Obituary
Master guitarist, songwriter, producer and arranger, his plectrum graces some of the leanest and perfectly honed records of all time. Never played a note too many, and all in the service of the song. RIP maestro.
RIP Steve Cropper
by 17 Comments
“Play it Steve!”
I’ve possibly spent more time listening to Steve Cropper than any other guitarist. He taught me that you don’t have to play showy, elaborate solos to be a guitar hero. Seemed like a good guy too. RIP.
What a cool guy whom I first heard in the early 60’s at aunty Edna’s in Widnes when cousin Eric put the single Green Onions on his Dansette. I listened to it the whole time we were there. I was at a gig several years ago at the ABC on Sauchiehall Street when he was supported by and played with The Animals. He played great and told some fab stories about his life in music.
Some good ones here.
A genuine legend
The mind boggles at the number of great records he played on, and in many cases wrote and/or produced. A great career and by the sound of it a life well lived. A legend indeed. RIP
Today will be Steve Cropper and Stax in this house.
I have certainly posted about my adoration for Steve Croppers playing on this fine site over the years. For me it is perfect & always as it should be – the epitome of less is more.
This guitar break is, to my ears, the ultimate solo. It is perfect
I spent a couple of hours yesterday listening records featuring Steve, and trying to assimilate some of his parts (naturally, on a Telecaster). He’s been my go-to inspiration for years, along with Mike Campbell.
Ole Man Trouble really moves me, one of the best blues adjacent songs I know, and of course it’s a Steve song. Knock on Wood too… there’s so many good ones, part of my DNA.
Sad to hear this news today, but it’s another reason to fire up the Telecaster and appreciate his vast contribution to music that I love.
Unless I am mistaken, he was credited with the phrase “it’s about what you leave out, not what you put in”. And he was absolutely right, there’s lots of space in those classic records (and almost none in most modern music).
I know all bassists say they want to be James Jamerson, but I always wanted to be Donald ‘Duck’ Dunn.
(…um, I wanted to be Chris Squire – or possibly Ray Shulman: I’ll get me coat…)
I wanted to be John Paul Jones. Still do actually.
What are you doing in the bunker? You’re not a bass player!
Am too.
Great man, great guitarist. I saw him live at the Hall for Cornwall in Truro about 15 years ago, never expected to see him live anywhere.
Complicated whisker arrangement though.
I forgot to say… I saw the Blues Brothers band in the 90s in Wolverhampton. They were a bit late going on, because they had been stuck in traffic in the dead of winter. While waiting, I went for a wee, in one of those shared metal urinals. Whilst doing so, The Colonel, Duck and Matt Guitar Murphy came in, carrying their guitar cases, put them down and all had a very much overdue piss. Cropper looked over at me, and said ‘man, it sure IS cold’ – probably because he had seen my willy in ‘reduced circumstances’. I looked over at the members and laughed. By the time I got back to my seat (less than two minutes), they were on stage playing I Can’t Turn You Loose!
What a cracking gig memory!
Sad, sad news.
I knew Steve Cropper as part of the Blues Brothers Band before I knew any of the many magnificent records he played on. I can still picture him in his Murph and the Magic Tones get up. Don’t you go changing.
Indeed … first seen in The Blues Brothers, with no knowledge of the history of Steve Cropper or Donald Duck Dunn
(or indeed any of the members)