(Special Report)

Written by: Ginny Gaines  

Steve Cropper’s story begins far from the bright lights of the music world. Born in 1941 in a small Missouri town, he was just a kid when his family moved to Memphis, Tennessee. He didn’t come from a musical household, but Memphis was buzzing with gospel, soul, and rhythm-and-blues pouring out of radios and neighborhood churches. Those sounds sank deep into his soul, long before he ever picked up a guitar.

When Steve was about 14 years old, he ordered a cheap guitar from a mail order catalog. He paid for it with money he earned setting up bowling pins at the local bowling alley. Nobody knew it at the time, but that little guitar would eventually help shape the sound of American soul music. As a teenager, Steve threw himself into learning how to play. He didn’t take guitar lessons. He didn’t study fancy music theory. He just listened, played along, and taught himself how to make a guitar talk in a way that felt right. Pretty soon he started playing with other young Memphis musicians around town.

Those early experiences opened the door to his big break. With Steve joining the house band at a small record label that would later become Stax Records. What happened next would change music history. At Stax, Steve became part of the legendary group Booker T. & the M.G.’s, one of the first racially integrated bands in the South at a time when segregation was still the norm. Together, they built what we now call the Memphis soul sound tight grooves, simple melodies, and big emotion. Steve’s guitar was the heartbeat of it all, not flashy but steady, soulful, and unmistakable, and people loved it!

During the 1960s, he helped write and record songs that are still famous today. He co-wrote: “(Sittin’ On) The Dock of the Bay” with Otis Redding, “In the Midnight Hour” with Wilson Pickett, and “Knock on Wood” with Eddie Floyd. On top of that, his guitar was all over hits by Sam & Dave, Carla Thomas, Rufus Thomas, and many others. In fact, his playing was so iconic that in Sam & Dave’s song “Soul Man,” the singers shout, “Play it, Steve!” because his guitar riffs were that legendary. Woah...How AWESOME is that!

Steve wasn’t just a studio guy—he became a known face when he appeared as himself in The Blues Brothers movie in 1980, playing alongside John Belushi and Dan Aykroyd. That film introduced him to a whole new generation who had never heard the name Stax Records before. Even as he got older, Steve never slowed down. He played on records, produced music for others, and kept performing. In 2024, at 82 years old, he released a new album called Friendlytown, which went on to get a Grammy nomination. His creativity just never seemed to run out. WOW!! But behind the scenes, he had been dealing with health challenges. After a recent fall, he spent time in a rehab facility in Nashville. Still, people close to him said he was working on new music right up until the end.

On December 3, 2025, Steve Cropper passed away peacefully at the age of 84. His family shared the news, calling him a beloved musician whose talent touched millions around the world. His death marked the loss of one of the last living architects of 1960s soul music. Steve never tried to be the loudest or the flashiest. Instead, he built a career on feeling, timing, and simplicity—qualities that made him a favorite among musicians and fans alike.

Today, his songs continue to play on radios, in movies, in bars, and in homes all over the world. And every time someone hears the opening notes of “Green Onions” or the gentle rhythm of “Dock of the Bay,” they’re hearing a piece of Steve Cropper’s legacy—one that will last for generations. From songs he has written that Jimmy Hendrix sang and so many others, there is no doubt he will be remembered for years to come.

That's a wrap for my special report on the passing of Steve Cropper...Thank you for reading and in closing, please just know, Soundwave Music Media will be here and I will always do my best to bring you the rock music report! Please consider supporting me and the crew by purchasing a Soundwave shirt or hat and support our sponsors! Rock On! Until next time...🤘

ATTENTION ALL MUSICIANS AND ARTISTS!

If you're passionate about your music and you're ready to take your career to the next level, you need to reading this. In today's world, getting your music out there isn't just a dream; it's a reality. You don't need a big record label holding you back. You need freedom, control, and the tools to succeed. Soundwave Music Media has a special deal just for you. Use this link and code below to receive  20% off your DistroKid membership. Get your music out there and you maybe the next artist we report on.