(Steve Cropper) Blues Brothers Rock & Roll HOF Guitarist Dies at 84

[turbinetree]

Source: The Guardian

Adrian Horton
Wed 3 Dec 2025 17.17 EST

Prolific musician was known for work on songs like Green Onions and Otis Redding's (Sittin' on) the Dock of the Bay
Steve Cropper, the legendary guitarist whose work as an instrumentalist, producer and songwriter at Stax Records left an indelible impression on Memphis soul music, has died at the age of 84.

Hs son Cameron confirmed his death to Variety.

A prolific musician, Cropper was best known as the guitarist in Booker T & the MGs, an interracial soul quartet widely considered the best backing band in soul music, and perhaps still best remembered for their timeless blues track Green Onions. But Cropper's distinctive guitar work animated many of the tracks out of Stax Records, the influential Memphis soul label that released a string of international hits by such soul luminaries as Otis Redding, Wilson Pickett, Sam & Dave, Rufus and Carla Thomas, and Eddie Floyd.

Read more: https://www.theguardian.com/music/2025/dec/03/steve-cropper-death

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I have posted the Steppenwolf version...........

The song Sookie Sookie was written by Don Covay and Steve Cropper and was first recorded and released by Don Covay & The Goodtimers in 1966.

[nuxvomica]

1. "Green Onions" is a great, iconic R&B instrumental

Everybody's heard it in countless movies but not by name.

[turbinetree]

3. There are so many songs that he was apart of.........I remember the Steppenwolf song when I was in California.......

and other songs he wrote and co-produced............
Thank you for posting this song brings back a lot of memories'..........

[twodogsbarking]

2. Looks like he squeezed 200 years into 84. Good songs. Inspiration to many.

[turbinetree]

4. It is amazing how he influenced so many musicians over the years........with his guitar...........

[Brother Buzz]

5. Steve Cropper on his fender guitar standing to the right of Bassist, Donald "Duck" Dunn

This SNL cold opener was the nation’s introduction to the Blues Brothers. We had no idea how big they were gonna be. Steve Cropper was a solid session player and had a finger on the pulse of music.

[flashman13]

15. I pushed play and went in the kitchen to do dishes. Next thing I know I'm dancing around doing my best Elwood impression

It's such happy music. RIP Steve and Duck Dunn and the rest of the crew.

[Brother Buzz]

20. Yes, happy music, but the inspiration for the song was rooted in a dark period of Americana

Co-author Isaac Hayes found the inspiration for "Soul Man" in the turmoil of the Civil Rights Movement of the 1960s. In July 1967, watching a television newscast of the aftermath of the 12th Street riot in Detroit, Michigan, Hayes noted that black residents had marked buildings that had not been destroyed during the riots – mostly African-American owned and operated institutions – with the word "soul".[6] Relating this occurrence to the biblical story of the Passover,[7] Hayes and songwriting partner David Porter came up with the idea, in Hayes's words, of "a story about one's struggle to rise above his present conditions. It's almost a tune kind of like boasting, 'I'm a soul man.' It's a pride thing." (Wikipedia)

[Paladin]

6. Fine musician. RIP. (nt)

[DinahMoeHum]

7. Guitarist for Otis Redding. . .

Rest In Peace, Steve Cropper, and thanks for the music.

[justaprogressive]

8. From 2008

[muriel_volestrangler]

9. Any chance you could update the title?

It's now "Steve Cropper, legendary guitarist for Booker T & the MGs, dies aged 84" - and that puts Cropper in the title, which I think he deserves.

[Zambero]

11. Absolutely

As Aretha might have put i, the man deserves some R-E-S-P-E-C-T!

[Jokerman]

26. YES!

I was about to post the same thing.

[Zambero]

10. A master of his craft

Steve Cropper was somewhat of an enigma, from hillbilly origins to becoming one of the foremost American rhythm & blues guitarists from the 60's onward. His playing sytle was "less is better", making every note count and playing first and formost for the song. He was an accomplished songwriter as well, including "Dock of The Bay" and "Midnight Hour" among many others.

[Keepthesoulalive]

12. A phenomenal guitarist

With a beautiful sense of humor. His description of writing midnight hour for Pickett was comedic gold. He was a foundational soul guitarist.

[calimary]

13. Aw shit. There goes another one.

LOVED what he did with his guitar. LOVED LOVED LOVED it!

He’s one for the ages, now. I often comfort myself by thinking what an outrageously primo band Heaven has! They just added a STELLAR new member!

[no_hypocrisy]

14. Guest credits at end of "The Blues Brothers"

At 0:22

[Fiendish Thingy]

16. Cropper was MUCH more than just the Blues Brothers guitarist

He co-wrote Dock of the Bay with Otis, played in Booker T and The MG’s who backed Otis and many others Stax artists on their hits.

That guitar intro on Sam and Dave’s Soul Man? Pure Cropper genius.

He was a legend.

[OldBaldy1701E]

22. Hear Hear!

RIP Colonel!

[JohnnyRingo]

24. i didn't know he played on Soul Man.

I think he had little else to do save hanging around studios in case someone needed a guitar. It was his life.

[Fiendish Thingy]

29. He was on the road a ton as well

Lots of footage out there of him and the MG’s backing Stax artists on tour in the 60’s.

He wasn’t just a hired gun in the studio, he was an integral part of the Stax organization for most of the 60’s.

[Wiz Imp]

17. He won a Grammy in 1994 for this performance

(along with the rest of Booker T. & the M.G.s)

[Fiorillo]

18. Sound engineer for Booker T

Last edited Fri Dec 5, 2025, 09:47 PM - Edit history (1)

Got to mix the band once in Madison, Wisconsin 1990. Bunch of great guys! https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10226842772250216&set=pb.1678801566.-2207520000&type=3

[mdbl]

19. Thank you for the great music, RIP

[DrFunkenstein]

21. A Genius of Musical Concision

His work - even his solos - were always in the service of the song. He could do more with a single lick than most could do with a 20 minute jam. RIP

[VGNonly]

23. Yesterday just before midnight

I was watching American Graffiti on YouTube. The drag race was the penultimate scene, Green Onions was playing.

[FakeNoose]

25. Steve Cropper was such a world-class talent

Wikipedia link: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steve_Cropper

Rest in Peace Steve Cropper, and thanks for all the great songs!

[IrishAfricanAmerican]

27. RIP 🎸

[displacedvermoter]

28. Saw him with Dave Edmunds and Dion

many years ago, great talent and a really recognizable part of the 1960s sound.

[ihaveaquestion]

30. Original "Sookie Sookie" recording by Don Covey...

Good old R&B!

Steve Cropper plays the guitar on this original release.

[turbinetree]

31. Thank you This song in my humble opinion was one of the best songs on the am dial back in 1965 and 1969 by Steppenwolf