Ep. 42 - STEVE CROPPER ("In the Midnight Hour")

Between 1961 and 1970 Steve Cropper was a fixture at Memphis’ legendary Stax Records and studio, where he worked as a producer, guitarist, engineer, artist, A&R man, and songwriter. During that era he penned over a dozen songs that reached the Top 10 on Billboard's R&B and Pop charts, including Otis Redding’s “Mr. Pitiful" and “(Sittin’ On) The Dock of the Bay;" Wilson Pickett’s “In the Midnight Hour,” “Don’t Fight It,” and “634-5789;” Eddie Floyd’s “Knock on Wood;” as well as “See Saw,” which was a hit for both Don Covay and Aretha Franklin. Additionally, his band Booker T. & the MG’s scored with several of Cropper’s co-written instrumental singles, such as “Green Onions,” “Hip Hug-Her,” “Soul-Limbo,” and “Time is Tight.” In the 1970s Steve joined the original incarnation of the Blues Brothers Band and appeared prominently in the film. Additionally, he produced memorable albums such as Tower of Power’s We Came to Play and Jon Cougar's Nothing Matters and What If It Did. Cropper issued a pair of solo albums in the 1980s and went on to release more recent albums in collaboration with former Rascals leader – and previous Songcraft guest – Felix Cavaliere. The multiple Grammy winner was named by Rolling Stone magazine as one of the Top 100 Guitar Players of All Time, while Mojo magazine named him the second greatest guitarist, after Jimi Hendrix. His reputation has earned him the opportunity to work with Big Star, John Lennon, Levon Helm, Bob Dylan, Eric Clapton, George Harrison, Tom Petty, Johnny Cash, Neil Young, Stevie Wonder, Peter Frampton, Jeff Beck, Paul Simon, Buddy Guy, Elton John, Joe Louis Walker, and many others. In the 1990s he was inducted into the Rhythm and Blues Hall of Fame, the Musicians Hall of Fame, and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Cropper received Tennessee's Arts and Humanities Lifetime Achievement Award in 2004, and was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2005.  

The long list of artists who've covered Steve Cropper's songs includes The Bar-Kays, George Benson, The Blues Brothers, Michael Bolton, David Bowie, Glen Campbell, Clarence Carter, Cher, Eric Clapton, Color Me Badd, Ry Cooder, The Count Basie Orchestra, Creedence Clearwater Revival, King Curtis, Ella Fitzgerald, Free, Eddie Floyd, The Flying Burrito Brothers, The Grateful Dead, Buddy Guy, Sammy Hagar, Etta James, Al Jarreau, Waylon Jennings & Willie Nelson, Tom Jones, Janis Joplin, Albert King, B.B. King, Peggy Lee, Taj Mahal, Sergio Mendes, Buddy Miles, Aaron Neville, New York Dolls, The Ohio Players, Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers Esther Phillips, Wilson Pickett, Billy Preston, Lou Rawls, Otis Redding, Martha Reeves, The Righteous Brothers, Johnny Rivers, Roxy Music, Sam & Dave, Seal, Percy Sledge, Joe Simon, Bruce Springsteen, The Staple Singers, Steppenwolf, Rod Stewart, The Sweet Inspirations, T. Rex, James Taylor, Carla Thomas, Tina Turner, The Ventures, Mary Wells, Jackie Wilson, and The Young Rascals.