Steve Cropper (Part 3)

                                                                 
One  of  the Key Creative Pillars of  the  Southern Soul Music

Several other Stax classics have been inducted into The Grammy Hall of Fame;  “Soul Man”, inducted in 1999, “Green Onions” inducted in 1999, “I’ll Take You There”,  inducted in 1999 and “In The Midnight Hour”, also inducted in 1999.  Many of Steve’s songs have been covered by artists such as George Benson (“Soul Limbo”), Paul Young (“Iron Out The Rough Spots”) and Rita Coolidge (“The Happy Song”).

This illustrates clearly his impact as a Songwriter across a variety of musical styles. Steve’s Croppers greatest achievement was to be inducted in the Songwriters’ Hall of Fame on June 9th 2005, alongside fellow former Stax colleagues David Porter and Isaac Hayes.

Steve Cropper has also demonstrated his musical talents in the world of film, credited as Producer, Songwriter, and Performer.

As Performer and  Songwriter:


  

Blow (2001)

"Be My Lady"
Written by Stephen Cropper, Donald Dunn, Al Jackson Jr., Booker T. Jones
Performed by Booker T & The MG's
Courtesy of Atlantic Records
By Arrangement with Warner Special Products
Published by Al Jackson Jr. Music (BMI)
Administered by Bug Music / Irving Music Inc.

The Big Lebowski (1998)

"Behave Yourself"
Written by Booker T. Jones, Steve Cropper, Al Jackson, Jr. and Lewie Steinberg
Performed by Booker T. & MG s
Published by Irving Music, Inc. (BMI)
Courtesy of Atlantic Recording Corp.
By Arrangement with Warner Special Products

Platoon (1986)

“(Sittin on) The Dock of the Bay”

Performed by Otis Redding

Written by Stephen Cropper and Otis Redding

Courtesy of Atlantic Recording Corp

As Producer and Songwriter:

Top Gun (1999)

Written by Stephen Cropper and Otis Redding

Performed by Love Actually (2003)

As Producer only:

A Bronx Tale (1993)

“Ninety-Nine and Half (Won’t Do)”

Performed by Wilson Pickett

Written by Stephen Cropper

Courtesy of Atlantic Recording Corp

Promised Land (1995)

“Green Onions”

Performed by Booker T & The MG's
Written by Stephen Croppper, Donald Dunn, Al Jackson Jr., Booker T. Jones

Courtesy of Atlantic Recording Corp

My-Fellow American (1996)

“In The Midnight Hour”

Performed by Wilson Pickett

Written by Stephen Cropper and Wilson Pickett

Courtesy of Atlantic Recording Corp

Lost. The Television Series, Season Two Episode 19 (2006)

“These Arms of Mine”.

Performed by Otis Redding

Written by Otis Redding

Courtesy of Atlantic Recording Corp

Amazon Women On The Moon (1987)

Performed as actor, playing the character Customer (“Titan Man”)

The Blues Brothers (1980)

Performed as actor, playing the character Steve “The Colonel” Cropper

Amazon Women On The Moon (1987)

Performed as actor, playing the character Customer (“Titan Man”)

The Blues Brothers (1980)

Performed as actor, playing the character Steve “The Colonel” Cropper

Steve was also involved in collaborations with other recording artists outside Stax Records. During the late 1970s, after his departure from Stax before its demise, Cropper got involved in the soundtrack and movie of the “Blues Brothers”, a Pop Chart No.1 album and multi-platinum selling project. He then went on to record two albums on MCA Records, “Playin’ My Thang” in 1980 and “With A Little Help From My Friends” in 1982.


He continued to play and produce on many recording sessions between TMI and Ardent recording studios with such artists as Poco, Jeff Beck, Tower Of Power and Dreams. Cropper is certainly an extraordinary guitarist, still going strong after approximately forty years in the music business. In 1998, he started his own record company, “Play It, Steve Records” and created a state-of-the-art recording studio in Nashville called “Insomnia Studios”.

Steve Cropper is indeed one of the main authors and architects of the Memphis Soul Sound, a creative pillar of the southern soul movement and one of the true stylists on guitar. His many contributions to the world of popular music has had an incredible influence on many of his peers and successors. His impact has been felt all around the world.

                Researched and compiled by
                Mr K Tomlin Music Historian 
                ©RCM Music/Signaturesoundsonline 2013