Free Republic

Guitarist Steve Cropper, who left an indelible impression on Memphis soul music as an instrumentalist, producer and songwriter at Stax Records, has died, his son Cameron confirmed to Variety on Wednesday. He was 84. Cropper was best known to the public for his distinctive, economical lead/rhythm work in the hit-making interracial instrumental combo Booker T. & the MG’s, but his playing also fired dozens of tracks – some of which he produced or engineered — cut at Stax Records’ studio by such soul greats as Otis Redding, Wilson Pickett, Sam & Dave, Rufus and Carla Thomas and Eddie Floyd. In...

Floyd Newman, a saxophonist who played with many music icons and was the first member invited to be in B.B King’s first band, passed away Tuesday morning, the Stax Museum announced. He was 91. According to the museum, Newman started his career at the Plantation Inn Nightclub in West Memphis, Arkansas along with Ben Branch, Gene “Bowlegs” Miller, Phineas and Calvin Newborn, Willie Mitchell, and hired Isaac Hayes, who went on to become one of the most successful recording artists in history. Floyd Newman and his saxophone (Courtesy: Stax Museum of American Soul Music) He also brought Hayes to Stax...