The Art of the Story

The music world mourns of the loss of STAX Records guitarist and songwriter Steve Cropper

By Doug Doyle,

Published December 4, 2025 at 1:39 PM EST

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On this episode of The Art of the Story, host Doug Doyle reports on the career of the late guitarist and songwriter Steve Cropper who died on Wednesday, December 3 at the age of 84.

Steve Cropper helped anchor the celebrated Memphis backing band Booker T. and the M.G.'s at Stax Records and co-wrote the classic "Green Onions"

During his 2024 interview with WBGO’s "Daybreak" host Gary Walker, Cropper said he loved working with Booker T. Jones.

Guitarist and songwriter Steve Cropper and WBGO's Gary Walker

Cropper also co-wrote the smash hits "Sittin' on the Dock of the Bay" and "In the Midnight Hour'.

You can hear Gary Walker's entire interview with Steve Cropper here.

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Doug Doyle

Doug Doyle has been News Director at WBGO since 1998. Since then, Doug and his news staff have received more than 300 awards from organizations like PRNDI (now PMJA), AP, New York Association of Black Journalists, Garden State Association of Black Journalists and the New Jersey Society of Professional Journalists.

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Gary Walker

In jazz radio, great announcers are distinguished by their ability to convey the spontaneity and passion of the music. Gary Walker is such an announcer, and his enthusiasm for this music greets WBGO listeners every morning on Daybreak. He's the winner of the 1996 Gavin Magazine Jazz Radio Personality of the Year Award and the recipient of the 2021 Marian McPartland-Willis Conover Award for Career Achievement in Broadcasting from the Jazz Journalists Association. Gary hosts the morning show each weekday from 8am til noon. And, by his own admission, he's truly having a great time.

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