Stax Guitarist Steve Cropper Has Died

Stax Records guitarist Steve Cropper, who was a member of Booker T. & The M.G.’s and co-wrote such classics as “(Sittin’ On) The Dock Of The Bay,” has died at age 84.

A statement from Cropper’s family follows:

It is with profound sadness that we share the news of the passing of Stephen Lee Cropper, who died peacefully in Nashville today at the age of 84.

Steve was a beloved musician, songwriter, and producer whose extraordinary talent touched millions of lives around the world. As the legendary guitarist for Booker T. & the M.G.’s and the architect of the Stax Records sound, he helped create some of the most enduring songs in music history, including “(Sittin’ On) The Dock of the Bay,” “Soul Man,” “Knock on Wood,” and “In the Midnight Hour.” A Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Inductee, Grammy Award winner, and Songwriters Hall of Fame honoree, Steve’s influence on American music is immeasurable.

While we mourn the loss of a husband, father, and friend, we find comfort knowing that Steve will live forever through his music. 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.

Steve is survived by his loving wife, Angel Cropper; his children Andrea and Cameron Cropper, Stevie, and Ashley, along with countless musicians and fans whose lives he transformed through his extraordinary gift.

The family thanks everyone for their love, support, and respect for their privacy during this difficult time.

Cropper was born on October 21, 1941 in Dora, Missouri, and his family relocated to Memphis nine years later. At age 14, he got a mail order guitar and according to his official biography, took inspiration from “personal guitar heroes” including “Tal Farlow, Chuck Berry, Jimmy Reed, Chet Atkins, Lowman Pauling of the Five Royales and Billy Butler of the Bill Doggett band.”

As a teen, Cropper formed a band called the Royal Spades with Charlie Freeman, which would evolve into The Mar-Keys. In 1961, The Mar-Keys scored a hit with “Last Night,” their single released by Memphis-based Satellite Records, which would change its name to Stax Records.

Cropper left The Mar-Keys and with Stax founder Jim Stewart, became entrenched at the label’s studio in Memphis. During this stint, Cropper joined Booker T. & The M.G.’s, who served as the label’s house band and whose 1962 song “Green Onions” became one of the best known instrumental R&B hits of the era.

Cropper’s bio states, “As a guitarist, A & R man, engineer, producer, songwriting partner of Otis Redding, Eddie Floyd and a dozen others and founding member of both Booker T. and the MG’s and The Mar-Keys, Cropper was literally involved in virtually every record issued by Stax from the fall of 1961 through year end 1970.” Cropper recorded with Stax artists Otis Redding, Wilson Pickett, Sam & Dave, Carla Thomas and many others.

In 1964, Pickett scored a hit with the song he and Cropper composed together, “In the Midnight Hour.” Cropper co-wrote “(Sittin’ On) The Dock of the Bay” with Redding, who recorded his iconic version three days before his untimely death in 1967. The following year, it earned Cropper his first Grammy Award win for Best Rhythm and Blues Song.

Cropper also worked with other labels like Sun, Duke-Peacock and Hi Records and left Stax in 1970. During the subsequent decade, Cropper recorded in Memphis at Trans-Maximus (TMI) recording studio he co-founded.

In 1977, Cropper and Booker T. & The M.G.’s bassist, Donald “Duck” Dunn joined Levon Helm’s RCO All-Stars, which led to John Belushi and Dan Aykroyd tapping the pair for the Blues Brothers Band. The Blues Brothers Band issued three albums and starred in the 1980 eponymous feature film Blues Brothers and its sequel, Blues Brothers 2000.

Cropper continued to record and perform throughout the rest of his career collaborating with members of the Beatles, Albert King, Jeff Beck, Dolly Parton, John Prine, Tower Of Power, John Mellencamp, Jose Feliciano, Poco, Rod Stewart, Peter Frampton, Art Garfunkel, and Wynonna, among many more.

Cropper was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame with Booker T. & The M.G.’s in 1992. He was inducted into the Songwriters Hall Of Fame in 2005.

Cropper’s album, Friendlytown, was released in 2024 and featured ZZ Top’s Billy Gibbons and Queen’s Brian May. The album was recorded in Nashville at Cropper’s Insomnia Studio.