The Greatest Guitarists Of All Time, Ranked

Published on February 5, 2020 By Mathew Cohen

39. Steve Cropper

Widely known as “The Colonel”, Cropper is a soul, R&B, blues and funk guitarist who has collaborated with a whole host of artists including Otis Redding and Carla Thomas. A member of the Stax Records house band, Cropper was the lead guitarist of Booker T. & the M.G.’s, a funk/R&B band credited with revolutionizing the subgenres of Southern Soul and Memphis Soul.

As a teenager, Cropper had his first hit with the Mar-Keys, titled “Last Night”. This paved the way to his mainstream career, when he developed his reputation for being a deeply soulful guitarist. Even to this day, Cropper continues to be featured alongside rock and R&B artists, with one of his more memorable moments being his stint as a member of the Blues Brothers’ Band.