PASS THE PEAS, PLEASE

Remembering Steve Cropper

JTG: Mr. Steve Cropper has passed on from this world and from a world of music that he unflinchingly influenced, even though you probably wouldn’t know it if you passed him in the Piggly Wiggly.

He was a man of humble stature, standing approximately 6 feet 4 inches tall. A southern gentleman of the utmost degree, with a teddy bear approach. A commanding figure with a heart of gold. I witnessed this first hand in November 2003 when I was invited to the Cropper house in Nashville by a mutual friend, Brian Maybry, for a Cropper Thanksgiving Feast. To say the least, I was grateful for the hospitality and friendly environment in a place where I felt out of place. We discussed guitars, old amps, life in the ‘60s playing in racially trying times, and of course being from Memphis and our mutual connections. Unbelievably I was dining with a hero, a connection with my musical past, an icon. I will never forget it, and if I ever write a book, this moment undoubtedly will be included.

In my humble opinion, he was the epitome of when to play, and most importantly, when NOT to play. The guitar stabs (with slap back echo) in “Green Onions” (by Booker T. & The MG’s) will always be a reference page in my playbook. It was one of those pieces of advice that will never leave you. Thanks bro.

Cowboy Mouth would like to send our condolences to the Cropper family. Steve was a giant.

---