Rock and Roll Hall of Famer dead at 84: ‘He produced the records we all worshipped’

Steve Cropper, a legendary guitarist known for his work with Booker T. & the M.G.'s, The Blues Brothers and for his time at Stax Records, has died.

He was 84.

No cause of death has been reported. However, Cropper's longtime friend, Eddie Gore, told the Associated Press that he was with the musician on Tuesday at a rehab center where he had been working to recover following a recent fall.

News of his death spread quickly across social media on Wednesday.

"So sad to hear of the passing of our dear friend Steve Cropper today," Tower of Power posted on X. "His soulful guitar playing, songwriting, and record productions inspired us to be a soul band when we were teens and eventually led us to work with him in Memphis on our 2nd, and one of our best-selling albums."

"Words fail me in describing Steve Cropper's impact on music," Joe Bonamassa wrote on X. "He was on the session when history was made. He came up with the guitar parts we all studied. He produced the records we all worshipped. He was my friend and a true great. Rest in peace. This one really hurts."

Cropper was remembered in the wake of his death for his impact on Memphis soul music, including his work as a producer and songwriter with Stax. Variety noted that he produced and engineered records by legends such as Otis Redding, Wilson Pickett and Sam & Dave.

And the outlet also noted that back in 1996, Mojo, a British magazine, named Cropper as the second-greatest guitarist of all-time behind Jimi Hendrix.

Cropper was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a member of the M.G.'s in 1992.

"Steve Cropper was one of music's most recognized and in-demand guitarists," the Hall of Fame said in a statement.

"He fused his passiong for R&B with a unique rhythm style that set him apart from his contemparies."

Read the original article on pennlive.com .