2009 Founders Award Celebration

EMP|SFM is presenting Steve Cropper with its 2009 Founders Award in recognition of a pioneering career that has influenced the direction of popular music and artists across all genres. Established in 2007, the Founders Award is given to artists who have made outstanding contributions in their respective fields.

Bio
Soul music and rock 'n' roll wouldn't be the same without Steve Cropper, a guitarist, writer, producer and engineer whose versatility has put him in a class by himself. He is best known for co-writing and playing on vintage hits such as Otis Redding's "(Sittin' On) the Dock of the Bay," Wilson Pickett's "In the Midnight Hour" and Eddie Floyd's "Knock on Wood." Cropper lent his signature guitar sound to many Sam & Dave hits and was a founding member of Booker T. & the MG's, which served as the house band at Stax Records in Memphis. He later formed the Blues Brothers with John Belushi and Dan Aykroyd. As a member of The Blues Brothers, he has made two movies and participated in this year's 20th anniversary concert tour.

A consummate session guitarist, Cropper has recorded with an extraordinary range of outstanding artists, including John Lennon, Etta James, Roy Orbison, Jimmy Buffett, Boz Scaggs, Carla and Rufus Thomas, the Staple Singers and Wayne Newton. As a producer, he has worked with Jeff Beck, Tower of Power and Jose Feliciano. Cropper is also a solo artist and has recorded four albums, including 2008's "Nudge It Up a Notch'' with former Young Rascals singer Felix Cavaliere. Named by England's Mojo magazine as the number 2 guitarist of all time (behind Jimi Hendrix), Cropper received praise that his "playing is lean and mean, sympathetic and imaginative." A Missouri native, he has been inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, the Songwriters Hall of Fame and he received a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award in 2007.