A few weeks ago I got to see Steve Cropper perform some of his iconic hits like "Dock of the Bay" and "Knock On Wood" at a benefit show, and it was a reminder of how much he contributed to American music and how lucky we are that this Memphis giant is now a Nashvillian. About the same time as that show, I was putting the finishing touches on this interview/feature for Premier Guitar. (I recommend clicking through to the "digital edition" which presents the magazine just like the print endition.) The article ranges through his whole career, but the hook is a new tribute album that Cropper produced and played on:
In Cropper’s latest gesture toward the music that shaped him, he has presided over and played on a multi-artist project celebrating the music and legacy of the “5” Royales. Based in Winston Salem, North Carolina, the 1950s R&B group had hits with songs that would become even bigger hits for others, such as “Think” (which James Brown and the Fabulous Flames took to No. 7 on the R&B charts) and “Dedicated to the One I Love” (which went to No. 2 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart for the Mamas & the Papas in 1967).
Cropper was enamored when he first heard the band on the radio, and when he caught them live in Memphis he became a fervent fan of the group’s showy guitar player, Lowman “Pete” Pauling. On the Stax hero’s new tribute album, Dedicated, Cropper pays heartfelt homage to Pauling alongside such notables as B.B. King, Sharon Jones, Lucinda Williams, Steve Winwood, and Delbert McClinton.
The album was made largely here in Nashville with the multi-talented Jon Tiven as co-producer. It's quite wonderful and worth seeking out. Also, thanks to Premier Guitar for the tasty photo selection.
