Steve Cropper
Induction Year: 2010
Birth Name: Steve Cropper
Birth Date: October 21, 1941
Place of Birth: Willow Springs, Missouri
Visit the Member's Website
Biography
Rising to prominence in the studios of Memphis, Missouri native Steve Cropper’s first successes were instrumentals he wrote for his bands The Mar-Keys and Booker T. & The MGs. Steve became the “house” guitarist at Stax Records and was soon contributing to hits by Sam & Dave, Carla Thomas, Eddie Floyd, Johnnie Taylor, Rufus Thomas, Wilson Pickett and Otis Redding. Steve’s classics include “(Sittin’ On) The Dock Of The Bay,” “In The Midnight Hour,” “Green Onions,” “Knock on Wood,” “See Saw,” “634-5789 (Soulsville, USA)” and “Time Is Tight.” These were all Pop and R&B hits that have been frequently covered by Nashville artists. In the 1970s, Steve recorded and toured with Levon Helm and The Blues Brothers. He moved to Nashville in 1988. Along with the other MGs, he was inducted into the Rock ’n’ Roll Hall of Fame in 1992. In 2008, he teamed up with fellow Nashvillian Felix Cavaliere to record Nudge It Up a Notch, which was nominated for a Grammy and consists of recent songs the two co-wrote.Discography / Career Highlights
1992 - Booker T. & the MG's inducted into Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
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
"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
