Steve Cropper

Although often compared to his idol Roy Orbison, Raul Malo’s voice had a tone of its own. As the frontman and lead singer of The Mavericks, a band whose synthesis…

Alabama born and bred, Walt Aldridge broke into the business as a sound engineer at the legendary Fame Studios in Muscle Shoals. He would go on to gain renown as…

If chords could talk, they’d probably all be talking about Steve Cropper. As producer and house guitarist at Stax Records in Memphis and a member of the legendary Booker T.…

Rick Derringer was an American singer, guitarist, songwriter and producer. He first found success in the 1960s with his band The McCoys, whose debut single, “Hang On Sloopy,” became a…

He didn’t actually write the song that defined a generation in the 1960s, but he came to own it. When Jesse Colin Young sang, “Come on people now, smile on…

Mick Ralphs was an English guitarist, vocalist and songwriter. He was a founding member of two widely popular English rock bands…Mott The Hoople and Bad Company. He appeared on every…

Sonny Curtis was an American singer and songwriter. Known for his collaborations with Buddy Holly, he was a member of The Crickets and continued with the band after Holly’s death…

How do you measure musical genius? Is it about creating new sounds? Does commercial success matter? Critical opinion? The admiration of your peers? Or does it have more to do…

Before Katy Perry ever imagined kissing a girl, Jill Sobule had recorded an unforgettable song about the experience. Thanks to her wide-eyed curious perspective and self-effacing sense of humor, it…

Drew Zingg was an American rock, blues, soul and jazz guitarist, best known for his performing with Steely Dan and Boz Scaggs.

When Robert Plant says his prayers at night, we hope he thanks Terry Reid for his singing career. Reid, whose plaintive, haunting voice had captured the ear of Jimmy Page,…

Of all the stars that rose in the 1960s, Sylvester Stone might have burned the brightest and hottest. A genius-level songwriter, arranger, bandleader, singer and multi-instrumentalist, Sly and his band…

John Michael Osbourne was born in a home without plumbing in Birmingham, England. As a teenager, he worked in a slaughterhouse and did time in prison for burglary. Perhaps his…

There are singers who wow you with technical flash and operatic range. Roberta Flack just stole your heart outright without even seeming to try. Her warm, mellow tone and captivating…

Sheila Jordan was an American jazz singer and songwriter. She recorded as a session musician with an array of critically acclaimed artists in addition to recording her own albums.