Originally from Missouri, Steve Cropper moved with his family to Memphis when he was nine years old. The sounds he heard around him were gospel and early forms of rhythm and blues. Growing up in Missouri, Cropper heard mostly country music and nothing else. Moving to Memphis “cured” his ears. His guitar heroes at that time were the usual lot — Chet Atkins, Chuck Berry, Tal Farlow, and others. Having received his first mail-order guitar at the age of fourteen, Steve went to work learning the music he heard around him.

Steve Cropper has the distinction of being the cowriter of some of the most famous songs in rock-and-roll history: “Sitting on the Dock of the Bay,” “Knock on Wood,” and “In the Midnight Hour.” He was a part of the famous Booker T. & the MG's, the house band for Stax Records. One of the first commercially successful mixed-race bands of that era, Booker T. & the MG's toured with artists on the Stax Records label, including legends like Otis Redding and Sam and Dave. Cropper's signature intro lick on Sam and Dave's “Soul Man” is about as familiar to soul music fans as it is to rock fans. Cropper's legendary cut “Green Onions” can be heard in many movies.

“Green Onions” was a B-side recording that was made when studio and Stax Records co-owner Jim Stewart pressed the record button while the band was playing, unbeknownst to them.

After Cropper's decade-long stint with Booker T. & the MG's, he left Stax Records and starting recording, writing, and producing records for Jeff Beck, Jose Feliciano, and Tower of Power. A huge break came when he and bassist Duck Dunne were asked to be in the backup band for the Blues Brothers with Dan Ackroyd and John Belushi. They recorded three albums and filmed the Blues Brothers movie in 1977. The group disbanded after John Belushi's death in 1982, but they reunited for the Blues Brothers 2000 movie, with John Goodman replacing John Belushi.

Steve Cropper remains an active session guitarist with numerous recording credits to his name. In 2003, Rolling Stone magazine readers voted him one of the Top 100 Guitar Players of all time. He has a signature guitar model, called the “Cropper Classic,” which is made by Peavey and is considered one of the most respected and coveted guitars available today.