The STEVE CROPPER Fan Page profile picture

The STEVE CROPPER Fan Page

...trying to be cute, trying to be an overachiever, trying to impress people, that's not what makes

About Me


I'm NOT Steve Cropper!
This is just a fan page in his honor!!
Steve HAS seen this page, and I'm proud to say that he approves of it!!
Hi, my name is T-Bone , and to say that I'm a fan of Steve Cropper would be the biggest understatement ever! Steve is my biggest influence on the guitar, and my guitar hero! His writing, his playing, his producing...the man is a genius!
BIOGRAPHY:
Steve "The Colonel" Cropper (born October 21, 1941) is an American guitarist, songwriter, producer, and soul musician. On June 9, 2005, Cropper was inducted into the Songwriters' Hall of Fame alongside Bill Withers, Robert B. Sherman, Richard M. Sherman, John Fogerty, David Porter and Isaac Hayes.
Early life:
Cropper was born Stephen Lee Cropper on a farm outside Dora, Missouri. In 1950, his family moved to Memphis, Tennessee. At age ten, he strummed a guitar for the first time, his brother-in-law's Gibson. Cropper received his first guitar at age 14, and started playing with local musicians. His hero at the time was Lowman Pauling of Memphis's The Five Royales.
The Stax years (1961-1970):
Cropper and guitarist Charlie Freeman formed (as a tip of the hat to Pauling's band) The Royal Spades, who eventually became The Mar-Keys. The Mar-Keys was a play on the marquee outside of Stax (at the time called Satellite Records).[1] The band's inexperienced sax player Charles "Packy" Axton's mother Estelle and uncle Jim Stewart owned Satellite, and eventually The Mar-Keys began playing on sessions and had a hit single of their own with 1961's "Last Night". Also in the band were producer/songwriter Don Nix and future legends, bassist Donald "Duck" Dunn and trumpeter Wayne Jackson.
Besides being impressed with the young guitarist's playing, the then Stax Records president Jim Stewart saw a business sense, professionalism, and maturity in Cropper beyond his years. When American Records founder Chips Moman left Stax, the young Cropper was given the keys to the studio, which he opened every day; he became the company's A & R man, and shared engineering duties with Stewart. A founding member of Booker T. & the MGs, Stax's house band, Cropper, along with Booker T. Jones on organ and piano, bassist Dunn, and drummer Al Jackson, Jr., went on to record several hits. His fiery leads and tight rhythm work with the MGs, and his tasteful work on hundreds of records, most notably his work with Otis Redding, were unmistakable and would make him a legend.
Cropper's legend was not limited to the United States. The Beatles were in awe of Cropper's playing and his production on Otis Redding records. In fact, when pressed as to who John Lennon and Paul McCartney may want to collaborate with, Steve Cropper's was the only name they mentioned.
McCartney has been quoted as saying "Drive My Car" was based on the bass line on Redding's "Respect". The "Fab Four" approached Stax about recording in their studio, but word quickly got out, and fans (predominantly teenage girls) and the local press made it impossible for this to happen. Revolver is apparently the album that was to be recorded in Soulsville U.S.A.
The MGs, as instrumental artists, worked because they "wrote sounds". Music professor and author of the book Soulsville U.S.A.: The Story Of Stax Records, Rob Bowman, quotes Booker T. Jones as saying, "We were writing sounds too, especially Steve. He's very sound-conscious, and he gets a lot of sounds out of a Telecaster without changing any settings — just by using his fingers, his picks, and his amps". Together, with Jones on a B-3 organ, they could get so many sounds going that they sounded like a much larger group.
Besides his influential work with the MGs, Cropper co-wrote "Knock On Wood" with Eddie Floyd, "In the Midnight Hour" with Wilson Pickett, and "(Sittin' On) The Dock of the Bay" with Otis Redding. His partnership with Redding was particularly fruitful. "(Sittin' On) The Dock Of the Bay", alone, has been played over six million times, making it the sixth most played song of all time (and the ASCAP catalog's second most).
In 1969, Cropper released his first solo album, With a Little Help From My Friends.
After Stax (1970-present):
Cropper left Stax in the fall of 1970. The company had already lost Otis Redding in a plane crash, stars Sam & Dave (through Stax's distribution deal breakup with Atlantic), and an also disgruntled Booker T. Jones. When Cropper left, Stax lost their most successful producer, along with his partners David Porter and Isaac Hayes.
He formed TMI (Trans-Maximus) with Jerry Williams and former Mar-Key Ronnie Stoots. There he lent his guitar and producing skills to Jeff Beck, Tower Of Power, John Prine, and Jose Feliciano (on his 3 RCA albums; 1972 "Memphis Menu", 1973 "Compartments", 1974 "For My Love"). Also during this time, he played on Ringo Starr's 1973 album Ringo and the following year's Goodnight Vienna, and John Lennon asked him to play on his Rock 'n' Roll album. By 1975, Cropper had closed shop and moved to Los Angeles, where Booker T. Jones was also living. They called up Al Jackson and Duck Dunn, still at Stax, and decided to reform the MGs. But Jackson, who Cropper called "the greatest drummer to ever walk the earth", was murdered in his Memphis home.
In the late seventies, Cropper and Dunn became members of (The Band's drummer) Levon Helm's RCO All-Stars, and then they went on to lead The Blues Brothers Band with Al Jackson protégé, drummer Willie Hall. This led to several albums and two movies. Cropper lived in L.A. for the next thirteen years before moving to Nashville.
Cropper remains in the The Blues Brothers Band, reunited in 1988. He and Dunn have circled the globe many times with various front men, including Larry Thurston and Stax Soul men Sam Moore and Eddie Floyd.
In February 1998, he released Play It, Steve! where he described the inspirations behind his creation of some of Soul music's most enduring songs. It was released on Play It, Steve! Records. The phrase is exclaimed by Moore on Sam & Dave's "Soul Man" and later by John Belushi (a.k.a. "Joliet" Jake Blues) with The Blues Brothers. Cropper is also a part of many charities and lends his name to benefits every year.
Cropper is generally regarded as the most well known and influential Soul guitarist and because of his ability to adapt to many different styles, in 1996, he was named the greatest living guitar player (second all-time behind Jimi Hendrix) by Britain's Mojo Magazine. When asked what he thought of Cropper, the guitarist at number four, The Rolling Stones' Keith Richards, said "Perfect, man".

David Porter, Isaac Hayes & Steve Cropper
The night they were inducted into the Songwriters Hall Of Fame 6/9/2005

My Interests

I'm NOT Steve Cropper!
This is just a fan page in his honor!!
Steve HAS seen this page, and I'm proud to say that he approves of it!!

I'd like to meet:


Music:


DISCOGRAPHY:
Ambergris
"Ambergris" - Producer
Jeff Beck
"Jeff Beck Group" (1972) -Producer
"Beckology" (1991)- Producer
William Bell
"Soul of a Bell" (1967) - Guitar
"Little Something Extra" (1992)- Guitar, Producer
"Wow.../Bound to Happen" (1997)- Guitar
Barbi Benton
"Something New" (1975)- Guitar
Big Star
"Third/Sister Lovers" (1978) - Guitar
Stephen Bishop
"Bish" (1978) - Guitar
The Blues Brothers
"Briefcase Full of Blues" (1978) - Guitar
"Made in America" (1980) - Guitar
"Blues Brothers" (1980)- Guitar
"Best of the Blues Brothers" (1981) - Guitar
Bobby & The Midnites
"Where the Beat Meets the Street" (1984) - Guitar
Booker T. & The MG's
"Green Onions" (1962)- Guitar
"Soul Dressing" (1965) - Guitar
"And Now, Booker T. and the MG's" (1966) - Guitar
"In the Christmas Spirit" (1966)- Bass, Guitar
"Hip Hug-Her" (1967)- Guitar, Percussion, Piano
"Doin' Our Thing" (1968)- Guitar
"Soul Limbo" (1968) - Guitar
"Uptight" (1968) - Guitar, Engineer, Re-Recording Engineer
"Booker T. Set" (1969) - Guitar, Engineer
"McLemore Avenue" (1970) - Guitar
"Melting Pot" (1971) - Guitar, Engineer, Remixing
"Best of Booker T. & the MG's" (1986) - Guitar
"Very Best of Booker T. & the MG's" (1994) - Bass, Guitar, Piano
"That's the Way It Should Be" (1994) - Guitar, Guitar (Bass), Vocals, Producer
Shanda Brash
"Good to Go" (1998) - Executive Producer
Roy Buchanan
"Loading Zone" (1977) - Guitar
"Sweet Dreams: The Anthology" (1992) - Guitar
"Guitar on Fire: Atlantic Sessions" (1993) - Guitar
Jimmy Buffett
"Hot Water" (1988) - Guitar (Electric)
"Boats, Beaches, Bars & Ballads" (1992) - Guitar (Electric)
Billy Burnette
"Try Me" - Guitar, Vocals (bckgr)
Brian Cadd
"White on White" (1976) - Guitar
The Cate Brothers
"Cate Brothers" (1975) - Guitar, Vocals, Producer
"In One Eye and out the Other" (1976) - Guitar, Vocals, Producer
The Chambers Brothers
"Live in Concert on Mars" (1977) - Guitar
Keith Christmas
"Stories from a Human Zoo" (1976)- Guitar
David Clayton-Thomas
"David Clayton-Thomas" [Columbia] (1972) - Guitar
Cold Blood
"Lydia" (1974) - Guitar, Producer
Don Covay
"Mercy Mercy: The Definitive Don Covay" (1994) - Guitar
Hank Crawford
"Heart and Soul: The Hank Crawford..." (1958) - Guitar
Robert Cray
"I Was Warned" (1992) - Composer
Patti Dahlstrom
"Your Place or Mine" (1974) - Guitar
Delaney & Bonnie
"Home" (1969) - Guitar
"Best of Delaney & Bonnie" (1990)
Ned Doheny
"Hard Candy" (1976) - Guitar (Electric), Vocals (bckgr), Producer
Bobby Doyle
"Nine Songs" (1972) - Guitar (Electric)
Dreams
"Imagine My Surprise" (1972) - Guitar, Producer
Bob Dylan
"Bob Dylan 30th Anniversary Concert" (1993) - Guitar
Duane Eddy
"Duane Eddy" (1979) - Guitar
"Duane Eddy: His Twangy Guitar &..." (1995) - Guitar
Randy Edelman
"Fairwell Fairbanks" (1976) - Guitar
Yvonne Elliman
"Night Flight" (1978) - Guitar
"Yvonne" (1979) - Guitar
"Very Best of Yvonne Elliman" (1995) - Producer
"Best of Yvonne Elliman" (1997) - Guitar (Acoustic), Guitar (Electric), Producer, Horn Arrangements
Jose Feliciano
"Greatest Hits" (1998) Arranger, Producer
"Jose Feliciano Sings: Greatest..." (2000) - Arranger, Producer
First Call
"Sacred Journey" (1993) - Guitar (Electric)
Eddie Floyd
"Knock on Wood" (1967) - Guitar
"Chronicle" (1979) - Arranger, Producer
"Rare Stamps" (1993) - Guitar, Arranger, Producer, Remixing
"California Girl/Down to Earth" (1995)- Guitar, Arranger, Producer, Engineer, Supervisor
Robben Ford
"Inside Story" (1979) - Producer
Peter Frampton
"Where I Should Be" (1979) - Guitar
Aretha Franklin
"Aretha Now" (1968) - Composer
Lowell Fulson
"Ol' Blues Singer" (1975)- Guitar
Richie Furay
"I've Got a Reason" (1976) - Guitar
Art Garfunkel
"Breakaway" (1975) - Guitar
Marty Grebb
"Smooth Sailin' " (1999) - Guitar
The Iron City Houserockers
"Blood on the Bricks" (1981)- Guitar, Producer
"Pumping Iron & Sweating Steel: The Best Of" (1992) -Guitar, Producer
Buddy Guy
"Heavy Love" (1998)
Richie Havens
"End of the Beginning" (1976) - Guitar
Isaac Hayes
"Presenting Isaac Hayes" (1968) - Editing, Mixing
Roy Head
"Dismal Prisoner" (1972) - Guitar, Producer
Levon Helm
"Levon Helm & the RCO All-Stars" (1977) - Guitar
"Levon Helm" (1978) - Guitar, Percussion
Keith Herman
"Next Song Is..." (1979) - Guitar (Electric)
Chris Hillman
"Slippin' Away" (1976) - Guitar, Guitar (Electric), Guitar (Rhythm)
Rebecca Lynn Howard
"Rebecca Lynn Howard" (2000) - Guitar (Electric)
Etta James
"Deep in the Night" (1978) - Guitar
"Seven Year Itch" (1989) - Guitar, Guitar (Rhythm)
"Right Time" (1992) - Guitar
Mable John
"Stay Out of the Kitchen" (1993) - Guitar
Ruby Johnson
"I'll Run Your Hurt Away" (1993) - Guitar
Wynonna Judd
"Tell Me Why" (1993) - Guitar (Electric)
"Collection" (1997) - Guitar (Electric)
Albert King
"Born Under a Bad Sign" (1967) - Guitar
"King of the Blues Guitar" (1969) - Guitar
"Albert King w/ Steve... Jammed Together" (1969)- Guitar, Vocals
"Blues for Elvis" (1970) - Guitar
"Ultimate Collection" (1993) - Guitar
"Hard Bargain: (1996) - Guitar
"Very Best of Albert King" (1999) - Guitar, Producer
B.B. King
"King of Blues: 1989" (1988) - Guitar (Rhythm)
Diane Kolby
"Diane Kolby" (1973) - Guitar, Guitar (Electric), Producer
John Lennon
"Rock 'n' Roll" (1975) - Guitar
Jerry Lee Lewis
"All Killer, No Filler: The Best..." (1993) - Guitar
Ramsey Lewis
"Solar Wind" (1980) - Guitar
Joanne MacKell
"Joanne Mackell" (1978) - Guitar
Manhattan Transfer
"Pastiche" (1976) - Guitar, Guitar (Electric), Remixing
The Mar-Keys
"Great Memphis Sound" (1966) - Guitar
"The Mar-Keys/Booker T. & MG's: Back to Back" (1967) - Guitar
"Damifiknow!/Memphis Experience" (1994) - Guitar
John Cougar Mellencamp
"Nothin' Matters & What If It Did" (1980) - Producer
"Best That I Could Do" (1978-1988) (1997) - Producer
Eric Mercury
"Funky Sound Nurtured in the..." (1972) - Guitar, Arranger, Producer
Buddy Miles
"Best of Buddy Miles" (1997) - Producer
Keith Moon
"Two Sides of the Moon" (1975) - Director, Producer
Matthew Moore
"Winged Horses" - Guitar (Electric)
Nervous Eaters
"Nervous Eaters
(1980) -Guitar
Aaron Neville
"Tattooed Heart" (1995) - Guitar, Guitar (Electric)
Wayne Newton
"Tomorrow" - Guitar
Ollie & The Nightingales
"Ollie & The Nightingales" - Engineer
Nigel Olsson
"Nigel Olsson" (1978) - Guitar
Roy Orbison
"Mystery Girl" (1989) Guitar
Dolly Parton
"Dolly Dolly Dolly" (1980) - Guitar
Wilson Pickett
"In the Midnight Hour" (1965) - Guitar
"Exciting Wilson Pickett" (1966) - Guitar, Supervisor
"Greatest Hits" (1976) - Guitar
"Man and a Half" (1992) - Guitar
Poco
"From the Inside" (1971) - Producer
"Very Best of Poco" (1975) - Producer
"Songs of Richie Furay" (1979) - Producer
"Songs of Paul Cotton" (1979) - Producer
"Forgotten Trail (1969-1974)" (1990) - Producer
"Ultimate Collection" (1998) - Producer
"Very Best of Poco" (1999) - Producer
Micheal Polnareff
"Michel Polnareff" (1976) - Guitar
John Prine
"Common Sense" (1975) - Guitar (Electric), Producer, Remixing
"Prime Prine" (1976) - Guitar (Electric), Producer
"Great Days: John Prine Anthology" (1993) - Guitar (Electric)
Kenny Rankin
"Inside" (1975) - Guitar
Axelle Red
"Tatons" (1996) - Guitar
"Con Solo Pensarlo" (1998) - Guitar
Otis Redding
"Pain in My Heart" (1964) - Guitar, Piano
"Great Otis Redding Sings Soul..." (1965) - Guitar, Piano
"Complete & Unbelievable" (1966) - Guitar
"Soul Album" (1966) - Guitar
"Otis Blue/Otis Redding Sings Soul" (1966) - Guitar
"Live in Europe" (1967) - Guitar
"Otis Redding & Carla... King & Queen" (1967) - Guitar
"Dock of the Bay" (1968) - Guitar, Producer
"Immortal Otis Redding" (1968) - Guitar, Producer
"Love Man" (1969) - Guitar, Producer
"Tell the Truth" (1970) - Guitar, Producer, Liner Notes
"Ultimate Otis Redding" (1986) - Guitar, Producer
"Remember Me" (1992) - Guitar
"Otis! The Definitive Otis Redding" (1993) - Bass, Guitar, Piano, Producer, Liner Notes
"Love Songs" (1998) - Producer
"Dreams to Remember" (1998) - Guitar
Randy Richards
"Randy Richards" (1978) - Guitar (Electric)
Bruce Roberts
"Bruce Roberts" (1978) - Guitar
Carter Robertson
"Shoot the Moon" (1978) Guitar
Brian & Brenda Russell
"Word Called Love" (1976) - Guitar
Leon Russell
"Will O' the Wisp" (1975) - Guitar, Guitar (Electric), Slide Guitar
"Best of Leon Russell" (1976) - Guitar (Electric)
"Retrospective" (1997) - Guitar (Electric), Guitar (Steel), Slide Guitar
Mitch Ryder & the Detroit Wheels
"Detroit Memphis Experiment" (1969) - Guitar, Producer
Sam & Dave
"Back at 'Cha!" (1976) Guitar, Producer
"Very Best of Sam & Dave" (1995) Guitar, Producer
Sanford & Townsend
"Duo-Glide" (1977) - Guitar
Sarah and Friends
"Sarah & Friends" - Guitar, Producer
Leo Sayer
"Here" (1979) - Guitar
"Show Must Go On: Anthology" (1996) - Guitar
Boz Scaggs
"My Time: The Anthology (1969-1997)" (1997)- Guitar
Neil Sedaka
"Hungry Years" (1975) - Guitar
"Steppin' Out" (1976) - Guitar (Electric)
Paul Simon
"Songs from the Capeman" (1997) - Guitar
Percy Sledge
"Blue Night" (1994) - Guitar
Soul Mission
"Soul Mission" (1993) - Guitar, Arranger
The Staple Singers
"Soul Folk in Action" (1968) - Guitar, Producer, Remixing
"We'll Get Over" (1970) - Guitar
"Best of the Staple Singers" [Stax] (1990) -Producer
Mavis Staples
"Mavis Staples" (1969) - Producer
"Only for the Lonely" (1970) - Guitar, Arranger, Producer
Ringo Starr
"Ringo" (1973) - Guitar, Guitar (Electric)
"Goodnight Vienna" (1974) - Guitar, Guitar (Electric)
Rod Stewart
"Atlantic Crossing" (1975) - Guitar
"Night on the Town" (1976) - Guitar
"Foot Loose & Fancy Free" (1977)- Guitar
"Every Beat of My Heart" (1986) - Guitar
"Rod Stewart" (1986) - Guitar
Ronnie Stoots
"Ashes to Ashes" (1972) - Guitar, Producer, Engineer
Angela Strehli
"Blonde and Blue" (1993) - Guitar
Stuff
"Stuff It" (1978)- Producer
"Right Stuff" (1996) - Producer
Johnnie Taylor
"Wanted: One Soul Singer" (1967) - Guitar
"Who's Makin' Love?" (1968) - Guitar
"Johnnie Taylor Philosophy..." (1969) - Guitar
"One Step Beyond" (1971) - Guitar
Livingston Taylor
"Man's Best Friend" (1980) - Guitar
Carla Thomas
"Hidden Gems" (1992) - Guitar, Producer
"Gee Whiz: The Best of Carla Thomas" (1994) - Guitar, Producer
Rufus Thomas
"Funky Chicken" [Stax] (1969) - Producer
"Can't Get Away from This Dog" (1992) - Guitar
Robbin Thompson
"Robbin Thompson" (1976) - Guitar
Jimmy Thudpucker And The...
"Doonesbury's Jimmy Thudpucker and..." (1977) - Producer
Tower of Power
"Bump City" (1972) - Remixing
"We Came To Play" (1978) - Producer
Wendy Waldman
"Main Refrain" (1976) - Guitar
Joe Louis Walker
"Blues of the Month Club" (1995) - Guitar, Guitar (Rhythm), Producer
"Great Guitars" (1997) - Producer
"Preacher & The President" (1998) - Guitar, Producer
Jesse Winchester
"Gentleman of Leisure" (1999) - Guitar
Yancey
"Yancey" (1976) - Guitar
Original Soundtrack
"The Blues Brothers" (1980) - Guitar
"Great Outdoors" (1988) - Guitar, Producer
"Roadhouse" (1989) - Piano
"A Bronx Tale" (1993) - Producer
"Promised Land" [Columbia] (1995) - Producer
"My Fellow Americans" (1996) - Composer
"Blues Brothers 2000" (1997) - Guitar
"Vampires" (1998) - Guitar
"Tuff Turf" - Composer
Various Artists
"Monterey International Pop..." (1967) - Guitar
"Soul Christmas" (1968) - Guitar
"Super Hits, Vol. 2 [Atlantic]" (1968) - Producer
"Stax Blues Brothers" (1970) - Guitar
"Atlantic Blues: Vocalists" (1986) - Guitar
"Atlantic Blues Box" (1986) - Guitar
"Jammed Together" (1988) - Guitar, Vocals, Producer
"Stax Soul Brothers" (1988) - Producer
"Stax Soul Sisters" (1988) - Producer
"Guitar Workshop: Tribute to Otis Redding" (1988) - Guitar
"Guitar Player Presents: Legends" (1990) - Guitar
"Atlantic Rhythm & Blues 1947-1974" (1991) - Organ, Guitar, Piano
"Complete Stax-Volt Singles 1959..." (1991) - Arranger, Conductor, Producer
"Funky Broadway Stax Revue Live at..." (1992) - Guitar
"Stax/Volt Revue, Vol. 3" (1992) - Guitar
"Rock of the 70's, Vol. 4" (1992) - Guitar
"People Get Ready" (1993) - Guitar, Vocals
"Margaritaville Cafe Late Night..." (1993) - Guitar
"Brace Yourself!" (1993) - Guitar, Harmony Vocals
"Complete Stax-Volt Soul Singles,..." (1994) - Producer
"Till the Night is Gone" (1995) - Guitar
"Jingle Bell Jam: Jazz Christmas..." (1995) - Guitar
"Original Soul Christmas" (1995) - Guitar, Guitar (Electric)
"Blue Suede Sneakers" (1995) - Guitar
"Best 60's Album in the World Ever" (1995) - Producer
"Best of Columbia Records Radio..." (1996) - Guitar
"Concert for the Rock and Roll Hall" (1996) - Guitar
"Soulful Grooves: R&B Instrumental..." (1996) - Guitar
"Beg Scream & Shout: The Big Ol'..." (1997) Producer
"Pulp Fusion, Vol. 1: Funky Jazz..." (1997) - Guitar
"Ultimate 60's Soul Sensations" (1998) - Producer
"Atlantic Records 50 Years" (1998) - Producer
"At the Club" (1999) - Producer
"American Love Story" (1999)- Producer
"Memphis Soul Classics" - Producer
"Guitar Player Presents: Legends" - Guitar

Movies:



Joe Walsh & Steve

Steve in the studio

Donald "Duck" Dunn & Steve

Steve in the Blues Brothers movie.

Steve & Lee Roy Parnell

D.Dunn, Booker T. & Steve

Steve, Booker T.,
Al Jackson & "Duck" Dunn

Television:



Joe Walsh w/Steve

Steve w/Lee Roy Parnell

My Blog

The Steve Cropper Classic Concert @ the Ryman Oct. 10, 2007

Manheim and Beaman Automotive Group present: Steve Cropper Classic Benefiting T.J. Martell Foundation featuring Ray Benson...
Posted by The STEVE CROPPER Fan Page on Tue, 25 Sep 2007 12:36:00 PST

Steve Cropper Classic Golf Outing Oct. 9, 2007

The Steve Cropper ClassicBENEFITING GILDA'S CLUB NASHVILLETuesday, October 9, 2007 at The Golf Club of TennesseeThe first annual STEVE CROPPER CLASSIC is just around the corner, so mark Tuesday,Octobe...
Posted by The STEVE CROPPER Fan Page on Tue, 25 Sep 2007 12:30:00 PST