Steve Cropper: How He Developed His Style

Steve Cropper: Why I Use a Telecaster Guitar: • Why I Use a Telecaster...
How I Made It as a Musician - Steve Cropper: • How I Made It as a Mus...
Steve Cropper: Talks in Depth about Guitars, Stax, & Booker T. & the M.G.'s.: • Steve Cropper: Talks i...
Steve Cropper on "Green Onions" : • Steve Cropper - The AM...
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[@buzzsmith8146]

Great line! "There's just too much energy fightin' for space."

[@artamussumatra6286]

“Play it Steve!” 😁👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍

[@floydthompson9332]

Instead of listening to what barely passes for music nowadays, presented by highly disposable "artists," folks need to take a listen to the purveyors of real music and immense talent, the greatest soul band, among some other towering soul bands, Booker T. Jones, Steve Cropper, Al Jackson, Jr., Donald Dunn and Lewis Steinberg, the phenomenal Booker T. & The M.G's. Thank you, Mr. Chambers and the MHOF for this invaluable opportunity to listen to and learn from the genius of Steve Cropper.

[@MusiciansHallofFameMuseum]

Thanks Floyd... joe

[@paulthomasmiller1842]

Learning music history from those who made it. It doesn't get much better than that. Thanks for sharing.

[@MusiciansHallofFameMuseum]

You’re welcome Paul... Thank you too... Joe

[@boonesergio2600]

sorry to be off topic but does any of you know a method to log back into an instagram account? I somehow lost my account password. I love any tips you can give me.

[@rogerwilliams2629]

Damn, life used to be simpler. Great interview.

[@MusiciansHallofFameMuseum]

Thanks for watching Roger... Joe

[@randykintzley5923]

I love Steve Cropper even more after watching this.

[@6412mars]

I love Steve Cropper..not only his guitar playing but for buying Bobby Whitlock a plane ticket to England and hooking him up with Clapton..and then there was "Derek and the dominos"!! thank you Steve...And thank you Joe

[@MusiciansHallofFameMuseum]

Thank you again 6412.......Joe

[@adamofathens]

"we just loved and respected everybody" - That will usually take care of most all problems. Highly effective and doesn't cost anything.

[@sixxfreak58]

Steve Cropper is an American treasure. Thank you for sharing these interview clips.

[@MusiciansHallofFameMuseum]

Thanks for watching too Mindy... Joe

[@Teachering]

I'm getting on in age, nearing 70. I miss the age Steve Cropper speaks of. A much simpler life.

[@billywebb4325]

Steve Cropper was my first guitar hero; and still is one of my favorites! I still love his style and tone. Although the Telecaster is not my main guitar choice, I really love one in Steve's hands. I always liked his attitude too.

[@rustymacneil3227]

Man, you nailed it!!! If the kids today could see how simple and happy we were. The music was "happy", made you fill good!!

[@mikemckenna4924]

agreed...was a very kool time

[@mariothepookster]

A true artist! Simplicity. Say what you gotta say, then stop. It’s not how fast you play, how many notes you can play fast. Steve Cropper just plays soulful “tasty shit”. Man, a guitarists guitarist. This dude knows how to listen.

[@GeorgiaBoy1961]

How fascinating to hear Steve Cropper talk about the evolution of his hybrid of rhythm and lead guitar playing - one guy handling both jobs (and how well he did them!). Cornell Dupree - one of Steve's contemporaries - developed a similar style for quite similar reasons. The beauty of the hybrid rhythm - lead style is that it allowed the guitar to weave in-and-out of the music and fit where there was a place for it, without getting in the way of the other instruments. That's always a hazard when you have other chordal/polyphonic instruments playing in the band, i.e., piano, organ, horns playing chords, etc. Booker T. and the MGs solved those problems of sonic space better than just about anyone, by never playing too much and by playing the right thing at the right time. Motown had three guitarists on many of their sessions - Robert White, Eddie Willis, and Joe Messina. They divided up their parts into discrete interlocking riffs - one playing back-beats or accentuating the basic track with percussive chords, another playing fills, and yet another playing some other part. They learned how to accentuate the song without stepping on anyone else's - or each other's - toes. Steve Cropper will go down in history as one of the finest guitarists ever to strap on a Telecaster, and an amazing musician, writer, producer and band leader, too.

[@MusiciansHallofFameMuseum]

Thanks for watching Georgia Boy 61.... Joe

[@shaunw9270]

Hi Georgia Boy. Yes , to everything you said , it's a style of playing I enjoy a lot, although I'm no expert . Was watching Jimmie Vaughan playing on Blues Kitchen channel the other day , just him singing and playing a Strat - just excellent 👌

[@thomwest1724]

❤️🎼🎸Steve Cropper is a national treasure😔

[@jokermaan1]

Fascinating to listen to Steve's story about the genesis of Green Onions. One of the first real funky, soulful tunes I'd ever heard, back in '62, when I was 14! I remember it being played on Radio Luxembourg and I'd be listening out for it nightly on a little transistor radio and getting really excited whenever it came on! He must have had such a great time working every day in that environment! Best job ever!

[@ibberman]

Same here, Radio Luxemburg, listen on the transistor radio under the bed covers.

[@jesincere8589]

Steve Cropper, a real legend in music.

[@MusiciansHallofFameMuseum]

Thanks for watching Je…. I agree with you… best, joe

[@sacrimonius]

Love Steve Cropper. Class act.

[@ryreinhardt]

I love his speaking voice, so warm and Southern

[@mtc4him201]

Can you imagine the divas of today working so hard behind the scenes like these guys did? Humility is definitely lacking in today's society, just watch the evening news. Thanks for another great interview!

[@MusiciansHallofFameMuseum]

Thank you mtc............. Joe

[@michaelviolet7250]

Amazing Musician and Musical Historian. A true Tennessee Treasure. Thanks for documenting what a great person Steve Cropper is. Thanks for the memories!

[@MusiciansHallofFameMuseum]

Thanks for watching Michael..........Joe

[@silaslanglang7376]

Just amazing. One of the all time greats of guitar, from one of the greatest bands of all time. A musicians musician. He's one of the main reasons I play a telecaster.

[@UtaDes]

I knew Steve for a couple of years at Messick High School and I sat in church with him a few times. A real nice and low key guy. He took advantage of what life had for him. Best Wishes to Steve.

[@alanconrad8490]

wow.....love Steve, his music, his history, his great story telling....totally cool dude

[@BengtLofqvist]

Nice guy, very pleasant to hear him tell how it worked back then. Very sympathetic.

[@Bronxboy]

Steve American master and telecaster great

[@RodTDavies]

The vamp on Don’t Fight It is the greatest without question started my professional Career in 67 cheers Steve I went on to play with Bowie and Silverhead.

[@johnjones2341]

Pure gold. I love the magic in older recordings.

[@davegallagher7428]

Wonderful interview Joe, so many great stories and lines, “accident on purpose”.

[@MusiciansHallofFameMuseum]

Thanks Dave... Joe

[@roughcutguitars]

The Master of Where, How much, and What to play. You can't not hear anything he's on without him. This whole series is gold, but I could listen to Steve spin yarns all day every day.

[@pneumatic00]

Just imagine, you record this tune on a weekend; you get your buddy to cut a master stamper on a lathe, you stamp out a couple dozen records, you get in a car and hand out the records to radio stations and stuff them into jukeboxes and in a few weeks you have a mega hit. Yeah, 50-60 years later maybe the internet is faster, but in this case, not by much. Incredible Green Onions story! So utterly classic Americana.

[@MusiciansHallofFameMuseum]

Thanks for watching 00.... joe

[@silvermanewj4366]

Re jumping in the car and going around to different radio stations to get them to plug my stuff I do the same thing even today- except from home. I hawk my songs online even overseas via Sirius and Spotify, etc.

[@warrendoris9669]

I love your interviewing style.brother! You ask the best questions and you.nevet get.in the way. Steve Cropper is a genius and an.incredibly modest man. But those fills and lines he played on.every single.track still facinate me.There is not a single day that i do.not play Pain in my heart, Chain and bound and the wickedly funky Let me.come home.The lines and sound are simply astounding! Thank you! And utmost respect to him.

[@MusiciansHallofFameMuseum]

Thanks Warren... Joe

[@moogdome2562]

What an excellent interview. Love how music brought people together despite the terrible things that were going on at that time and made such beautiful music. Steve, Booker, and the rest of the guys are real legends and complemented each other so well. Thank you for sharing this.

[@edge1289]

Glad to see Steve is getting his proper due, one of the greatest house bands ever!

[@buxtra]

😂 The phones lit up! They're ringing off the wall! What a joy, thanks for another gem! 24K🥇

[@MusiciansHallofFameMuseum]

Thanks Buxtra .. Joe

[@whitwaltman5137]

Happy 80th birthday, Steve!

[@hewitc]

80 is the new 60

[@efhs1970]

Joe, Steve Cropper is the best! My favorite of your interviews! I had to stop and listen to all the songs he mentioned during this interview, so it took a while if you know what I mean! He absolutely could not have imagined where his life was heading when he picked up his first guitar! Because of his talent, he got to meet so many of the great artists (of which he is one)! Your interviews are always a bright spot in my evenings on KZbin! Keep em coming!💫

[@MusiciansHallofFameMuseum]

Thanks again Larry... Joe

[@racine09]

I love the Soul Dressing album -it never gets old .Steve Cropper a true guitar hero /

[@ivannovotny4552]

Joe, thank you for another great video and awesome interview. I remember Green Onions as monster hit in the early '60s when i was just a kid. It's always nice to know the authentic story behind it.

[@MusiciansHallofFameMuseum]

Thanks Ivan... joe

[@nikkienikkie4310]

Have always admired his skill! He has such a treasure trove of music history in one life.

[@jhardin2003]

Really interesting commentary Steve makes on multi-track recording. In the old days having a limited number of tracks to record with, now a days unlimited tracks leads to "fighting for space."

[@vdubmikey1]

Could listen to these priceless anecdotes all day. A history of rock right there 👍❤️

[@BrianKlobyGuitar]

Thanks for this incredibly cool interview with one of my most notable influences... I've always enjoyed playing and rockin' out on Booker T MG's "Can't Be Still"... :)

[@MusiciansHallofFameMuseum]

Thanks Brian.., Joe

[@JKlasen]

Joe, love these interviews. Such a great job.

[@MusiciansHallofFameMuseum]

Thanks Jim... Joe

[@anthonymaccherone]

My friend Jim Peterman, from the Steve Miller band played at Monterey and was totally blown away by Otis Redding.

[@1clackerman]

WHAT A COOOL DUDE. great fun to watch videos about my heroes of sound. Big thanks for this video.

[@MusiciansHallofFameMuseum]

Thanks for watching Michael... joe

[@chrispaws9294]

Talks as good as he plays. fantastic

[@davidlincolnbrooks]

Fabulous stories, fabulous musician, fabulous Southern man. Go, Steve! And he's right about unlimited multitracking... it can dilute instead of enrich a song's sound...

[@tomcoryell]

I used to play on Gibson Sonomatics. Dreadful strings, but that’s what there was. Another excellent interview Joe!

[@MusiciansHallofFameMuseum]

Thanks Tom.. Joe

[@jamesthe-doctor8981]

That's really a cool memory. I didn't even know about Sonomatics back in my earliest days in '64, mainly because I was only 8 years old, hahaa! The only strings I knew while growing up were La Bella and Black Diamond. Black Diamonds got no respect back in the day because they were the cheapest strings you could buy. Then Ernie Ball created .10 GA Slinkys, and after those, .009 Super Slinkys. The whole guitar world changed after that.

[@lordofthemound3890]

How I’d love to sit down and talk with Steve Cropper.

[@kennethhacker3014]

Great presentation...thank you!! Love all these veteran session musicians ...great stories and good vibes

[@siliconalleys]

Thanks, Joe. I'm in bed, about to fall asleep. Didn't think I could stay awake till the end of the interview. I'm so wired up now that I'm going to play Green Onions. Thanks, again. "Play it, Steve!!" Sam & Dave. And John Belushi.

[@tmaddrummer]

Another great one under your belt Joe! Thanks and Blessings!

[@Zonydeep]

Great guy

[@alwolf2325]

Spectacular, thank you Joe.

[@MusiciansHallofFameMuseum]

Thanks Al as usual.... Best, Joe

[@vicparis3524]

Another Gem from the vault! Thanks as always Joe! What a service you have done for all of us. Thank you! After this Covid is over, I want to shake your hand sir!

[@MusiciansHallofFameMuseum]

Thanks Vic... see you soon I hope.., Joe

[@DieselWeazel]

Respect

[@NorthWriter]

"I don't play on the vocals. I play on the holes." Steve Cropper, Ringo Starr, Levon Helm, etc. Examples of classic musicians who play to the song, not to their ego.

[@MusiciansHallofFameMuseum]

Thanks for watching and sharing your comments NorthWriter.....Joe

[@GuyCabliaro]

So amazingly interesting.

[@lowelledlee8019]

As usual, Joe, great interview!

[@MusiciansHallofFameMuseum]

Thanks again Lowell…………..Joe

[@drmorqWarrenProject]

Thanks Joe... another great interview...

[@MusiciansHallofFameMuseum]

Thanks d.... joe

[@billlowe6883]

Very interesting interview. Thank you.

[@MusiciansHallofFameMuseum]

Thank you Bill ... joe

[@cherriphelps0108]

Great interview!

[@MusiciansHallofFameMuseum]

Thanks Cherri... Joe C.

[@shaunw9270]

Ooh what a treat , I wasn't expecting a second installment ! There's a lot to like about Steve, both as a musician and a gentleman. Very interesting to hear what you both had to say on race & segregation at that time too. Many thanks again .

[@MusiciansHallofFameMuseum]

Thanks Shaun... Joe

[@richardmindemann6935]

What a great musician. It's fun to hear him talk about how that fine music came about. Guys like me would prefer to listen to Steve Cropper than Eddie Van Halen any day, That's nothing against the virtuoso EVH. But Cropper's R&B approach just moves me more. It puts a chill up my spine.

[@MusiciansHallofFameMuseum]

Thanks for watching Richard....Joe

[@kevinstrawser5073]

Green onions inspired me to be the guitar hack that I am

[@DavidMFChapman]

An amazing life at an amazing time in musical history. Thanks for bringing these stories to light. You deserve some kind of medal!

[@MusiciansHallofFameMuseum]

Thank you again GA........... Joe

[@daleplatino]

I love what he said about racism in the conversation. Musicians down here in New Orleans feel the same way. Everybody Plays together. Never does race or gender come up. It's, can you play, and, are you honest person. Once you prove yourself, you are in.

[@lionheartroar3104]

Thanks Joe...this is treasure!

[@MusiciansHallofFameMuseum]

Lionheart..... thank you for watching... best, Joe

[@patrickostrom2762]

Luv this! Put Gibson Sonic guitar strings on a Fender Esquire guitar ! And how Steve's dubbing to get more track's in studio to enhance recording ! Steve looks back to pioneers of stone ages of studio works! And primitive as the equipment was the music blended Great! The Memphis Soul Man and his guitar , visions ,works on tracks!

[@awrogers3013]

Should ask him the inspiration of yada yada. Can you believe it actually made it to the record and no one stopped him. Guitar player is one thing, human being another

[@allenjones6737]

I saw a video of Steve and Duck opening for John lee Hooker. They played a couple of scorching instrumentals.. i had it recorded but that phone was stolen. If anyone knows what I'm thinking of shoot me a clue please

[@SDsailor7]

What is the name of the festival with Otis redding that Croper was talking about? Is the video available on yutube? Anyone know? Thank you

[@markuspboeddeker5930]

Monterey 1967.

[@SDsailor7]

@@markuspboeddeker5930 thank you

[@outtathyme5679]

Great stories! Now I need to go buy some extra B strings

[@MusiciansHallofFameMuseum]

Thanks for watching 567.... best, Joe

[@davidlincolnbrooks]

And all of these guys of differing races...and it didn't even matter... right at the pinnacle of the Civil Rights movements... Musicians have always been that way: "Let other people wage their race wars... We just wanna make music."

[@Sticks-of-TNT-tf1tn]

🧨🧨 Thanks Joe. Can’t get too much of Steve Cropper. Such a down to earth, guy next door type fellow. Hard to imagine him as an 80-yr old now. But then I can’t imagine me at the age I am. Remember Steve McQueen at the end of “Papillon” sailing away from Devil Island laying on his back on that raft made from coconuts, a free man at last? “Hey you bastards, I’m still here!”😎 kzbin.info/www/bejne/hauwhHarhtGjnc0

[@MusiciansHallofFameMuseum]

Thanks again for watching TNT....Joe

[@Zotbot2329]

Phil & Tommy Emmanuel, used banjo strings for a g, before ernie bsll slinkies came out.

[@BryanClark-gk6ie]

I remember guitar players using them back in the early 60's.

[@danvincent4130]

Mr. Cropper is correct because "Music Is Colorblind"...

[@deweywatts8456]

I guess he can't put it on tape, but if it was like my father's town, they dated interracial, but too much family pressure to marry then.

[@garyhallgren]

Yeah, it's true about Honky Tonk...I play sax and F is right...but guitar players hate it in F. Even really good blues players bitch about playing it in F.

[@BigJayBrownTown]

I always have fun playing tunes in horn keys. It’s a good workout and sometimes produces cool lines I wouldn’t have otherwise came up with if I was playing in E or something

[@kennycamaro2361]

We

[@kristofer603]

Miss Joe.

[@MusiciansHallofFameMuseum]

Kristofer603, Thank you for your kind words & continued support… it would mean a lot to my dad, Joe, and does to me too. All the best, Britt

[@markuspboeddeker5930]

Accidental on purpose..)