Regarded as one of the world’s best guitarists and an inductee of the Rock’n’Roll Hall of Fame, Steve Cropper joins some well-known friends to present an unforgettable night of good music, writes Susan Welsh
Surely it’s only a matter of time before Steve Cropper’s life story is turned into a movie. Regarded as one of the world’s top guitarists, the American musician, who is touring currently as part of the show Animals and Friends, which visits Aberdeen on November 21, has a story that reads like a movie script.
Having strummed the guitar for the first time at the tender age of 10, he went on to a have a glittering career which included being guitarist of the world-famous Stax records house band, Booker T & the MGs, and worked with hugely influential artists such as Otis Redding, Sam and Dave and Wilson Pickett.
He also co-wrote timeless, classic hits such as Sittin’ on the Dock of the Bay, Knock on Wood and In the Midnight Hour and appeared in the cult movie The Blues Brothers, with many of Jake and Elwood’s escapades being more than a little similar to events in his own life.
Yet when I suggest it’s time they made a movie of his life, his reaction is to laugh loudly.
“I don’t think that will ever happen. I’ve been waiting 30 years for them to make a movie about Otis Redding. They’ve made movies about Ray Charles, James Brown and Tina Turner, so I’d like to see them get around doing one on Otis before they think about me,” said Steve, 73.
His connections with Otis go back to the days of Stax records where, as well as being a founder member of the Stax house band, he became the company’s A&R man.
“When I think back to my time at Stax, the thing I miss most is the routine of going to work every morning then working 15 hours a day. We loved it, everyone was there for the same reason – a love of music.
“I’d work in the record shop during the day, then at night I’d be editing, mixing tapes and so on, which I really enjoyed. Other times I’d be filing contracts with the musicians’ union and looking after the business side, who wrote what song, etc, as well as playing. It was just nonstop.
“Even when we had hit records, we’d no time to perform as we’d be working seven days a week. We’d literally go home, take a shower then head back to the studio. Occasionally, at weekends, we’d get time off to go fishing or play golf.
“I remember Donald ‘Duck’ Dunn and I would show up at the first tee at daylight, play nine holes then work in the studio all day. It was hectic, but we were young and full of energy.”
As a house guitarist, he played on many recordings, such as Sittin’ on the Dock of the Bay, which he co-wrote with Otis, and Sam and Dave’s Soul Man, on which he was mentioned by name.
In 1977, he got a call from John Belushi and Dan Aykroyd which resulted in the formation of the Blues Brothers Band, who recorded three albums and made the hilarious movie of the same name.
“What we did with the Blues Brothers was relive our careers. It was pretty funny. It was similar to what we did with Sam and Dave, Otis Redding, Eddie Floyd and Wilson Pickett,” said Steve.
“We just kept coming up with ideas. They were heavily into the blues, so we did what we’d always done and played upbeat versions of old blues songs which we loved. It’s hard to describe how much fun it was making that movie, but there was a huge number of people involved behind the scenes, including stunt men, which made it a very interesting process.
“We never thought it would become such a massive success or a cult movie. It was just a film of the moment, but there was a lot of positive energy around it, which is still evident today.”
With a massive back catalogue of music to choose from, Steve finds it hard to pick out a favourite track.
“I always say my favourite song is the one I’m playing right now,” said Steve, who still plays with the group while maintaining a solo career and appearing regularly as a special guest with the Animals.
“I enjoy playing with them as we’re all good buddies and having a ball.”
The Animals were the second British band to top the American charts after The Beatles, with the now multimillion-selling and legendary anthem House of the Rising Sun. Subsequently, they had more than 20 top-10 hits across the world, and were the first British band to tour Poland and Japan.
The current line-up features John Steel and Mick Gallagher (The Blockheads, The Clash, Paul McCartney), Danny Handley and Scott Whitley. A fantastic combination of legendary musicians – two of whom have been inducted to the Rock’n’Roll Hall of Fame, make this a night not to be missed.
Animals and Friends, featuring Steve Cropper, are at The Lemon Tree, Aberdeen, on Friday, November 21. Doors open at 7pm. Contact 01224 641122 or visit www.aberdeenperforming
arts.com/events