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Steve Cropper

 


Singer, song writer, guitarist and record producer, record company executive and actor Stephen Lee "Steve" Cropper, also known as "The Colonel", was born in Dora, Mississippi, on 21 October 1941. He moved with his family to Memphis when he was 9. He became interested in Black Church music while at school at Messick High School and acquired his first guitar when he was 14. Cropper and Charlie Freeman formed the Mar-Keys at the local Stax Records studio in McLemore, Memphis, and had their first hit, "Last Night", in 1961. At the time, the company's A&R man was Chips Moman, but when he left the company, president Jim Stewart recognised Steve Cropper's abilities and talent, and promoted him to the A&R function. He put together the studios' famous house band, Booker T and the MGs. During those years he co-wrote some excellent songs including "Knock On Wood", "In the Midnight Hour" and "Sittin' On The Dock Of The Bay". He left Stax in 1970 to set up TMI Studios with Jerry Williams and Ronnie Stoots. He went on to form many collaborations with other artists, recorded some excellent solo albums, received many awards, and was associated with The Blues Brothers' projects. 

Steve Cropper died after a fall on 3 December 2025.

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