Steve Cropper, the legendary Booker T. & the MG’s guitarist and beloved member of The Blues Brothers band, has died at the age of 84. The news was confirmed by the Soulsville Foundation, marking the end of an extraordinary era for one of the most influential musicians in American soul and rock history.
Pat Mitchell Worley, president and CEO of the Soulsville Foundation, shared that Cropper’s family informed her of his passing on Wednesday in Nashville, according to the Associated Press. Soulsville operates the Stax Museum of American Soul Music—built on the grounds of the original Stax Records studio—where Cropper spent many of his most formative years and helped craft the unmistakable Memphis soul sound.
As of now, no official cause of death has been released, though longtime associate Eddie Gore shared that the guitarist had recently suffered a fall and was at a rehabilitation clinic the day before his passing. Gore added that Cropper had been working on new music and described him as “such a good human,” saying those who knew him were “blessed to have him.”
A legacy rooted in Memphis soul
Born October 21, 1941, in Dora, Missouri, Steve Cropper moved with his family to Memphis at just nine years old. The city shaped him completely. By his mid-teens, he had already picked up a guitar and immersed himself in the rhythms of black church music and the diverse musical landscape that defined Memphis in the 1950s.
Cropper’s playing style became iconic not for flash, but for something far harder to imitate: taste, restraint, groove, and an uncanny instinct for exactly what a song needed—and nothing more. His crisp rhythm patterns and sharp, melodic riffs helped define an entire genre.
In an era marked by deep racial divides, Cropper stood out as one of the few white musicians working seamlessly and respectfully alongside Black artists at Stax. He played behind, wrote with, and produced countless legends who shaped soul music as we know it.
A soundtrack of classics
His fingerprints are on some of the greatest tracks of the 20th century. Cropper played the unforgettable guitar part on Sam & Dave’s 1967 hit “Soul Man,” punctuated by Sam Moore famously calling out, “Play it, Steve!”—a moment so iconic it later reappeared in The Blues Brothers’ beloved version of the song.
His songwriting catalogue reads like a map of American music history. Cropper co-wrote:
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“Green Onions” — Booker T. & the MG’s timeless instrumental
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“(Sittin’ On) The Dock of the Bay” — one of Otis Redding’s most enduring works
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“In the Midnight Hour” — Wilson Pickett’s towering soul anthem
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“Seesaw” — recorded by Don Covay
And behind the scenes, he contributed guitar work to artists such as John Fogerty, Neil Young, and Bob Dylan.
Cropper once summed up his musical philosophy simply:
“I listen to the other musicians and the singer. I’m not listening to just me … I play around all that stuff. That’s what I do. That’s my style.”
That humility, paired with impeccable musicianship, became his signature.
Revered by the greats
In 1996, Mojo magazine ranked Steve Cropper the second-greatest guitarist in history, behind only Jimi Hendrix. Their tribute described his playing as a masterclass in precision and musical generosity.
Keith Richards called him “perfect.”
Joe Bonamassa said, “If you haven’t heard the name Steve Cropper, you’ve heard him in song.”
His induction into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 1992 cemented what musicians had always known: Steve Cropper wasn’t just influential—he was foundational.
The final chord
Steve Cropper leaves behind his wife, Angel, and four children, along with a legacy that stretches across generations, genres, and continents. His work remains forever woven into the DNA of American music—soulful, steady, and unmistakably his.
Rest in peace, Steve Cropper—thank you for every note.
