[4][5] Born on a farm near Willow Springs, Missouri, Cropper lived in Dora and West Plains before moving with his family to Memphis at age 9.

Besides being impressed with the young guitarist's playing, Stax Records president Jim Stewart saw professionalism and maturity beyond Cropper's years.

's, along with Hammond organ player Booker T. Jones, bassist Lewie Steinberg (who was replaced by Donald "Duck" Dunn soon thereafter) and drummer Al Jackson Jr.[8] As a house guitarist, he played on many recordings such as "(Sittin' On) the Dock of the Bay", co-written with and performed by Otis Redding and Sam & Dave's "Soul Man" on which he was mentioned by name.

[9] Regarding this period, Rob Bowman, in his book Soulsville U.S.A.: The Story of Stax Records, quoted Booker T. Jones as saying: We were writing sounds too, especially Steve.

He's very sound-conscious and he gets a lot of sounds out of a Telecaster without changing any settings — just by using his fingers, his picks and his amps.Along with influential work with Booker T & The MG's, Cropper co-wrote "Knock on Wood" with Eddie Floyd, "In the Midnight Hour" with Wilson Pickett and "(Sittin' On) The Dock of the Bay" with Otis Redding.

Jackson, whom Cropper called "the greatest drummer to ever walk the Earth," was murdered in his Memphis home before the group could make their comeback.

In 1978, Cropper and Dunn became members of Levon Helm's RCO All-Stars and then went on to figure prominently in the Blues Brothers Band with drummer Willie Hall.

The concerts over five nights included some of the world's best guitarists such as Cropper, BB King, Robert Cray, Eric Clapton, Bo Diddley, Brian May, Albert Collins, Bob Dylan, Joe Satriani, and Steve Vai.

's were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Cropper appeared with a new line-up of the group for the Bob Dylan 30th Anniversary concert, in October 1992 at Madison Square Garden, performing songs by and backing Dylan, Eric Clapton, George Harrison, Tom Petty, Johnny Cash, Chrissie Hynde, Sinéad O'Connor, Stevie Wonder and Neil Young.

In June 2004, Cropper appeared with Dunn and Jones as the backing band for Eric Clapton's Crossroads Guitar Festival, held at the Cotton Bowl in Dallas.

[17] With Alabama With Jimmy Barnes With William Bell With Barbi Benton With Big Star With Stephen Bishop With Frank Black With Bobby and the Midnites With Booker T. & the M.G.

's With Ronnie Baker Brooks With Jimmy Buffett With Billy Burnette With Brian Cadd With Cate Brothers With Chicago With David Clayton-Thomas With A. J. Croce With Patti Dahlstrom With Delaney & Bonnie With Ned Doheny With Yvonne Elliman With José Feliciano With Eddie Floyd With Peter Frampton With Richie Furay With Art Garfunkel With Cyndi Grecco With Richie Havens With Levon Helm With Chris Hillman With Rebecca Lynn Howard With Etta James With Wynonna Judd With Albert King With B.B.

King With Al Kooper With John Lennon With Ann-Margret With Marilyn McCoo and Billy Davis Jr. With Craig Morgan With Aaron Neville With Wayne Newton With Harry Nilsson With John Oates With Nigel Olsson With Roy Orbison With Dolly Parton With Wilson Pickett With Michel Polnareff With John Prine With Otis Redding With Bruce Roberts With Leon Russell With Sanford & Townsend With Leo Sayer With Poncho Sanchez With Guy Sebastian With Neil Sedaka With Paul Shaffer With Paul Simon With Percy Sledge With Broderick Smith With The Soul Children With The Staple Singers With Mavis Staples With Ringo Starr With Rod Stewart With Livingston Taylor With Carla Thomas With Mickey Thomas With Tower of Power With The Manhattan Transfer With Wendy Waldman With Dale Watson With Jerry Lynn Williams