which included some of soul music's most enduring songs. Memphis soul, also known as the Memphis sound, was the most prominent strain of Southern soul. 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. Thus the legend began. Pages in category "Songs written by Steve Cropper" The following 16 pages are in this category, out of 16 total. 's in 1992. Steven Lee Cropper (born October 21, 1941), sometimes known as “The Colonel”, is an American guitarist, songwriter and record producer. Songs written by Steve Cropper . In the Midnight Hour Knock on Wood Sittin On The Dock Of The Bay. DK: Currently, you’re about to go on tour with Dave Mason. Otis Ray Redding Jr. was an American singer, songwriter, record producer, arranger, and talent scout. I also learned how to produce, and I had a lot of help—people like (hit producer/engineer) Tom Dowd taught me how to engineer, what what to look for in writing songs. The concert was recorded and later released as The 30th Anniversary Concert Celebration (1993). Andrew Love was a saxophone player based in Memphis, Tennessee, best known for being a member of The Memphis Horns. Cropper’s guitar playing is so identifiable and connected to the soul/blues sound of the ‘60s, that he was later recruited to join the famed Blues Brothers Band, which starred in the hit movies The Blues Brothers (in 1980) and Blues Brothers 2000. We are pleased to do this new Q&A interview with Steve Cropper. I think it was called “Behave Yourself.” He said, “Do you guys have anything else that you can record to put on the B side?” I remembered that Booker had played me this riff on the organ a couple weeks prior to that, that he thought might be a good riff for a vocal song. Jackson was affectionately dubbed "The Human Timekeeper" for his drumming ability. When asked what he thought of Cropper, the guitarist Keith Richards said, "Perfect, man." SecondHandSongs is building the most comprehensive source of cover song information. Cropper: Eddie and I did an interview together not too long ago, and I told my story. Steve Cropper has long been known as an acclaimed songwriter, guitarist and record producer. Related Blog Posts. This led to two albums, appearances in the movies Blues Brothers and Blues Brothers 2000 , and the movies' soundtracks. DK: So if Otis didn’t die in the crash, he could had a great career for many for years to come? So it was two guitars, drums to start with. of the Otis Redding & Steve Cropper co-written song! Cropper: Well, that was his idea. DK:  In 1965, you co-wrote the classic hit “in The Midnight Hour” with Wilson Pickett. Find Steve Cropper song information on AllMusic. Somebody said, “You guys got to get together and go on the road.” And we both went for it and said, “Hey that’s a great idea.” We’ve decided to start this tour in July with the two of us and his band. The night before a session, I would always got in a hotel room, and they would have pieces of songs unfinished, and I’d finish them. Steven Lee Cropper (born October 21, 1941), sometimes known as “The Colonel”, is an American guitarist, songwriter and record producer. DK: Years later in 1979, “Knock On Wood” became a #1 pop hit when Amii Stewart recorded it. And they roll up a big wave when they come in to park and let cars and people off. Songs written by Steve Cropper Richard Brown Orchestra Writers (713) 864–4786. 's, The Mar-Keys, the Blues Brothers. [7] In February 1998, Cropper released The Interview - Play It, Steve! He also acted as the producer of many of these records. “In the Midnight Hour” became soul legend Wilson Pickett’s best known song, and it has been covered by Tina Turner, James Taylor, Roxy Music, Tom Jones, the Jam, the Young Rascals and the Righteous Brothers. Roger Hawkins is an American drummer best known for playing as part of the studio backing band known as the Muscle Shoals Rhythm Section of Alabama. By the mid-1960s, bands on both sides of the Atlantic were trying to sound like Booker T. & the M.G.'s. [1]. He was inducted into the Memphis Music Hall of Fame in 2015, and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a member of Booker T. & the M.G. Steve Cropper wrote In the Midnight Hour, Fa-Fa-Fa-Fa-Fa (Sad Song) and (Sittin' On) The Dock of the Bay. It was recorded by Redding twice in 1967, including once just days before his death in a plane crash. Steve Cropper wrote In the Midnight Hour, Fa-Fa-Fa-Fa-Fa (Sad Song) and (Sittin' On) The Dock of the Bay. The song was released on Stax Records' Volt label in 1968, becoming the first posthumous single to top the charts in the US. https://www.songwriteruniverse.com/wp/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/Steve_Cropper_interview_excerpt.mp3. Then we went on tour with that song, and I realized that the road was not for me (at the time). Founded in 1957 as Satellite Records, the label changed its name to Stax Records in 1961 and shared its operations with Volt Records, a sister label created to avoid the impression of favoritism among radio stations playing their records. When I wrote with Otis, I always wrote about Otis. Booker T. & the M.G. On the way to a gig, Redding had the opportunity to perform the songs "Hey Hey Baby" and "These Arms of Mine" as Jenkins and house band Booker T. & the M.G. He tells how he got started as a guitarist and joined Booker T. & the MGs, and how he co-wrote his classic songs. Can you talk about how you and Otis wrote that song? You were both very young at the time. "(Sittin' On) The Dock of the Bay" is a song co-written by soul singer Otis Redding and guitarist Steve Cropper. He is best known as a member of the blues-rock band Derek and the Dominos, with Eric Clapton, in 1970–71. He became a founding member of the Stax house band Booker T. & the M.G. He is the guitarist of the Stax Records house band, Booker T. & the M.G.’s, which backed artists such as Otis Redding, Sam & Dave, Carla Thomas, Rufus Thomas, and Johnnie Taylor. She and Jim had a studio, and they formed a label that was originally called Satellite Records. He was later a member of the Blues Brothers band. And I remember writing the changes to the bridge and we came up with that. '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.. 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" on which he was mentioned by name. 's, which backed artists such as Otis Redding, Sam & Dave, Carla Thomas, Rufus Thomas, and Johnnie Taylor. DK: I read that Otis was just 26 years old when he died in the plane crash, shortly after recording “Dock Of The Bay” with you. Cropper: Stax Records was run by Jim Stewart and his sister, Estelle Axton. He was a founding member of Booker T. & the M.G. When Cropper left Stax in the fall of 1970, [6] the label lost one of its most successful producers and songwriters. Biographies. 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. Levon knew Duck Dunn, and he wanted to start cutting a record up at his place in Woodstock (NY). And who knew it would be one of the biggest movies of all time (laughs). Cropper: Yeah, that was a group out of high school, and we formed that group around the 11th grade. David Hood is a bassist from Muscle Shoals, Alabama. And he’s right about that. Press Events Testimonials. Cropper then set up TMI Studios with Jerry Williams and former Mar-Key Ronnie Stoots. He admired guitarists including Tal Farlow, Chuck Berry, Jimmy Reed, Chet Atkins, Lowman Pauling of the Five Royales and Billy Butler of the Bill Doggett band. [8] On June 9, 2005, Cropper was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame. Dunn was notable for his 1960s recordings with Booker T. & the M.G. The Beatles favored Cropper's playing, and his production on Otis Redding records. We wrote it at the Lorraine Motel (a historic building in Memphis where Martin Luther King, Jr. was assassinated), and when I got to the room and he opened the door, he said, “I got a great idea for a hit.” I said, “Great, what is it?” He said, “I want to write a song about superstitions.” Then we literally went through the gamut of superstitions, from black cats to walkin’ under ladders (laughs), umbrellas…all those things you think of. How did you guys come up with that song? Then we went on tour and he wanted to do another album, so we cut a second one. Steve Cropper originally did When Something Is Wrong with My Baby, Time Is Tight, Born Under a Bad Sign, Green Onions and other songs. The "5" Royales with Charlie "Little Jazz" Ferguson and His Orch.