On December 3, 2025, Steven Lee Cropper died aged 84. He was musician, songwriter, record producer and actor, known as “The Colonel”. He was the guitarist of the “Stax Records” house band, Booker T. & the M.G.’s, which backed artists such as Otis Redding, Wilson Pickett, Sam & Dave, Carla Thomas, Rufus Thomas, and Johnnie Taylor. He was also member of the Blues Brothers Band, and recorded and performed with many other artists including Alabama, Jimmy Barnes, William Bell, Barbi Benton, Big Star, Stephen Bishop, Frank Black, Bobby and the Midnites, Booker T. & MG.’s, Ronnie Baker Brooks, Jimmy Buffett, Billy Burnette, Brian Cadd, Cate Brothers, Chicago, David Clayton Thomas, A. J. Croce, Patti Dahlstrom, Delaney & Bonnie, Ned Doheny, Yvonne Elliman, Jose Feliziano, Eddie Floyd, Peter Frampton, Richie Furay, Art Garfunkel, Cyndi Grecco, Levon Helm, Chris Hillman, Rebecca Lynn Howard, Etta James, Wynonna Judd, Albert King, B.B. King, Al Kooper, John Lennon, Ann Margret, Marilyn McCoo, Billy Davis Jr., Craig Morgan, Aaron Neville, Wayne Newton, Harry Nilsson, John Oates, Nigel Olsson, Roy Orbison, Dolly Parton, Wilson Pickett, Michel Polnareff, John Prine, Otis Redding, Bruce Roberts, Leon Russell, Sanford & Townsend, Leo Sayer, Poncho Sanchez, Guy Sebastian, Neil Sedaka, Paul Shaffer, Paul Simon, Percy Sledge, Broderick Smith, The Soul Children, The Staple Singers, Mavis Staple, Ringo Starr, Rod Stewart, Livingston Taylor, Carla Thomas, Mickey Thomas, Wendy Waldman, Tower of Power, The Manhattan Transfer, Dale Watson and Jerry Lynn Williams. Magazine “Rolling Stone” ranked him 36th on its list of the “100 Greatest Guitarists”. Cropper won two “Grammy Awards”, and as leader or co-leader Cropper released 13 albums.
Tag Archives: Chicago
James Moody: Flute ‘N The Blues
In December 1956, “Argo” label released “Flute ‘n the Blues”, the ninth James Moody album. It was recorded in November 1956, in Chicago, and was produced by Dave usher.
Personnel:
- James Moody – tenor saxophone, alto saxophone, flute
- Eddie Jefferson – vocals
- Pee Wee Moore – baritone saxophone
- Johnny Coles – trumpet
- William Shepherd – trombone
- Jimmy Boyd – piano, peck horn
- John Latham – bass
- Clarence Johnston – drums
Track listing:
- Flute ‘n the Blues – Harold Newboldt, James Moody, Arthur Boyd
- Birdland Story – Eddie Jefferson, James Moody
- It Could Happen to You – Jimmy Van Heusen, Johnny Burke
- I Cover the Waterfront – Edward Heyman, Johnny Green
- Body and Soul – Edward Heyman, Johnny Green, Robert Sour, Frank Eyton
- Breaking the Blues – John Adriano Acea
- Parker’s Mood – Charlie Parker
- Easy Living – Leo Robin, Ralph Rainger
- Boo’s Tune – Florence Pleasant
- Richard’s Blues – Moody, Newboldt
Duke Ellington: Dance To The Duke!
In November 1954, “Capitol” label released “Dance to the Duke!”, the eleventh Duke Ellington album. It was recorded 1953 in “Capitol Studios” in Los Angeles, 1954, in San Francisco and Chicago.
Personnel:
- Duke Ellington – piano
- Russell Procope – alto saxophone, clarinet
- Rick Henderson – alto saxophone
- Paul Gonsalves – tenor saxophone
- Jimmy Hamilton – tenor saxophone, clarinet
- Harry Carney – baritone saxophone, bass clarinet
- Cat Anderson, Willie Cook, Ray Nance, Clark Terry, Gerald Wilson
- Quentin Jackson, George Jean, Juan Tizol, Britt Woodman – trombone
- John Sanders – valve trombone
- Wendell Marshall, Oscar Pettiford – bass
- Butch Ballard, Dave Black – drums
- Ralph Collier – congas
- Frank Rollo – bongos
Track listing:
All tracks by Duke Ellington except where noted.
- C Jam Blues
- Orson – Duke Ellington, Billy Strayhorn
- Caravan – Juan Tizol
- Kinda Dukish
- Bakiff
- Frivolous Banta – Rick Henderson
- Things Ain’t What They Used To Be – Mercer Ellington
- Montevideo
Marlena Shaw: The Spice Of Life
In November 1969, “Cadet” label released “The Spice of Life”, the second Marlena Shaw studio album. It was recorded February – July 1969, at “Ter Mar Studios” in Chicago, Illinois, and was produced by Richard Evans and Charles Stepney.
Personnel:
- Marlena Shaw – vocal
- Richard Evans – arrangements
- Charles Stepney – arrangements
- Stu Black – engineer
- Dave Purple – engineer
- Jerry Griffin – design
- Bob Crawford – photography
- Bobby Miller – album supervision
- Loonis McGlohon – liner notes
- Ken Druker – executive producer
Track listing:
- Woman of the Ghetto – Bobby Miller, Marlena Shaw, Richard Evans
- Call it Stormy Monday – T-Bone Walker
- Where Can I Go? – Leo Fuld, Sigment Berland, Sonny Miller
- I’m Satisfied – Morris Dollison
- I Wish I Knew (How It Would Feel To Be Free) – Billy Taylor, Dick Dallas
- Liberation Conversation – Bobby Miller, Marlena Shaw
- California Soul – Nickolas Ashford, Valerie Simpson
- Go Away Little Boy – Gerry Goffin, Carole King
- Looking Through the Eyes of Love – Barry Mann, Cynthia Weil
- Anyone Can Move a Mountain – Johnny Marks
Stereolab: Sound-Dust
On August 28, 2001, “Elektra” and “Duophonic” labels released “Sound-Dust”, the seventh Stereolab studio album. It was recorded October 2000 – February 2001, at “Soma” in Chicago, Illinois, and was produced by John McEntire and Jim O’Rourke.
Personnel:
- Tim Gane – acoustic and electric guitars, piano, Rhodes, Rock-Si-Chord, Wurlitzer pianos, clavinet, electric harpsichord, Farfisa organ, celesta, electronics, tape echo and delay, mixing
- Simon Johns – six-string bass, mixing
- Andy Ramsay – drums, mixing
- Lætitia Sadier – vocals, percussion, whistling, sound effects, mixing
- Mary Hansen – vocals, percussion, whistling, sound effects, mixing
- Sean O’Hagan – acoustic and electric guitars, piano, Pianet, Rhodes, Rock-Si-Chord, and Wurlitzer pianos, clavinet, electric harpsichord, Farfisa organ, celesta, brass and flute arrangements
- Jim O’Rourke – acoustic and electric guitars, piano, Pianet, Rhodes, Rock-Si-Chord, and Wurlitzer pianos, clavinet, electric harpsichord, Farfisa organ, celesta, vibraphone, marimba, glockenspiel, electronics, tape echo and delay, engineer, mixing
- John McEntire – piano, Pianet, Rhodes, Rock-Si-Chord, and Wurlitzer pianos, clavinet, electric harpsichord, Farfisa organ, celesta, vibraphone, marimba, glockenspiel, electronics, tape echo and delay, percussion, whistling, sound effects, engineer, mixing
- Tim Barnes – bongo drum
- Dave Max Crawford – trumpet
- Jeb Bishop – trombone
- Mikael Jorgensen – electric harpsichord, Rhodes piano
- Glenn Kotche – crotales, marimba
- Rob Mazurek – cornet
- Rob Mazurek – cornet
- Paul Mertens – flute, bass harmonica
- Chad Taylor – cymbals, drums
- Tim Barnes – bongo drum
- Dave Max Crawford – trumpet
- Jeb Bishop – trombone
- Andy Robinson – brass and flute arrangements
- Mikael Jorgensen – electric harpsichord, Rhodes piano
- Glenn Kotche – crotales, marimba
- Mike Jorgensen – computer assistance
- Steve Rooke – mastering
- Jeremy Lemos – additional engineering
- House – design
Track listing:
All tracks by Tim Gane and Lætitia Sadier, except where noted.
- Black Ants in Sound Dust
- Space Moth
- Captain Easychord
- Baby Kuku
- The Black Arts
- Hallucinex
- Double Rocker
- Gus the Mynah Bird
- Naught More Terrific Than Man
- Nothing to Do with Me – Tim Gane, Lætitia Sadier, Chris Morris
- Suggestion Diabolique
- Les Bons Bons des Raisons
Lee Morgan: Expoobident
In August 1961, “Vee-Jay” label released “Expoobident”, the 13the Lee Morgan album. It was recorded in October 1960, at “Universal Recorders” in Chicago, and was produced by Sid McCoy.
Personnel:
- Lee Morgan – trumpet
- Clifford Jordan – tenor saxophone
- Eddie Higgins – piano
- Art Davis – bass
- Art Blakey – drums
Track listing:
- Expoobident – Eddie Higgins
- Easy Living – Ralph Rainger, Leo Robin
- Triple Track – Lee Morgan
- Fire – Wayne Shorter
- Just in Time – Jule Styne, Betty Comden, Adolph Green
- The Hearing – Clifford Jordan
- Lost and Found – Clifford Jordan
The Chicago Underground Trio: Flamethrower
On August 15, 2000, “Delmark” label released “Flamethrower”, the third Chicago Underground Trio studio album. It was recorded in March 2000, at “Riverside Studio” in Chicago, Illinois, and was produced by Steve Krasinsky, Rob Mazurek, Chad Taylor, Noel Kupersmith and Bundy K. Brown.
Personnel:
- Rob Mazurek – cornet, electronics
- Noel Kupersmith – bass fiddle, electronics
- Chad Taylor – percussion
- Jeff Parker – guitar, electronics
Track listing:
All tracks by Rob Mazurek, Noel Kupersmith and Chad Taylor, except where noted.
- Quail – Rob Mazurek
- Fahrenheit 451
- Warm Marsh – Rob Mazurek
- Antiquity
- Flamethrower – Jeff Parker
- Woman in Motion – Rob Mazurek
- Triceptikon
- A Lesson Earned – Chad Taylor
- Arcweld – Rob Mazurek
- Elroy – Jeff Parker
- Number 19
- 504 – Noel Kupersmith
- The Tungflec Treaty
- The World Has Changed
- Elray – Jeff Parker
Kahil El’Zabar’s Ritual Trio: Africa N’Da Blues
On August 15, 2000, “Delmark” label released “Africa N’Da Blues”, the ninth Kahil El’Zabar’s Ritual Trio album. It was recorded in December 1999, at “Riverside Studio” in Chicago, Illinois, and was produced by Robert G. Koester and Kahil El’Zabar.
Personnel:
- Kahil El’Zabar – drums, percussion
- Ari Brown – piano, soprano and tenor saxophone
- Pharoah Sanders – tenor saxophone
- Malachi Favors – bass
- Susana Sandoval – spoken word
Track listing:
All tracks by Kahil El’Zabar, except where noted.
- Ka-Real (take 2) – Joseph Bowie
- Africanos/ Latinos – Kahil El’Zabar, Susana Sandoval
- Miles’ Mode – John Coltrane
- Autumn Leaves – Joseph Kosma, Jacques Prévert, Johnny Mercer
- Africa N’Da Blues
- Pharoah’s Song
- Ka-Real (take 1) – Joseph Bowie
Malachi Thompson: Talking Horns
On August 14, 2001, “Delmark” label released “Talking Horns”, the twelve Malachi Thompson album. It was recorded in March 2001, at “Riverside Studio” in Chicago, and was produced by Robert G. Koester and Malachi Thompson.
Personnel:
- Malachi Thompson – trumpet
- Oliver Lake – alto saxophone
- Hamiet Bluiett – baritone saxophone, contrabass clarinet
- Willie Pickens – piano
- Harrison Bankhead – bass
- Reggie Nicholson – drums
Track listing:
All tracks by Malachi Thompson, except where noted.
- Woody’s Dream
- Brass and Oak – Oliver Lake
- Scope – Oliver Lake
- Way Back When We Didn’t Understand – Hamiet Bluiett
- Fred Hopkins – Hamiet Bluiett
- Talking Horns
- Lucky Seven
- Circles in the Air
Roy Buchanan: When A Guitar Plays The Blues
In July 1985, “Alligator” label released “When a Guitar Plays the Blues”, the tenth Roy Buchanan studio album. It was recorded in 1985, at “Streeterville Studios” inb Chicago, Illinois, and was produced by Roy Buchanan, Dick Shurman and Bruce Iglauer.
Personnel:
- Roy Buchanan – vocals, guitar
- Criss Johnson – rhythm guitar
- Otis Clay – vocals
- Gloria Hardiman – vocals
- Bill Heid – keyboards
- Larry Exum – bass guitar
- Morris Jennings – drums
- Steele “Sonny” Seals – saxophone
- Justin Niebank – recording, mixing
- Tom Coyne – mastering
Track listing:
All tracks by Roy Buchanan, except where noted.
- When a Guitar Plays the Blues
- Chicago Smokeshop
- Mrs. Pressure
- A Nickel and a Nail – Deadric Malone, Vernon Morrison
- Short Fuse
- Why Don’t You Want Me
- Country Boy
- Sneaking Godzilla Through the Alley
- Hawaiian Punch
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