"Play it Steve!"

[JoeWras]

We lost Steve Cropper this week. I'm no guitar nerd, but I know this guy was important to the soul, pop, rock and even a little bit of country world.

He's the "Steve" of "Play it Steve" in both the Sam and Dave and Blues Brothers version of Soul Man. He also infamously failed his audition for Weird Al's band, all in fun of course. He not only was sought out to play guitar, but he also co-wrote some huge hits like In the Midnight Hour and Sittin' on the Dock of the Bay.

He was a cross-over artist who didn't see color or genre as something to worry about. We need more Steves making our music and less producers sitting behind computers.

 

[Stormy Kromer]

I remember him from the Blues Brothers. Was he working in the kitchen in the scene where Aretha Franklin sang "Think" to her man when Jake and Elwood came into her cafe ?

 

[dunkelblau]

Not Steve, that was sax player blue Lou, right? Scene still hits the same after five decades!

 

[Koolau]

Steve (the Colonel) Cropper dialoged with Curtis about the song "Minnie the Moocher" getting ready to perform until the Blues Brothers arrived at the venue.

 

[Koolau]

RIP Steve Cropper. Lot of history there from Stax Records (the MGs) to Blues Bros. and beyond.

I hate to say it but 84 is sounding pretty young to me these days.

 

[jollystomper]

RIP Steve. Well before the Blues Brothers, in addition to Stax Records, Steve was part of Booker T. and the MGs. They were a great soul/jazz instrumental group - Booker T., Steve, Donald "Duck" Dunn (who was also in the Blues Brothers Band), and Al Jackson. One of the first interracial soul groups. They had hits with "Green Onions" and "Time Is Tight", among others. "Melting Pot" is, in my opinion, their classic album that everyone should listen to.

 

[aja8888]

I hate to say it but 84 is sounding pretty young to me these days.

Me too!

 

[Stormy Kromer]

Not Steve, that was sax player blue Lou, right? Scene still hits the same after five decades!

Dan Akroyd did a lot to promote great blues music. That silly, crazy movie he did with John Belushi did too. I loved it. I grew up on an old John Deere tractor listening to country & western music on a scratchy old AM radio. When the Blues Brothers came around I learned there was something else out there to listen to. Kind of like Naven Johnson......

 

[Koolau]

RIP Steve. Well before the Blues Brothers, in addition to Stax Records, Steve was part of Booker T. and the MGs. They were a great soul/jazz instrumental group - Booker T., Steve, Donald "Duck" Dunn (who was also in the Blues Brothers Band), and Al Jackson. One of the first interracial soul groups. They had hits with "Green Onions" and "Time Is Tight", among others. "Melting Pot" is, in my opinion, their classic album that everyone should listen to.

My sister is the same age as Booker T Jones and actually went to university with him. Small world I guess. I loved that movie "Big Star - Nothing Can Hurt Me" which included a lot of info on the MGs as Stax' house band - including SC. What a great talent he was!

 

[dunkelblau]

Dan Akroyd did a lot to promote great blues music. That silly, crazy movie he did with John Belushi did too. I loved it. I grew up on an old John Deere tractor listening to country & western music on a scratchy old AM radio. When the Blues Brothers came around I learned there was something else out there to listen to. Kind of like Naven Johnson......

Sounds like we both graduated from "Oh, we got both kinds. We got country *and* western" to "we're not in Kansas any more!"

“Well, if this is out there, think how much more is out there. This is the kinda music that tells me to go out there and BE somebody!”

 

[GravitySucks]

Dan Akroyd did a lot to promote great blues music. That silly, crazy movie he did with John Belushi did too. I loved it. I grew up on an old John Deere tractor listening to country & western music on a scratchy old AM radio. When the Blues Brothers came around I learned there was something else out there to listen to. Kind of like Naven Johnson......

And that second movie helped me find my special purpose.