David Porter remembered his longtime Stax Records compatriot Steve Cropper as “a true member of a creative musical family that changed the world of music” in a tribute shared with Rolling Stone.
Cropper, who died earlier this week at the age of 84, helped craft the “Memphis soul” sound as a guitarist of Booker T. & the M.G.’s, who scored hits of their own while also serving as the house band for Stax during the label’s hit-making prime. Porter, meanwhile, was one of Stax’s go-to songwriters, penning many hits that Cropper helped bring to life, including Sam & Dave’s “Soul Man.”
In his tribute, Porter identified Cropper as one of the six people who served as the “cornerstone of what made Stax consistent and unique,” along with himself, organ player and bandleader Booker T. Jones, drummer Al Jackson, bassist Donald “Duck” Dunn, and songwriter-turned-superstar Isaac Hayes. “The musical unity meant that each person knew their role and lived up to it 24-seven,” Porter said.
The songwriter praised Cropper’s special ability ”to cement the musical pocket, with his own special flavor coming from him every song, every artist, every day.” Porter continued: “He took pride in finding a musical personality that turned that song into its own identity. That was his Soul. He played his magic in the six members creating Soulsville USA, the Memphis Sound. He will forever live on.”
Cropper’s contributions to rock and soul history are massive. Along with “Soul Man,” he played on Booker T. & the M.G.’s “Green Onions,” Wilson Pickett’s “In the Midnight Hour,” and Otis Redding’s “(Sittin’ On) The Dock of the Bay.” Cropper also served as a co-writer on those latter three hits.
After his time at Stax, Cropper relocated to Los Angeles, where he enjoyed a lengthy career as a go-to session musician. He played with John Lennon, Ringo Starr, Leon Russell, Rod Stewart, and the Blues Brothers (he appeared on John Belushi and Dan Aykroyd’s 1980 comedy film, too). Cropper also worked as a producer, helming albums by the Jeff Beck Group, John Prine, Poco, and John Mellencamp.
