R.I.P. Steve Cropper

Willie G. Moseley

Willie G. Moseley

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Age 84. A giant who was not only a musical influence, but validated the notion that someone's color should be irrelevant when it comes to music. 

And he first took that step in an integrated band in the early '60s, during the glory days of the original Civil Rights Movement. 

But his proprietary licks and tone were unforgettable. Someone else opined that he could hit one note and you'd know who it was. First guitar lick I ever learned was that immortal  twangy intro to "Hip Hug-Her"

 
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crunchee said:
The Blues Brothers movie was making the rounds on basic cable TV within the last week or so, so he'll live on in that, at least.  RIP.   :(
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Here's a funny tidbit: Every time I hear Aretha Franklin's "Think" on the radio, or at a sports game, it's the Blues Brothers version. It is just less produced and more energetic, IMHO.

I have a lot of the DVD / BluRay stuff from the Blues Brothers, and Cropper talked about when he got "the call" about the concept. He wasn't really sure it sounded like something he wanted to do. At the time he was doing A&R, working with a guitarist, and either got the call at that time, or told him about it, and when he heard that Cropper might not do it he said "well I'll do it!". If his talent was ready to drop everything and do it, he said should probably do it.

I mean, before the movie there was the concept itself and other things, and the original band was put together in 1978 or so. Getting a call about two comedians in New York who wanted to put together a backing band for a blues project wasn't exactly something most people would even think about or take super seriously.

 
One must see the movie Monterey Pop and watch Booker T and the MGs back up Otis Redding. Cropper’s rig that night was an early ‘60’s slab board Tele into a Marshall plexi half stack. 

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