Steve Cropper Blues Brothers collaborations helped define the band’s iconic sound, and now the world mourns the loss of the guitarist who bridged soul, R&B, and rock. Steve Cropper, the Stax Records house guitarist and co-founder Booker T. & the MGs departed this life on Wednesday, December 3, 2025, at the age of 84 in Nashville. A cause of death was not disclosed, but Cropper had been working on new music days earlier.
Steve Cropper Blues Brothers Connection: Soul Man Revival
Cropper’s Steve Cropper Blues Brothers legacy began in the late 1970s when John Belushi and Dan Aykroyd recruited him for their Saturday Night Live act. Joining forces with Booker T., Donald “Duck” Dunn, and drummer Willie Hall, Cropper had a vital influence in propelling Sam & Dave’s “Soul Man” to achieve number one status. The 1979 single peaked at No. 14 on the Billboard Hot 100, launching the Blues Brothers phenomenon.
The Steve Cropper Blues Brothers partnership extended to their 1980 film, where Cropper’s crisp rhythm guitar anchored the soundtrack alongside tracks like “Rubber Biscuit” and “Gimme Some Lovin’.” His Stax-honed style—tight, economical riffs—gave the band authentic Memphis soul amid their comedic chaos.
God speed Steve Cropper: a man who's guitar sound was absolutely undeniable.
From Booker T to Otis to The Blues Brothers band, he will forever be one of the greatest.
Booker T and the MG's – Green Onions pic.twitter.com/l386E7OUfI— Danny Deraney (@DannyDeraney) December 4, 2025
Booker T. & the MGs: Cropper’s Rhythm Foundation
Before Steve Cropper Blues Brothers, Cropper co-founded Booker T. & the MGs in 1962 at Stax Records. The instrumental quartet—Cropper (guitar), Booker T. Jones (keys), Al Jackson Jr. (drums), and Lewie Steinberg/Donald Dunn (bass)—became soul’s premier backing band. Their 1962 hit “Green Onions” topped charts worldwide, selling millions.
Steve Cropper Blues Brothers fans know his earlier work powered Otis Redding’s “Sittin’ On the Dock of the Bay” (co-writer) and Wilson Pickett’s “In the Midnight Hour” (co-writer). Cropper shaped hundreds of Stax classics, spending 15-hour studio days from 1961-1970.
Inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 1992, Booker T. & the MGs made significant contributions to a variety of artists, such as The Beatles and The Blues Brothers.
Cropper’s Guitar Philosophy: Rhythm Over Flash
“I’ve always thought of myself as a rhythm player,” Cropper told Guitar.com in 2021. I take joy in playing a musical composition multiple times. In 1996, Mojo rated him as the second-best guitarist of all time, commending his distinctive ‘chickin’ pickin” technique—characterized by sharp, percussive riffs that define soul guitar.
Co-writer of Eddie Floyd’s “Knock on Wood,” Cropper’s minimalist style stood in stark contrast to flamboyant solos. His Steve Cropper Blues Brothers work exemplified this: locking grooves that propelled the band’s horn-driven energy.
Rest in Peace #SteveCropper 🎸
Thank you for the music 🎶 May flights of angels sing thee to thy rest https://t.co/M03bms6zdJ pic.twitter.com/x26NzXsrMH— This Day in Rush History (@RushHistory2112) December 4, 2025
Tributes Honor Steve Cropper Blues Brothers Contributions
Family stated: “Steve was a beloved musician, songwriter, and producer whose talent touched millions. He lives forever through his music.” Associate Eddie Gore, with Cropper Tuesday, called him “such a good human.”
From Stax sessions to Blues Brothers stages, Cropper’s legacy endures. At 84, his passing marks the end of an era for soul guitar.
Cropper’s Lasting Stax Influence
Cropper engineered Stax’s golden age, backing Sam & Dave, Carla Thomas, and Rufus Thomas. His 2012 Guardian interview recalled relentless schedules: “17 or 18 artists… pretty busy.”
Steve Cropper Blues Brothers bridged his studio mastery to live spectacle, cementing his cross-generational appeal.