Cropper Visits Grammy Museum, Talks New Album

Rock & Roll Hall of Fame guitarist (and Nashville resident) Steve Cropper appeared at the Grammy Museum in Los Angeles Tuesday, October 25, to discuss his legendary career and latest album Dedicated. Additionally, Cropper sat in with the band on Conan O’Brien Monday, October 24.

Dedicated is Cropper’s tribute to guitarist Lowman “Pete” Pauling and early R&B group The Five Royales, who helped shape his own distinctive playing style. Special guests performing with Cropper on the album include Lucinda Williams, Brian May, Sharon Jones, Steve Winwood, John Popper, BB King, Bettye LaVette, Delbert McClinton, Buddy Miller, and more. The album was produced by Cropper with Jon Tiven (Wilson Pickett), featuring an all-star lineup of session players including David Hood (bass), Spooner Oldham (keys), Steve Ferrone (drums), Steve Jordan (drums, percussion), Neal Sugarman (from the Dap Kings), and Tiven on saxophones. Full track list below.

“Part of getting older and still being able to play and all of that — at a certain point it becomes about educating the next generation,” says Cropper. “I’ve already had four of five careers and I’m lucky to be alive. If I can educate these young ears as to where the music started, because they’re always asking, and if I can get them interested in the Five Royales I’ve done something.”

Cropper’s Stax Records-era guitar work with Otis Redding also got repurposed recently when Jay-Z and Kanye West used a sample of “Try A Little Tenderness” to power their collaboration “Otis.” Check out the video here.

Dedicated Track List:
1. 30 Second Lover (w/ Steve Winwood)
2. Don’t Be Ashamed (w/ Bettye LaVette & Willie Jones)
3. Baby Don’t Do It (w/ BB King & Shemekia Copeland)
4. Dedicated To The One I Love (w/ Lucinda Williams & Dan Penn)
5. My Sugar Sugar (w/ John Popper)
6. Right Around The Corner (w/ Delbert McClinton)
7. Help Me Somebody (Instrumental)
8. I Do (w/ Brian May)
9. Messin’ Up (w/Sharon Jones)
10. Say It (w/ Bettye LaVette)
11. The Slummer The Slum (w/ Buddy Miller)
12. Someone Made You For Me (w/Dan Penn)
13. Think (instrumental)
14. Come On And Save Me (Dylan Leblanc and Sharon Jones)
15. When I Get Like This (w/ Lucinda Williams)