David Porter remembered his longtime Stax Records compatriot Steve Cropper as “a true member of a creative musical family that changed the world of music” in a tribute shared with Rolling Stone .

Cropper, who died earlier this week at the age of 84, helped craft the “Memphis soul” sound as a guitarist of Booker T. & the M.G.’s, who scored hits of their own while also serving as the house band for Stax during the label’s hit-making prime. Porter, meanwhile, was one of Stax’s go-to songwriters, penning many hits that Cropper helped bring to life, including Sam & Dave’s “Soul Man.”

In his tribute, Porter identified Cropper as one of the six people who served as the “cornerstone of what made Stax consistent and unique,” along with himself, organ player and bandleader Booker T. Jones,

See Full Page