Happy Birthday Steve Cropper

Steve "The Colonel" Cropper - today is his 74th birthday.

If you possess in your music collection any music that was released on the Stax Records label between 1962 and 1970 then you might already be aware that Steve Cropper was part of the house band (that in essence was Booker T. and The MG's). He was also a songwriter and Co-wrote Sitting on the Dock of the Bay with Otis Redding, Eddie Floyd's 634-5789 and Knock on Wood, Booker T. and The MG's Time is Tight, Green Onions, Soul Limbo (plus many more) and Wilson Pickett's In the Midnight Hour and Don't Fight It - to name but a few.

He's also famous for being part of The Blues Brothers Band

He's played on records from a wide range of artists including John Prine, Rod Stewart, Levon Helm, Jeff Beck, Ringo Starr, Pop Staples and Bruce Foxton to name but a few.

He's released a number of albums on his own as well, including 2011's Dedicated - A Salute to the 5 Royales which was a tribute to the legendary 5 Royales and not forgetting his brilliant With a Little Help from My Friends from 1971.

Mojo magazine named him as "The Greatest Living Guitarist" back in 1996.

A Little Bonus

Whenever I think of Steve Cropper I always think of legendary bassist Donald "Duck" Dunn.

Here's a link for the final ever US performance of Time is Tight that Donald "Duck" Dunn played on alongside his friend Steve Cropper. Dunn had played alongside Cropper from 1962 as part of the house band at Stax and as a member of Booker T. and The MG's. Dunn died in his sleep May 13th 2012 in Japan. He was on tour with Steve Cropper and Eddie Floyd.