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: Rufus Thomas
New Birth: The New Birth
On November 1, 1970, “RCA” label released “The New Birth”, the debut New Birth album. It was recorded in 1970, at “RCA’s Mid America Recording Center” in Chicago, and was produced by Harvey Fugua.
Personnel:
- Alan Frye – vocal
- The Mint Juleps – female singers
- The New Sound – male singers
- The Nite Liters – backing band
- Harvey Fugua – arrangements, conductor
- Vernon Bullock – arrangements, conductor
- John Janus – recording
- David Cheppa – lacquer cut
- John Sposato – painting
- Mary Goodman – liner notes
Track listing:
- What’ll Do – Vernon Bullock, Harvey Fugua, Robert Wilson
- UNH Song – Vernon Bullock, Harvey Fugua
- All the Way – Sammy Cahn, James Van Huesen
- It’s All in the Game – Charles Dawes, Carl Sigman
- Pretty Words Don’t Mean a Thing (Lie to Me) – Harvey Fugua, Kenny Hawkins, The Nite Liters
- Do the Funky Chicken – Rufus Thomas
- Brand New Lover – Vernon Bullock, Harvey Fugua
- You Don’t Have to Be Alone – Vernon Bullock, Harvey Fugua
- One way Bus – Tex Bristow, Harvey Fugua, Harold Sparks
- It’s You or No One – Sammy Cahn, Jule Style
The Specials: Same
On October 19, 1979, “2 Tone” label released the self-titled, debut Specials (The) album. It was recorded in 1979, at “TV Studios” in London, and was produced by Elvis Costello.
Personnel:
- Terry Hall – vocals
- Neville Staple – vocals
- Lynval Golding – rhythm guitar, harmonica, vocals
- Roddy Radiation (Roderick Byers) – vocals, lead guitar
- Jerry Dammers – keyboards, arrangements
- Horace Panter – bass guitar
- John Bradbury – drums
- Rico Rodriguez – trombone
- Dick Cuthell – horns
- Chrissie Hynde – vocals
- Dave Jordan – engineer
- Carol Starr, Chalkie Davies – design
Track listing:
- A Message to You Rudy – Dandy Livingstone
- Do the Dog – Rufus Thomas
- It’s Up to You – Jerry Dammers, Terry Hall, Neville Staple, Lynval Golding, Roddy Radiation, Horace Panter, John Bradbury
- Nite Klub – Jerry Dammers, Terry Hall, Neville Staple, Lynval Golding, Roddy Radiation, Horace Panter, John Bradbury
- Doesn’t Make It Alright – Jerry Dammers, Dave Goldberg, Mark Harrison
- Concrete Jungle – Roddy Byers
- Too Hot – Cecil Campbell
- Monkey Man – Toots Hibbert
- (Dawning of A) New Era – Jerry Dammers
- Blank Expression – Jerry Dammers, Terry Hall, Neville Staple, Lynval Golding, Roddy Radiation, Horace Panter, John Bradbury
- Stupid Marriage – Jerry Dammers, Mark Harrison, Neville Staple, Cecil Campbell
- Too Much Too Young – Jerry Dammers, acknowledgement to Lloyd Charmers
- Little Bitch – Jerry Dammers)
- You’re Wondering Now – Clement Seymour
Ike Turner: A Black Man’s Soul
In May 1969, “Pompeii Records” released “A Black Man’s Soul”, the third Ike Turner & the Kings of Rhythm album. It was recorded in 1969, and was produced by Ike Turner and Tina Turner.
Personnel:
- Ike Turner – guitar, piano
- Tina Turner – vocals
- Jesse Knight – guitar
- Fred Sample, Billy Preston – piano
- Mack Johnson – drums
- Tommy “Teasky” Tribble – percussion
- Washee – saxophone
- Jesse Heron – trombone
- Loring Eutemey – design
Track listing:
All tracks by Ike Turner; except where noted.
- Thinking Black
- Black Beauty
- Ghetto Funk
- Blacks’ Alley – Oliver Sain
- Black Angel – Oliver Sain
- Getting Nasty
- Funky Mule – Marvin Holmes
- Philly Dog – Rufus Thomas
- Scotty Souling
- Up Hard – Art Miller
- Nuttin’ Up
- Freedom Sound
The Everly Brothers: Beat & Soul
In August 1965, “Warner Bros” label released “Beat & Soul”, the eleventh Everly Brothers (The) album. It was recorded in June 1965, and was produced by Dick Glasser.
Personnel:
- Don Everly – vocals, guitar
- Phil Everly – vocals, guitar
- James Burton – guitar
- Glen Campbell = guitar
- Sonny Curtis– guitar
- Leon Russell – piano
- Billy Preston– piano
- Larry Knechtel– bass
- Jim Gordon– drums
Track listing:
- Love Is Strange – Mickey Baker, Sylvia Robinson, Ellas McDaniel
- Money – Janie Bradford, Berry Gordy
- What Am I Living For? – Art Harris, Fred Jay
- Hi-Heel Sneakers – Robert Higginbotham
- C. Rider – Gertrude “Ma” Rainey
- Lonely Avenue – Doc Pomus
- Man With Money – Don Everly, Phil Everly
- People Get Ready – Curtis Mayfield
- My Babe – Willie Dixon
- Walking the Dog – Rufus Thomas
- I Almost Lost My Mind – Ivory Joe Hunter
- The Girl Can’t Help It – Bobby Troup
Donald Duck Dunn
On May 13, 2012, Donald “Duck” Dunn died aged 70. He was musician (bass guitar), session musician, record producer, and songwriter, best known for his 1960’s recordings with Booker T. & the M.G.’s and as a session bassist for “Stax Records”. He has performed and recorded with big number of famous musicians including Otis Redding, Sam & Dave, Rufus Thomas, Carla Thomas, William Bell, Eddie Floyd, Johnnie Taylor, Albert King, Elvis Presley, Muddy Waters, Freddie King, Jerry Lee Lewis, Eric Clapton, Rod Stewart, Stevie Nicks, Tom Petty and The Blues Brothers Band. In 1992, Dunn was inducted in the “Rock and Roll Hall of Fame” as a member of Booker T. & the M.G.’s. “Bass Player” magazine ranked him at number 40 on its list of “The 100 Greatest Bass Players of All Time”.
Roger Daltrey: Ride A Rock Horse
On July 4, 1975, “Track” label released “Ride a Rock Horse”, the second Roger Daltrey solo album. It was recorded November 1974 – February 1975, at “Ramport” and “CBS Studios” in London, and was produced by Russ Ballard. The cover design was by Graham Hughes.
Personnel:
- Roger Daltrey- vocals
- Russ Ballard- guitar, keyboards
- Clem Clempson- guitar
- Paul Korda- piano, backing vocals
- Dave Wintour- bass guitar
- Henry Spinetti- drums
- Stuart Francis – drums
- John Barham- string and brass arrangements
Track listing:
- Come and Get Your Love – Russ Ballard
- Harts Right – Paul Korda
- Oceans Away – Phillip Goodhand-Tait
- Proud – Russ Ballard
- World Over – Paul Korda
- Near to Surrender – Russ Ballard
- Feeling – Paul Korda
- Walkinh the Dog – Rufus Thomas
- Milk Train – Dominic Bugatti,Frank Musker
- I Was Born to Sing Your Song – Chris Neal, Donny Marchand
The Rolling Stones: Same
On April 17, 1964, “Decca” label released the self-titled, debut Rolling Stones album. It was recorded 3 January – 25 February 1964, at “Regent Studios” in London, and was produced by Eric Easton and Andrew Loog Oldham.
Personnel:
- Mick Jagger– lead and backing vocals, harmonica, percussion
- Keith Richards– guitar, backing vocals
- Brian Jones– co-lead and backing vocals, guitar, harmonica, percussion
- Bill Wyman– bass guitar, backing vocals
- Charlie Watts– drums, percussion
- Ian Stewart – piano
- Gene Pitney– piano
- Phil Spector– maracas
Track listing:
- Route 66 – Bobby Troup
- I Just Want to Make Love to You – Willie Dixon
- Honest I Do – Jimmy Reed
- I Need You Baby – Ellas McDaniel
- Now I’ve Got a Witness – Nanker Phelge
- Little by Little – Nanker Phelge, Phil Spector
- I’m a King Bee – James Moore
- Carol – Chuck Berry
- Tell Me (You’re Coming Back) – Mick Jagger, Keith Richards
- Can I Get a Witness – Brian Holland, Lamont Dozier, Eddie Holland
- You Can Make It If you Try – Ted Jarrett
- Walking the Dog – Rufus Thomas
Lester Bowie
On November 8, 1999, Lester Bowie died aged 58. He was musician (trumpet) and composer, best known as co-founder and member of one of the most important groups in jazz history, “Art Ensemble of Chicago”. He was a also member of the” Association for the Advancement of Creative Musicians”, “Lester Bowie’s Brass Fantasy”, “The Leaders” and “Lester Bowie’s Organ Ensemble”. In his career Bowie has performed and recorded with many big names of the popular and jazz music, among them Archie Shepp,David Murray, Jack DeJohnette, Fela Kuti, Kahil El’Zabar, Defunkt, David Bowie, Sunny Murray, Chico Freeman, Arthur Blythe, Kirk Lightsey, Cecil McBee, James Carter, Brigitte Fontaine, Melvin Jackson, Wadada Leo Smith, Jimmy Lyons, Little Milton, Albert King, Solomon Burke, Joe Tex and Rufus Thomas.
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