View source for Steve Cropper

{{Short description|American guitarist, songwriter, and record producer (born 1941)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2014}}
{{BLP sources|date=April 2011}}
{{Infobox musical artist
| name              = Steve Cropper
| image             = Steve Cropper Bilbao BBK Live 2008.jpg
| caption           = Cropper performing in 2008
| birth_name        = Steven Lee Cropper
| birth_date        = {{birth date and age|1941|10|21}}
| birth_place       = [[Dora, Missouri]], U.S.
| death_date        = 
| death_place       =
| origin            = [[Memphis, Tennessee]], U.S.
| background        = non_vocal_instrumentalist
| genre             = {{hlist|[[Rhythm and blues|R&B]]|[[Soul music|soul]]|[[southern soul]]|[[electric blues]]|[[blues]]}}
| instrument        = Guitar
| occupation        = {{hlist|Musician|songwriter|producer|actor}}
| past_member_of    = [[Booker T. & the M.G.'s]]
| current_member_of = [[The Blues Brothers]]
| label             = {{hlist|[[Stax Records|Stax]]|[[Provogue Records|Provogue]]}}
| years_active      = 1958–present
| website           = {{URL|playitsteve.com}}
}}

'''Steven Lee Cropper''' (born October 21, 1941),<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|url=http://playitsteve.com/?workprojects=the-whole-story|title=» The Bio|website=playitsteve.com|access-date=2016-09-26}}</ref> sometimes known as "'''The Colonel'''", is an American guitarist, [[Singer-Songwriter|songwriter]] and [[record producer]]. He was the guitarist of the [[Stax Records]] [[house band]], [[Booker T. & the M.G.'s]], which backed artists such as [[Otis Redding]], [[Wilson Pickett]], [[Sam & Dave]], [[Carla Thomas]], [[Rufus Thomas]] and [[Johnnie Taylor]]. He also acted as the producer of many of these records. He was later a member of [[the Blues Brothers]] band.<ref>{{cite web|last=Koda |first=Cub |url={{AllMusic|class=artist |id=p3993/biography |pure_url=yes}} |title=Allmusic biography |publisher=Allmusic.com |access-date=2011-11-02}}</ref> ''[[Rolling Stone]]'' magazine ranked him 36th on its list of the 100 greatest guitarists of all time,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/lists/5945/32609/32930 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100612165026/http://www.rollingstone.com/music/lists/5945/32609/32930 |url-status=dead |archive-date=June 12, 2010 |title="Steve Cropper, 100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time" Rolling Stone |publisher=Rollingstone.com |access-date=2011-11-02}}</ref> while he has won two [[Grammy Awards]] from his seven nominations.<ref name="Steve Cropper Grammys">{{cite web |title=GRAMMY Award Results for Steve Cropper |url=https://www.grammy.com/grammys/artists/steve-cropper/12297 |publisher=The Recording Academy |access-date=24 November 2021}}</ref><ref name="2022 Grammys">{{cite web |title=2022 GRAMMYs Awards Show: Complete Nominations List |url=https://www.grammy.com/grammys/news/2022-grammys-complete-winners-nominees-nominations-list |publisher=The Recording Academy |access-date=23 November 2021}}</ref>

==Early life==
Born on a farm near [[Willow Springs, Missouri]], Cropper lived in [[Dora, Missouri|Dora]] and [[West Plains, Missouri|West Plains]] before moving with his family to [[Memphis, Tennessee|Memphis]] at age 9.<ref name="nash">{{cite book |last=Manuscript Originals, Inc. |title=Off The Record: Songwriters on Songwriting |publisher=Andrews McMeel |others=Compilation and Contributions by Graham Nash |year=2002 |isbn=9780740726781 |edition=25 of the World's Most Celebrated Songs |location=Kansas City |page=38 }}</ref> In Memphis, he was exposed to [[Traditional black gospel|black church music]], which had an impact on him musically.<ref name="nash"/> Cropper acquired his first guitar at age 14.<ref name="nash"/>

He admired guitarists including [[Tal Farlow]], [[Chuck Berry]], [[Jimmy Reed]], [[Chet Atkins]], [[Lowman Pauling]] of the [[The "5" Royales]] and [[Billy Butler (guitarist)|Billy Butler]] of the [[Bill Doggett]] band.<ref name=":0" />

==Career==
Cropper and guitarist Charlie Freeman formed the Royal Spades, who eventually became [[the Mar-Keys]].<ref>{{Cite book |last=Bowman |first=Robert Maxwell James |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=XLdsRwpZ9oYC&q=%22the+royal+spades%22+++marquee&pg=PA24 |title=Soulsville, U.S.A.: The Story of Stax Records |date=1997 |publisher=Schirmer Books |isbn=978-0-8256-7284-2 |language=en}}</ref> The name referred to the marquee outside [[Stax Records|Stax]] studios, known as Satellite Records at the time. Eventually, the Mar-Keys began playing on sessions and had a hit single of their own with  "[[Last Night (Mar-Keys)|Last Night]]" in 1961.
[[File:Booker T. & the M.G's 1967 press photo.jpg|left|thumb|Steve Cropper (second from right) with Booker T. & the M.G.'s, 1967]]
Besides being impressed with the young guitarist's playing, Stax Records president [[Jim Stewart (music)|Jim Stewart]] saw professionalism and maturity beyond Cropper's years. When [[American Recordings (US)|American Records]] founder [[Chips Moman]] left Stax, Cropper became the company's [[A&R]] man. He became a founding member of the Stax [[house band]] [[Booker T. & the M.G.'s]], along with [[Hammond organ]] player [[Booker T. Jones]], bassist [[Lewie Steinberg]] (who was replaced by [[Donald "Duck" Dunn]] soon thereafter) and drummer [[Al Jackson Jr.]]<ref>{{Cite web |title=Booker T. & the MG's Songs, Albums, Reviews, B... |url=https://www.allmusic.com/artist/booker-t-the-mgs-mn0000772733 |access-date=2025-10-17 |website=AllMusic |language=en}}</ref> As a house guitarist, he played on many recordings such as "[[(Sittin' On) the Dock of the Bay]]", co-written with and performed by [[Otis Redding]] and Sam & Dave's "[[Soul Man (song)|Soul Man]]" on which he was mentioned by name.  When Cropper played on the song's remake by the Blues Brothers, lead singer [[John Belushi]] again mentioned Cropper. On the early Stax recordings, Cropper is known to have played a 1956 [[Fender Esquire]] and later used a blonde [[Fender Telecaster]].

At this time, Cropper's fame was not limited to the United States. [[The Beatles]] favored Cropper's playing, and his production on [[Otis Redding]] records. [[John Lennon]] and [[Paul McCartney]] made tentative plans to record in Memphis and to work with the guitarist. However [[Brian Epstein]] canceled the sessions, citing security problems.<ref>{{cite web| url=http://www.tennesseeconcerts.com/beatles.html|title=The Beatles Tennessee Connections | publisher= Tennessee Concerts | access-date=2010-02-14}}</ref> Regarding this period, [[Rob Bowman (music writer)|Rob Bowman]], in his book ''Soulsville U.S.A.: The Story of Stax Records'', quoted Booker T. Jones as saying:

{{blockquote|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 [[guitar pick|picks]] and his [[amplifier|amps]].}}

Along with influential work with Booker T & The MG's, Cropper co-wrote "[[Knock on Wood (Eddie Floyd song)|Knock on Wood]]" with [[Eddie Floyd]], "[[In the Midnight Hour]]" with [[Wilson Pickett]] and "[[(Sittin' On) The Dock of the Bay]]" with Otis Redding. In 1969, Cropper released his first solo album, ''With a Little Help From My Friends''.

[[File: Steve Cropper.JPG|thumb|upright=0.7|Steve Cropper at the Hamar Music Festival, 2007]]

When Cropper left Stax in the fall of 1970,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.playitsteve.com/bio2.html|title=Steve Cropper, Blues Brothers....|publisher=Play it Steve|access-date=2010-02-14|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100125234503/http://www.playitsteve.com/bio2.html|archive-date=January 25, 2010|df=mdy-all}}</ref> the label lost one of its most successful producers and songwriters. Cropper then set up TMI Studios with Jerry Williams and former Mar-Key Ronnie Stoots. He worked with many musicians including [[Tower of Power]], [[Rod Stewart]], [[John Prine]], [[José Feliciano]], [[The Jeff Beck Group]], [[Ringo Starr]] and [[John Lennon]].

By 1975, Cropper had moved to Los Angeles and along with Jones, Jackson and Dunn, reformed Booker T. & the M.G.'s. Jackson, whom Cropper called "the greatest drummer to ever walk the Earth," was murdered in his Memphis home before the group could make their comeback. In 1978, Cropper and Dunn became members of [[Levon Helm]]'s RCO All-Stars and then went on to figure prominently in the Blues Brothers Band with drummer [[Willie Hall (drummer)|Willie Hall]]. This led to two albums, appearances in the movies ''[[The Blues Brothers (film)|Blues Brothers]]'' and ''[[The Blues Brothers (film)|Blues Brothers 2000]]'', and the movies' soundtracks. Cropper also re-recorded "(Sittin' On) The Dock of the Bay" (1979) for [[Sammy Hagar]]. Cropper lived in Los Angeles for the next thirteen years before moving to Nashville and reuniting with the Blues Brothers Band in 1988.

Cropper has a cameo in the [["Weird Al" Yankovic]] [[mockumentary]] ''[[The Compleat Al]]'' (1985), where he plays a bit of "Soul Man" in an unsuccessful attempt to join Al's band.

In 1991 Cropper played on two separate nights of the Expo '92 Guitar Legends concerts as part of the celebration of Seville hosting the 1992 [[World's fair|Expo exhibition]]. The concerts over five nights included some of the world's best guitarists such as Cropper, BB King, Robert Cray, Eric Clapton, Bo Diddley, Brian May, Albert Collins, Bob Dylan, Joe Satriani, and Steve Vai.

In 1992, Booker T. & the M.G.'s were inducted into the [[Rock and Roll Hall of Fame]] and Cropper appeared with a new line-up of the group for the [[Bob Dylan]] 30th Anniversary concert, in October 1992 at [[Madison Square Garden]], performing songs by and [[Backup band|backing]] Dylan, [[Eric Clapton]], [[George Harrison]], [[Tom Petty]], [[Johnny Cash]], [[Chrissie Hynde]], [[Sinéad O'Connor]], [[Stevie Wonder]] and [[Neil Young]]. The concert was recorded and later released as ''[[The 30th Anniversary Concert Celebration]]'' (1993). Young later recruited this line up of Booker T. and the M.G's to tour with him and record as his studio band.

In 1996, Cropper was named "the greatest living guitar player" by Britain's ''[[Mojo magazine|Mojo]]'' magazine. When asked what he thought of Cropper, the guitarist [[Keith Richards]] said, "Perfect, man."<ref>{{Cite web |date=2018-08-31 |title=Steve Cropper...Almost Famous (Observations from the Edge, with the Courier's Lee Kann) |url=https://newpittsburghcourier.com/2018/08/31/steve-cropper-almost-famous-observations-from-the-edge-with-the-couriers-lee-kann/ |access-date=2025-02-26 |website=New Pittsburgh Courier |language=en-US}}</ref> In February 1998, Cropper released ''The Interview — Play It, Steve!'' which included some of [[soul music]]'s most enduring songs. The album title came from the "shout" of the title phrase by Moore on Sam & Dave's "Soul Man" and later by [[John Belushi]] (with the Blues Brothers).

In June 2004, Cropper appeared with Dunn and Jones as the backing band for Eric Clapton's [[Crossroads Guitar Festival]], held at the [[Cotton Bowl (stadium)|Cotton Bowl]] in Dallas. Others who appeared included [[Joe Walsh]] and [[David Hidalgo]].<ref>Eric Clapton Crossroads Guitar Festival DVD Video R2 970378, 2004</ref> On June 9, 2005, Cropper was inducted into the [[Songwriters Hall of Fame]].

[[File: Guy Sebastian The Memphis Tour 7 Mar 2008.JPG|right|thumb|215px|Cropper toured Australia with [[Guy Sebastian]], playing on Sebastian's [[The Memphis Album]] tour in March 2008]]

He co-produced ''[[The Memphis Album]]'' (2007), recorded by Australian soul singer [[Guy Sebastian]]. Cropper also played guitar on the subsequent promotional tour, which was recorded and released two years later as ''[[The Memphis Tour]]''. On March 2, 2008, Cropper and Sebastian were guests on the ''Vega Sunday Session'' with host [[Mark Gable]] from the rock band [[The Choirboys (band)|the Choirboys]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/story/0,21985,23253104-5006024,00.html | title = Happy Guy Sebastian bares his soul | work = Sunday Herald Sun | publisher = News | access-date = 2012-07-15 | first=Bryan | last = Patterson | date=February 24, 2008}}</ref> On July 29, 2008, Cropper and [[Felix Cavaliere]] released the album ''Nudge It Up A Notch''. In August 2008, Cropper appeared at the [[Rhythm Festival]] alongside [[the Animals]].<ref>{{cite web| url=http://www.rhythmfestival.net/index.html| title=Rhythm Festival 2008| publisher=Rhythm Festival| access-date=2010-02-14| url-status=dead| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100724054959/http://www.rhythmfestival.net/index.html| archive-date=July 24, 2010| df=mdy-all}}</ref>

On November 12, 2009, EMP/SFM presented Cropper with their "Founders Award". On October 17, 2010, Cropper was inducted into the [[Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nashvillesongwritersfoundation.com/2010/nashville-songwriters-hall-of-fame-2010-inductees.aspx|title=Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame 2010 Inductees|publisher=Nashville Song Writers Foundation|access-date=2011-11-02|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101021075107/http://www.nashvillesongwritersfoundation.com/2010/nashville-songwriters-hall-of-fame-2010-inductees.aspx|archive-date=October 21, 2010|df=mdy-all}}</ref>

On August 9, 2011, Cropper released the album ''Dedicated'' which was his tribute to [[the "5" Royales]]. In 2013 he was a special guest at selected concerts as part of [[Peter Frampton]]'s Guitar Circus Tour, including the first performance which featured Frampton, [[Robert Cray]] and [[Vince Gill]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.frampton.com/news/ |title=Peter Frampton &#124; News |publisher=Frampton.com |date=October 29, 2013 |access-date=2014-02-16}}</ref>

In April 2013, Cropper appeared with Jones, [[Matt "Guitar" Murphy]], as well as Booker T. & the MG's at Eric Clapton's 4th Crossroads Guitar Festival at Madison Square Garden in New York City.

In November 2021, Cropper's ''Fire It Up'' was nominated for a [[Grammy Award]] in the [[Grammy Award for Best Contemporary Blues Album|Best Contemporary Blues Album]] category.<ref name="2022 Grammys"/>

On August 25, 2022, Cropper appeared on stage with [[Ted Nugent]] at [[Graceland]] soundstage where they played "[[In The Midnight Hour]]" together.

In August 2024, Under the band name Steve Cropper and the Midnight Hour, Cropper released the album ''Friendlytown''.  [[Billy Gibbons]] of [[ZZ Top]] is featured on lead guitar throughout the album, while [[Brian May]] of [[Queen (band)|Queen]] guests on the single ''Too Much Stress''.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Gersztyn |first1=Bob |title=Steve Cropper and the Midnight Hour: Friendlytown Review |url=https://bluesrockreview.com/2024/08/steve-cropper-and-the-midnight-hour-friendlytown-review.html |website=Blues Rock Review |date=August 23, 2024 |access-date=30 August 2024}}</ref>

==Awards and nominations==
{| class="wikitable Sortable"
|-
! Year
! Ceremony
! Category
! Nominated work
! Result
! Ref.
|-
|1967
|Grammy Awards
|[[Grammy Award for Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals|Best Rhythm and Blues Group Recording, Vocal or Instrumental]]
|''Hip Hug-Her''
|{{Nominated}}
|style="text-align:center;"|<ref name="Steve Cropper Grammys" />
|-
|1967
|Grammy Awards
|[[Grammy Award for Best R&B Performance|Best Rhythm and Blues Recording]]
|''Try A Little Tenderness''
|{{Nominated}}
|style="text-align:center;"|<ref name="Steve Cropper Grammys" />
|-
|1968
|Grammy Awards
|[[Grammy Award for Best R&B Song|Best Rhythm and Blues Song]]
|''(Sittin' On) The Dock Of The Bay''
|{{WON}}
|style="text-align:center;"|<ref name="Steve Cropper Grammys" />
|-
|1994
|Grammy Awards
|[[Grammy Award for Best Pop Instrumental Performance|Best Pop Instrumental Performance]]
|''Cruisin'''
|{{WON}}
|style="text-align:center;"|<ref name="Steve Cropper Grammys" />
|-
|1995
|Grammy Awards
|[[Grammy Award for Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals|Best R&B Performance By A Duo Or Group With Vocal]]
|''A Change Is Gonna Come''
|{{Nominated}}
|style="text-align:center;"|<ref name="Steve Cropper Grammys" />
|-
|2008
|Grammy Awards
|[[Grammy Award for Best Pop Instrumental Performance|Best Pop Instrumental Performance]]
|''Love Appetite''
|{{Nominated}}
|style="text-align:center;"|<ref name="Steve Cropper Grammys" />
|-
|2022
|Grammy Awards
|[[Grammy Award for Best Contemporary Blues Album|Best Contemporary Blues Album]]
|''Fire It Up''
|{{Nominated}}
|style="text-align:center;"|<ref name="2022 Grammys" />
|}

==Discography==
*1969: ''With a Little Help from My Friends''<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.discogs.com/Steve-Cropper-With-A-Little-Help-From-My-Friends/release/863014|title=Steve Cropper - With A Little Help From My Friends|website=Discogs.com|access-date=June 25, 2016}}</ref>
*1969: ''[[Jammed Together]]'' (with Albert King and Pops Staples)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.discogs.com/Albert-King-Steve-Cropper-Pop-Staples-Jammed-Together/master/325221|title=Albert King, Steve Cropper & Pop Staples* - Jammed Together|website=Discogs.com|access-date=June 25, 2016}}</ref>
*1971: ''This Is ... Steve Cropper & His Friends'' (compilation of ''With a Little Help from My Friends'' and ''Jammed Together'', released in France only)
*1981: ''Playin' My Thang''
*1982: ''Night After Night''
*1998: ''The Interview — Play It, Steve!''
*2008: ''Nudge It Up A Notch'' (with Felix Cavaliere)
*2010: ''Midnight Flyer'' (with Felix Cavaliere)
*2011: ''Dedicated — A Salute to the 5 Royales''
*2017: ''Steve Cropper, Lou Marini and the Original Blues Brothers Band — The Last Shade of Blue Before Black''
*2018: ''Telemasters'' (with Arlen Roth)
*2021: ''Fire It Up''
*2024: ''Friendlytown''

== Collaborations ==
{{div col}}
'''With [[Alabama (band)|Alabama]]'''
* ''[[Southern Star (Alabama album)|Southern Star]]'' (RCA Records, 1989)

'''With [[Jimmy Barnes]]'''
* ''[[Soul Searchin' (Jimmy Barnes album)|Soul Searchin']]'' (Liberation Music, 2016)

'''With [[William Bell (singer)|William Bell]]'''
* ''The Soul of a Bell'' (Stax Records, 1967)
* ''Bound to Happen'' (Stax Records, 1969)

'''With [[Barbi Benton]]'''
* ''Something New'' (Polydor Records, 1976)

'''With [[Big Star]]'''
* ''[[Third/Sister Lovers]]'' (PVC, 1978)

'''With [[Stephen Bishop (singer)|Stephen Bishop]]'''
* ''[[Bish (album)|Bish]]'' (ABC Records, 1978)

'''With [[Frank Black]]'''
* ''[[Honeycomb (album)|Honeycomb]]'' (Cooking Vinyl, 2005)
* ''[[Fast Man Raider Man]]'' (Cooking Vinyl, 2006)

'''With [[Bobby and the Midnites]]'''
* ''[[Where the Beat Meets the Street]]'' (Columbia Records, 1984)

'''With [[Booker T. & the M.G.'s]]'''
* ''[[Green Onions (album)|Green Onions]]'' (Stax Records, 1962)
* ''[[Soul Dressing]]'' (Stax Records, 1965)
* ''[[And Now!]]'' (Stax Records, 1966)
* ''[[In the Christmas Spirit]]'' (Stax Records, 1966)
* ''[[Hip Hug-Her]]'' (Stax Records, 1967)
* ''[[Doin' Our Thing]]'' (Stax Records, 1968)
* ''[[Soul Limbo]]'' (Stax Records, 1968)
* ''[[UpTight (soundtrack)|UpTight]]'' (Stax Records, 1969)
* ''[[The Booker T. Set]]'' (Stax Records, 1969)
* ''[[McLemore Avenue]]'' (Stax Records, 1970)
* ''[[Melting Pot (Booker T album)|Melting Pot]]'' (Stax Records, 1971)
* ''[[Universal Language (Booker T. & the M.G.'s album)|Universal Language]]'' (Asylum Records, 1977)
* ''[[That's the Way It Should Be]]'' (Columbia Records, 1994)

'''With [[Ronnie Baker Brooks]]'''
* ''Times Have Changed'' (Provogue Records, 2017)

'''With [[Jimmy Buffett]]'''
* ''[[Hot Water (album)|Hot Water]]'' (MCA Records, 1988)

'''With [[Billy Burnette]]'''
* ''Try Me'' (Curb, 1985)

'''With [[Brian Cadd]]'''
* ''[[White On White (album)|White On White]]'' (Capitol Records, 1976)

'''With [[Cate Brothers]]'''
* ''Cate Bros.'' (Asylum Records, 1975)
* ''In One Eye and Out the Order'' (Asylum Records, 1976)

'''With [[Chicago (band)|Chicago]]'''
* ''[[Chicago XXXIII: O Christmas Three]]'' (Chicago Records, 2011)

'''With [[David Clayton-Thomas]]'''
* ''David Clayton-Thomas'' (Columbia Records, 1972)

'''With [[A. J. Croce]]'''
* ''Just Like Medicine'' (Compass Records, 2017)

'''With [[Patti Dahlstrom]]'''
* ''Your Place or Mine'' (20th Century Records, 1975)

'''With [[Delaney & Bonnie]]'''
* ''[[Home (Delaney & Bonnie album)|Home]]'' (Stax Records, 1969)
* ''[[D&B Together]]'' (Columbia Records, 1972)

'''With [[Ned Doheny]]'''
* ''[[Hard Candy (Ned Doheny album)|Hard Candy]]'' (Columbia Records, 1976)
* ''Prone'' (CBS Records, 1979)

'''With [[Yvonne Elliman]]'''
* ''Rising Sun'' (RSO Records, 1975)
* ''[[Night Flight (Yvonne Elliman album)|Night Flight]]'' (RSO Records, 1978)
* ''Yvonne'' (RSO Records, 1979)

'''With [[José Feliciano]]'''
* ''Compartments'' (RCA Victor, 1973)
* ''For My Love... Mother Music'' (RCA Victor, 1974)

'''With [[Eddie Floyd]]'''
* ''[[Knock on Wood (Eddie Floyd album)|Knock on Wood]]'' (Stax Records, 1967)
* ''Down to Earth'' (Stax Records, 1971)

'''With [[Peter Frampton]]'''
* ''[[Where I Should Be]]'' (A&M Records, 1979)

'''With [[Richie Furay]]'''
* ''[[I've Got a Reason]]'' (Asylum Records, 1976)

'''With [[Art Garfunkel]]'''
* ''[[Breakaway (Art Garfunkel album)|Breakaway]]'' (Columbia Records, 1975)

'''With [[Cyndi Grecco]]'''
* ''[[Making Our Dreams Come True (Cyndi Grecco album)|Making Our Dreams Come True]]'' (Private Stock Records, 1976)

'''With [[Richie Havens]]'''
* ''The End of the Beginning'' (A&M Records, 1976)

'''With [[Levon Helm]]'''
* ''[[Levon Helm & the RCO All-Stars]]'' (ABC Records, 1977)
* ''[[Levon Helm (1978 album)|Levon Helm]]'' (ABC Records, 1978)

'''With [[Chris Hillman]]'''
* ''Slippin' Away'' (Asylum Records, 1976)

'''With [[Rebecca Lynn Howard]]'''
* ''[[Rebecca Lynn Howard (album)|Rebecca Lynn Howard]]'' (Universal Music, 2000)

'''With [[Etta James]]'''
* ''[[Seven Year Itch (Etta James album)|Seven Year Itch]]'' (Island Records, 1988)
* ''[[The Right Time (Etta James album)|The Right Time]]'' (Elektra Records, 1992)

'''With [[Wynonna Judd]]'''
* ''[[Tell Me Why (Wynonna Judd album)|Tell Me Why]]'' (Curb Records, 1993)

'''With [[Albert King]]'''
* ''[[Born Under a Bad Sign]]'' (Stax Records, 1967)
* ''[[Years Gone By]]'' (Stax Records, 1969)

'''With [[B.B. King]]'''
* ''King of the Blues: 1989'' (MCA Records, 1988)

'''With [[Al Kooper]]'''
* ''White Chocolate'' (Sony Records, 2008)

'''With [[John Lennon]]'''
* ''[[Rock 'n' Roll (John Lennon album)|Rock 'n' Roll]]'' (Apple Records, 1975)

'''With [[Ann-Margret]]'''
* ''[[Born to Be Wild (Ann-Margret album)|Born to Be Wild]]'' (Cleopatra Records, 2023)

'''With [[Marilyn McCoo]] and [[Billy Davis Jr.]]'''
* ''Marilyn & Billy'' (Columbia Records, 1978)

'''With [[Craig Morgan]]'''
* ''[[Craig Morgan (album)|Craig Morgan]]'' (Atlantic Records, 2000)

'''With [[Aaron Neville]]'''
* ''The Tattoeed Heart'' (A&M Records, 1995)

'''With [[Wayne Newton]]'''
* ''Tomorrow'' (Chelsea Records, 1976)

'''With [[Harry Nilsson]]'''
* ''[[Flash Harry (album)|Flash Harry]]'' (Mercury Records, 1980)

'''With [[John Oates]]'''
* ''1000 Miles of Life'' (Phunk Shui Records, 2008)

'''With [[Nigel Olsson]]'''
* ''Nigel Olsson'' (The Rocket Record Company, 1975)

'''With [[Roy Orbison]]'''
* ''[[Mystery Girl]]'' (Virgin Records, 1989)

'''With [[Dolly Parton]]'''
* ''[[Heartbreak Express]]'' (RCA Records, 1982)

'''With [[Wilson Pickett]]'''
* ''In the Midnight Hour'' (Atlantic Records, 1965)
* ''[[The Exciting Wilson Pickett]]'' (Atlantic Records, 1966)

'''With [[Michel Polnareff]]'''
* ''Michel Polnareff'' (Atlantic Records, 1975)

'''With [[John Prine]]'''
* ''[[Common Sense (John Prine album)|Common Sense]]'' (Atlantic Records, 1975)

'''With [[Otis Redding]]'''
* ''[[Pain in My Heart]]'' (Atco Records, 1964)
* ''[[The Great Otis Redding Sings Soul Ballads]]'' (Atco Records, 1965)
* ''[[Otis Blue: Otis Redding Sings Soul]]'' (Stax Records, 1965)
* ''[[The Soul Album]]'' (Stax Records, 1966)
* ''[[Complete & Unbelievable: The Otis Redding Dictionary of Soul]]'' (Stax Records, 1966)
* ''[[King & Queen]]'' (Stax Records, 1967)
* ''[[The Dock of the Bay (album)|The Dock of the Bay]]'' (Stax Records, 1968)

'''With [[Bruce Roberts (singer)|Bruce Roberts]]'''
* ''Bruce Roberts'' (Elektra Records, 1977)

'''With [[Leon Russell]]'''
* ''[[Will O' the Wisp (album)|Will O' the Wisp]]'' (Shelter Records, 1975)

'''With [[Sanford & Townsend]]'''
* ''Duo-Glide'' (Warner Bros. Records, 1977)

'''With [[Leo Sayer]]'''
* ''[[Here (Leo Sayer album)|Here]]'' (Chrysalis Records, 1979)

'''With [[Poncho Sanchez]]'''
* ''Raise Your Hand'' (Concord Records, 2007)

'''With [[Guy Sebastian]]'''
* ''[[The Memphis Album]]'' (Sony BMG, 2007)

'''With [[Neil Sedaka]]'''
* ''[[The Hungry Years]]'' (The Rocket Record Company, 1975)
* ''[[Steppin' Out (Neil Sedaka album)|Steppin' Out]]'' (Polydor Records, 1976)

'''With [[Paul Shaffer]]'''
* ''Coast to Coast'' (Capitol Records, 1989)

'''With [[Paul Simon]]'''
* ''[[Songs from The Capeman]]'' (Warner Bros. Records, 1997)

'''With [[Percy Sledge]]'''
* ''[[Blue Night (Percy Sledge album)|Blue Night]]'' (Sky France Records, 1994)

'''With [[Broderick Smith]]'''
* ''Suitcase'' (Mushroom Records, 1992)

'''With [[The Soul Children]]'''
* ''Soul Children'' (Stax Records, 1968)

'''With [[The Staple Singers]]'''
* ''Soul Folk in Action'' (Stax Records, 1968)

'''With [[Mavis Staples]]'''
* ''[[Mavis Staples (album)|Mavis Staples]]'' (Volt Records, 1969)
* ''[[Only for the Lonely]]'' (Volt Records, 1970)

'''With [[Ringo Starr]]'''
* ''[[Ringo (album)|Ringo]]'' (Apple Records, 1973)
* ''[[Goodnight Vienna]]'' (Apple Records, 1974)
* ''[[Vertical Man]]'' (Mercury Records, 1998)

'''With [[Rod Stewart]]'''
* ''[[Atlantic Crossing]]'' (Warner Bros. Records, 1975)
* ''[[A Night on the Town (Rod Stewart album)|A Night on the Town]]'' (Warner Bros. Records, 1976)
* ''[[Foot Loose & Fancy Free]]'' (Warner Bros. Records, 1977)
* ''[[Every Beat of My Heart (Rod Stewart album)|Every Beat of My Heart]]'' (Warner Bros. Records, 1986)

'''With [[Livingston Taylor]]'''
* ''[[Man's Best Friend (Livingston Taylor album)|Man's Best Friend]]'' (Epic Records, 1980)

'''With [[Carla Thomas]]'''
* ''Memphis Queen'' (Stax Records, 1969)

'''With [[Mickey Thomas (singer)|Mickey Thomas]]'''
* ''As Long as You Love Me'' (MCA Records, 1977)

'''With [[Tower of Power]]'''
* ''[[We Came to Play!]]'' (Columbia Records, 1978)

'''With [[The Manhattan Transfer]]'''
* ''[[Pastiche (album)|Pastiche]]'' (Atlantic Records, 1978)

'''With [[Wendy Waldman]]'''
* ''The Main Refrain'' (Warner Bros. Records, 1976)

'''With [[Dale Watson (singer)|Dale Watson]]'''
* ''Jukebox Fury'' (Cleopatra Records, 2022)

'''With [[Jerry Lynn Williams]]'''
* ''Gone'' (Warner Bros. Records, 1979)
{{div col end}}

==Filmography==
*1980: ''[[The Blues Brothers (film)|The Blues Brothers]]'' as himself
*1988: ''[[Satisfaction (1988 film)|Satisfaction]]'' as Sal
*1999: ''[[Blues Brothers 2000]]'' as himself
*2008: ''[[Be Kind Rewind]]'' as himself
*2017: ''[[Rock 'n' Roll Guns for Hire: The Story of the Sidemen]]'' as himself

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* {{Official website|http://www.playitsteve.com/}}
* [https://www.myspace.com/stevecropper The official Steve Cropper MySpace page]
* [https://www.namm.org/library/oral-history/steve-cropper Steve Cropper Interview] at [[NAMM Oral History Program|NAMM Oral History Collection]] (2015)
* {{IMDb name|0188936}}
* {{Discogs artist}}

{{Navboxes
|title = Awards for Steve Cropper
|list =
{{Grammy Award for Best R&B Song}}
{{1992 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame}}
}}
{{Booker T. & the M.G.'s}}
{{The Blues Brothers}}
{{Stax Records}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Cropper, Steve}}
[[Category:1941 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:American blues guitarists]]
[[Category:American soul guitarists]]
[[Category:American male guitarists]]
[[Category:American session musicians]]
[[Category:Grammy Award winners]]
[[Category:American lead guitarists]]
[[Category:Guitarists from Missouri]]
[[Category:People from Ozark County, Missouri]]
[[Category:Booker T. & the M.G.'s members]]
[[Category:The Blues Brothers members]]
[[Category:American rock guitarists]]
[[Category:American rhythm and blues guitarists]]
[[Category:Guitarists from Tennessee]]
[[Category:Songwriters from Tennessee]]
[[Category:20th-century American guitarists]]
[[Category:The Mar-Keys members]]