the late 1970s, appearing on albums and in the 1980 and 1998 films. Reuniting with Booker T. & the M.G.’s for performances, his final solo album, Friendlytown, was nominated for a 2024 Grammy.
Inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 1992 with the band and the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2005, Cropper received a Grammy lifetime achievement award in 2007. He won two Grammys total and had nine nominations.
'Steve Cropper’s offerings to American music are significant but his contribution to soul and R&B music are immeasurable,' said Pat Mitchell Worley, CEO of the Soulsville Foundation. His family noted, 'Every note he played... ensures that his spirit and artistry will continue to move people for generations to come.' Survivors include wife Angel and children Andrea, Cameron, Stephen, and Ashley.
