In The Christmas Spirit

Date: September 25, 2023

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A brand new re-release of In the Christmas Spirit, the fourth album by the R&B/soul band Booker T. & the M.G.’s, originally released in November 1966. It charted 9 weeks peaking at #13 on Billboard’s Best Bets For Christmas album chart December 2, 1967. The album features instrumental versions of traditional Christmas carols and songs.

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R.I.P. Jim Stewart

Date: December 6, 2022

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The industry lost a major icon yesterday when we lost Jim Stewart. I lost a great friend and had much success with him and STAX. Jim had a great trick in finding hit songs. Basically he never liked anything but if the writer fought for it he pretty much knew he had a hit. Songs like “Last Night” (The Mar-Keys), “Walking The Dog”(Rufus Thomas), “In The Midnight Hour”(Wilson Pickett), “Knock On Wood” (Eddie Floyd); all of these and more sold over a Million copies.

Jim Stewart taught me so much about the record business. What I didn’t know at the time was that Jim and I were both flying by the seat of our pants, but he was so much older than I. Jim always looked up to two people, Sam Phillips and Jerry Wexler.

The good news for me was that he trusted me with the company and the STAX Artists. We both knew at the same time we had a hit Artist with Otis Redding. At one time we had 17 Artists on the STAX/VOLT labels. A lot to worry about, but not near as bad as Clive Davis and Columbia Records.

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Stacks on STAX

Date: December 5, 2022

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Published June 10, 2021
By Jeff Slate

“Chips Moman [Grammy-winning Gold Star guitarist and producer] taught me how to be a session guitar player,” Cropper recalls. “He told me, ‘Just play what you feel, and if the singer or the producer or the engineer doesn’t like it, they’ll tell you, and ask you to play what they want you to play.’ But everyone seemed to like what I was doing. I just played what I felt, and it worked.”

Cropper, of course was no doubt a quick study, but he was broadly self-taught, with a very little help to get him going at the start.

“Actual lessons – paid for lessons – I had three in total,” he says with a chuckle. “That sure saved my family some money, didn’t it?”

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Crop Signs New Writer

Date: December 5, 2022

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Steve Cropper has signed Emily McGill  from Jackson, Tennessee to “Play it Steve” as a writer and has released her first single ” I’m Writing You Out Of My Memory” on Sneaky Animals Records.

The talented and country-inspired artist from Humboldt, Tennessee is the daughter of the late great Chuck McGill, a local hero in the West TN music scene, who in 2017 had part of Highway 186 named after him.

She grew up singing and playing in her family band with her mom Paula and sister Katie, and worked in her father’s music store, The Bandstand. McGill has worked and written with noteworthy artists such as Bud Lee, Irene Kelley, Steve Mandile, Jonathan Singleton and others.

5 Tips For Guitarists

Date: November 11, 2022

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He was barely out of his teens when he was scouted by Stax Records president Jim Stewart, who hired him to put together the label’s house band, Booker T. & The M.G.’s and also work as their A&R man.

It would lead to him co-writing, producing and playing on many a legendary recording, perhaps most famously of all, Otis Redding hit (Sittin’ On) The Dock Of The Bay. He would then go on to collaborate with the likes of John Lennon, Ringo Starr, Albert King, Jeff Beck Dolly Parton, Rod Stewart and many, many more.

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Buddy Holly Tribute

Date: September 26, 2022

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Brandi D. Addison
Lubbock Avalanche-Journal

Just before 5 p.m. on Saturday, guests began lining up at the steps of the Buddy Holly Hall, antsy for the 7:30 p.m. concert to belatedly celebrate what would have been the 85th birthday of late music legend Buddy Holly, whose milestone birthday was last Sept. 7.

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Interview Redux

Date: September 26, 2022

posted by cropper / Comments: No Comments / Tags: There is no tags

He was barely out of his teens when he was scouted by Stax Records president Jim Stewart, who hired him to put together the label’s house band, Booker T. & The M.G.’s and also work as their A&R man.

It would lead to him co-writing, producing and playing on many a legendary recording, perhaps most famously of all, Otis Redding hit (Sittin’ On) The Dock Of The Bay. He would then go on to collaborate with the likes of John Lennon, Ringo Starr, Albert King, Jeff Beck Dolly Parton, Rod Stewart and many, many more.

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Official Merch

Date: March 31, 2022

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Wait no longer. Official Steve Cropper merchandise is now available for purchase. Custom Tees and Polos from $25!

Get yours RIGHT HERE

Crop Grammy 2021

Date: November 26, 2021

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Cropper was honored with a nomination in the Contemporary Blues Album category for his album “Fire It Up.” Cropper — a two-time Grammy winner and Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award winner with Booker T. & the MGs — has been nominated eight times in his career. ORDER YOUR COPY NOW!