As the guitarist in the Stax Records house band and a member of Booker T. & the M.G.'s (which were pretty much one and the same), Steve Cropper made a huge contribution to the sound of 1960s soul, backing Otis Redding, Sam & Dave, and countless other soul giants. As a songwriter, the Missouri-born, Memphis-bred Cropper co-wrote such tunes as Redding's “Dock of the Bay,” Eddie Floyd's “Knock on Wood,” and Wilson Pickett's “In the Midnight Hour,” ensuring his enshrinement in the annals of soul history. Cropper's recording career in the 21st century continued with 2010's Midnight Flyer and 2021's Fire It Up.