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: Roy Orbison
Roy Orbison: Crying
In January 1962, “Monument” label released “Crying”, the third Roy Orbison studio album. It was recorded February – November 1961, at “RCA Victor Studio B” in Nashville, Tennessee, and was produced by Fred Foster.
Personnel:
- Roy Orbison – vocals, guitar
- Boudleaux Bryant, Fred Carter Jr., Grady Martin, Hank Garland, Harold Bradley, Joe Tanner, Ray Edenton, Scotty Moore – guitar
- Bill Pursell, Floyd Cramer – piano
- Charlie McCoy – harmonica
- Bob Moore – bass
- Buddy Harman, John Greubel – drums
- Boots Randolph, Harry Johnson – saxophone
- Cam Mullins, Karl Garvin – trumpet
- Brenton Banks, Cecil Brower, Dorothy Walker, George Binkley, Lillian Hunt, Solie Fott, Suzanne Parker, Vernal Richardson, Wilda Tinsley – violin
- Howard Carpenter – viola
- Byron Bach – cello
- Bill Porter – recording
- Tommy Strong – engineer
- Guy Fletcher – mastering
- Boudleaux Bryant – liner notes
Track listing:
All tracks by Roy Orbison and Joe Melson, except where noted.
- Crying
- The Great Pretender – Buck Ram
- Kice Hurts – Boudleaux Bryant
- She Wears My Ring – Felice & Boudleaux Bryant
- Wedding Day
- Summersong
- Dance
- Lana
- Loneliness
- Let’s Make a Memory
- Nite Life
- Running Scared
Al Green: I’m Still In Love With You
On October 23, 1972, “Hi” label released “I’m Still in Love with You”, the fifth Al Green studio album. It was recorded in 1972, at “Royal Recording Studios” in Memphis, Tennessee, and was produced by Willie Mitchell. In 2012, the album was ranked number 286 on the “500 Greatest Albums of All Time” by “Rolling Stone”.
Personnel:
- Al Green – lead vocals
- Mabon “Teenie” Hodges – guitar
- Charles Hodges – organ, piano, drums
- Leroy Hodges – bass
- Howard Grimes – drums, rhythm section
- Al Jackson Jr. – drums
- Ed Logan – tenor horn, tenor saxophone
- Andrew Love – tenor horn, tenor saxophone
- Wayne Jackson – horn section, trumpet
- Jack Hale, Sr. – horn section, trombone
- Charles Chalmers – backing vocals, arranger, horn and string arrangements
- Sandra Chalmers – backing vocals
- Donna Rhodes – backing vocals
- Sandra Rhodes – backing vocals
- James Mitchell – string and horn arrangements, tenor horn, baritone saxophone
- Willie Mitchell – engineer
- Larry Walsh – mastering
- Pete Welding – assistant
- Cheryl Pawelski – assistant
- Pam Brady – assistant
- Robert Gordon – liner notes
- Tom Cartwright – project director
Track listing:
- I’m Still In Love With You – Al Green, Al Jackson Jr, Willie Mitchell
- I’m Glad You’re Mine – Al Green
- Love and Happiness – Al Green, Mabon Hodges
- What a Wonderful Thing Love Is – Al Green
- Simply Beautiful – Al Green
- Oh Pretty Woman – Bill Dees, Roy Orbison
- For the Good Times – Kris Kristofferson
- Look What You Done for Me – Al Green, Al Jackson, Willie Mitchell
- One of These Good Old Day – Al Green
Del Shannon: This Is My Bag
In July 1966, “Liberty” label released “This Is My Bag”, the seventh Del Shannon studio album. It was recorded in 1966, and was produced by Snuff Garrett.
Personnel:
- Del Shannon – vocal
- Leon Russell – arrangements
- Nick De Caro – arrangements
- Dave Hassinger – engineer
- Henry Lewy – engineer
- Joe Sidore – lacquer cut
- Woody Woodward – art direction
- Ivan Nagy – cover photography
Track listing:
- The Big Hurt – Wayne Shanklin
- Kicks – Barry Mann, Cynthia Weil
- For a Little While – Del Shannon
- Lightnin’ Strikes – Lou Christie, Twyla Herbert
- When You Walk in the Room – Jackie DeShannon
- The Cheater – John Krenski
- Oh, Pretty Woman – Roy Orbison, Bill Dees
- Everybody Loves a Clown – Snuff Garrett, Gary Lewis, Leon Russell
- Never Thought I Could – Del Shannon
- It’s Too Late – Bobby Goldsboro
- Hey! Little Star – Del Shannon
- Action – Tommy Boyce, Steve Venet
Waylong Jennings: Hangin’ On
In February 1968, “RCA Victor” label released “Hangin’ On”, the eight Waylon Jennings album. It was recorded in 1967, at “RCA Victor Studios” in Nashville, and was produced by Chet Atkins.
Personnel:
- Waylon Jennings – vocal, guitar
- Jerry Gropp – guitar
- Richie Albright – drums
- Al Pachucki – engineer
- Bill Vandevort – engineer
- Jim Malloy – engineer
- Skeeter Davis – liner notes
Track listing:
- Hangin’ On – Ira Allen, Buddy Mize
- Julie – Waylon Jennings
- The Crowd – Roy Orbison, Joe Melson
- Let Me Talk to You – Danny Dill, Don Davis
- Woman, Don’t You Ever Laugh at Me – Bobby Bare
- The Chokin’ Kind – Harlan Howard
- Gentle on My Mind – John Hartford
- Right Before My Eyes – Don Bowmann, Waylon Jennings
- Lock, Stock and Teardrops – Roger Miler
- I Fall in Love So Easily – Glenn Martin, Billy Swan
- Looking at a Heart That Needs a Home – Harlan Howard
- How Long Have You Been There – Dee Moeller
Waylon Jennings: Waylon At JD’s
In December 1964, “Sound Limited” label released “Waylon at JD’s”, the debut Waylon Jennings studio album. It was recorded in 1964, at “Arizona Recorder” in Phoenix, US, and was produced by Jim Musil and Waylon Jennings.
Personnel:
- Waylon Jennings – lead vocals, lead guitar
- Jerry Gropp – vocals, rhythm guitar
- Paul Foster – vocals, bass guitar
- Richie Albright – drums
- Jim Musil – arrangements
- Jack Miller – engineer
Track listing:
- Crying – Roy Orbison, Joe Melson
- Sally Was a Good Old Girl – Harlan Howard
- Burning Memories – Mel Tillis, Wayne Walker
- Big Mamou – Link Davis
- Money (That’s What I Want) – Janie Bradford, Berry Gordy
- Don’t Think Twice, It’s All Right – Bob Dylan
- Dream Baby – Cindy Walker
- It’s So Easy – Buddy Holly, Norman Petty
- Lorena – Charlie Williams
- Love’s Gonna Live Here – Buck Owens
- Abilene – Les Brown, Bob Gibson, John D. Loudermilk
- White Lightning – J.P. Richardson
Johnny Cash: Hello, I’m Johnny Cash
On January 26, 1970, “Columbia” label released “Hello, I’m Johnny Cash”, the 33rd Johnny Cash album. It was recorded February – September 1969, and was produced by Bob Johnston. In 1971, album track “If I Were a Carpenter”, duet with his wife, June Carter Cash, won a “Grammy Award for Best Country Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal”.
Personnel:
- Johnny Cash – vocals, guitar
- June Carter Cash – vocal
- Carl Perkins, Bob Wootton, Jerry Shook, Fred Carter, Jr. – guitar
- Norman Blake – dobro, guitar
- Bill Pursell – piano
- Marshall Grant – bass guitar
- W.S. Holland – drums
- George Tidwell, Bob Phillips, William Pippin – trumpet
- The Carter Family – backing vocals
- Charlie Bragg – engineer
- Joel Baldwin – cover photography
Track listing:
- Southwind – Johnny Cash
- Devil to Pay – Merle Travis, Leon Rusk
- Cause I Love You – Johnny Cash
- See Ruby Fall – Johnny Cash, Roy Orbison
- Route No. 1, Box 144 – Johnny Cash
- Sing a Travelling Song – Ken Jones
- If I Were a Carpenter – Tim Hardin
- To Beat the Devil – Kris Kristofferson
- Blistered – Billy Ed Wheeler
- Wrinkled Crinkled Wadded Dollar Bill – Vincent Matthews
- I’ve Got a Thing About Trains – Jack Clement
- Jesus Was a Carpenter – Chris Wren
Roy Orbison: Roy Orbison Sings Don Gibson
In January 1967, “MGM” label released “Roy Orbison Sings Don Gibson”, the tenth Roy Orbison album. It was recorded June – October 1966, and was produced by Wesley Rise and Jim Vienneau.
Personnel:
- Roy Orbison – vocal
- Bill McElhiney – arrangements
Track listing:
All tracks by Don Gibson.
- (I’d Be) A Legend in My Time
- (Yes) I’m Hurting
- The Same Street
- Far, Far Away
- Bug Hearted Me
- Sweet Dreams
- Oh, Such a Stranger
- Blue Blue Day
- What About Me?
- Give Myself a Party
- Too Soon to Know
- Lonesome Numner One
Roy Orbison: Regeneration
In November 1976, “Monument Records” label released “Regeneration”, the twentieth Roy Orbison album. It was recorded January – August 1976, and was produced by Fred Foster.
Personnel:
- Roy Orbison – vocals
- Grady Martin, John Christopher, Reggie Young, Steve Gibson – guitar
- Bobby Emmons, Bobby Wood, Shane Keister – keyboards
- Tommy Cogbill – bass guitar
- Gene Chrisman, Jerry Carrigan – drums
- Farrell Morris – percussion
- Charles Rose, Harrison Calloway, Harvey Thompson, Billy Puett, Dennis Good, George Tidwell – horns
- Bergen White, Buzz Cason, Dennis Linde, Diane Tidwell, Ginger Holladay, Janie Fricke, Laverna Moore, Lisa Silver, Sheri Kramer, The Cherry Sisters, Tom Brannon – backing vocals
- Brenton Banks, Byron Bach, Carl Gorodetzky, Christian Teal, Gary Vanosdale, George Binkley, Lennie Haight, Martha McCrory, Martin Katahn, Marvin Chantry, Pam Sixfin, Roy Christensen, Sheldon Kurland, Stephanie Woolf, Steven Smith, Virginia Christensen – strings
- Bill Justis – arranger
- Bergen White – arranger
Track listing:
- I’m a Southern Man – Tony Joe White
- No Chain at All – Bob Morrison
- Old Love Song – Bob Morrison, Alice Kiester
- Can’t Wait – Alan Rush, Dennis Linde
- Born to Love Me – Bob Morrison
- Blues in My Mind – Fred Rose
- Something They Can’t Take Away – Kris Kristofferson
- Under Suspicion – Alan Rush, Dennis Linde
- I Don’t Really Want You – Dennis Linde
- Belinda – Dennis Linde
Ron Tutt
On October 16, 2021, Ron Tutt died aged 83. He was musician (drums), recorded and performed with Elvis Presley, the Carpenters, Roy Orbison, Neil Diamond, Jerry Garcia, Billy Joel, Emmylou Harris and Gram Parsons.
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