Legendary guitarist, songwriter and producer Steve Cropper, who helped form the Stax Information sound, has handed away at 84.
Picture: Avalon
A press release launched by his household confirmed the information, saying Cropper died peacefully in Nashville on Wednesday (03.12.25).
It started: “Steve was a beloved musician, songwriter, and producer whose extraordinary expertise touched thousands and thousands of lives world wide,” the announcement learn.
No reason for dying has but been revealed.
The household tribute continued: “Whereas we mourn the lack of a husband, father, and buddy, we discover consolation realizing that Steve will stay perpetually by means of his music. Each notice he performed, each tune he wrote, and each artist he impressed ensures that his spirit and artistry will proceed to maneuver individuals for generations to return.”
Cropper rose to prominence as a founding member of Booker T and the MG’s, the home band at Stax Information in Memphis. Collectively, they pioneered a sound that turned synonymous with soul music within the Nineteen Sixties. Past his work with the group, Cropper contributed to landmark recordings by artists together with Otis Redding and Wilson Pickett, cementing his status as one of the influential guitarists of his period.
Cropper was typically touted by prestigious music publications, together with Rolling Stone and Mojo, as one of many biggest guitar gamers of all time.
In addition to being inducted into the Rock and Roll Corridor of Fame with Booker T and the MG’s, Cropper was inducted into the Songwriters Corridor of Fame in 2005.
He was later a member of the long-lasting Blues Brothers band.
The guitarist’s profession additionally prolonged into movie, the place he teamed up with director John Carpenter on the rating for the 1998 film Vampires. Over time, he collaborated with a bunch of music icons, amongst them Sir Elton John, Sir Ringo Starr, and Paul Simon.
In later a long time, Booker T and the MG’s continued to make their mark on stage, most memorably once they carried out because the backing band for Bob Dylan’s thirtieth Anniversary Live performance at Madison Sq. Backyard in New York in 1992.
Final yr, beneath the band identify Steve Cropper and the Midnight Hour, the musician launched the album Friendlytown. Billy Gibbons of ZZ Prime performed lead guitar all through, whereas Sir Brian Could of Queen featured on the observe Too A lot Stress.
