Peter Gallagher Mourns a Heartbreaking Loss: ‘I’ll Never Forget Our Time Together’

Hollywood Actor Peter Gallagher is remembering Steve Cropper, calling the late musician “another giant” in a moving tribute shared after Cropper’s death. “Steve Cropper, another giant, has departed. What a couple of weeks,” Gallagher wrote.

Gallagher Honors Cropper’s Musical Legacy With Family’s Words and Personal Memories

He went on to share Cropper’s family statement. “Steve was a beloved musician, songwriter, and producer whose extraordinary talent touched millions of lives around the world. As the legendary guitarist for Booker T. & the M.G.‘s and the architect of the Stax Records sound, he helped create some of the most enduring songs in music history, including ‘(Sittin’ On) The Dock of the Bay,’ ‘Soul Man,’ ‘Knock on Wood,’ and ‘In the Midnight Hour.’ A Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Inductee, Grammy Award winner, and Songwriters Hall of Fame honoree, Steve’s influence on American music is immeasurable.”

Gallagher reflected on their friendship. “After singing a song on The OC, I was offered a chance to record an album with Steve. We played some shows, got to know each other’s family over the years and played some golf too. I’m grateful for every second of it.” He ended his tribute with, “My thoughts are with his wife Angel and his children. ‘Play it Steve.’”

Rock Hall Guitarist and Stax Records Pioneer’s Passing Has Shook The Music World

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Cropper, a defining figure in American soul music, died Wednesday in Nashville at 84. Pat Mitchell Worley, president and CEO of the Soulsville Foundation, confirmed the news after speaking with the family.

Worley’s foundation operates the Stax Museum of American Soul Music in Memphis, the former home of Stax Records, where Cropper spent much of his groundbreaking career. A cause of death has not been shared.

Eddie Gore, a longtime friend, told the Associated Press that Cropper recently suffered a fall. He had visited the musician at a rehabilitation center on Tuesday and said they were collaborating on new music.

“He’s such a good human. We were blessed to have him, for sure,” Gore told the outlet.

A Legacy That Defined American Soul Music

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Cropper was best known for his work with Booker T. & the MG’s. The band featured Cropper on guitar, Booker T. Jones on keyboards, Donald “Duck” Dunn on bass, and Al Jackson on drums. Their lineup was racially integrated, a rarity during the era.

“When you walked in the door at Stax, there was absolutely no color,” Cropper told AP in 2020. “We were all there for the same reason — to get a hit record.”

His songwriting and guitar work helped shape some of the most iconic soul and R&B songs ever recorded, including “(Sittin’ On) The Dock of the Bay,” co-written with Otis Redding. He also became widely recognized for his on-screen role as part of the band in “The Blues Brothers.”

Cropper’s influence echoes across genres, generations and countless musicians who credit him for shaping the sound of American soul.

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