Beach Boys’ baroque genius Brian Wilson was ‘a bright shining light

On the day Paul McCartney, the most successful songwriter of all time, was born – June 18, 1942 – Liverpool was being ...
Whiskey Riff

Zach Top Reveals Which George Strait Classic Was The First Song He Learned To Play On Guitar

Of course it was the King. Zach Top seems to be everywhere these days. Riding the highs of his debut album last year and his highly-successful sophomore effort this year, Ain't In It For My Health, ...
American Songwriter

On This Day in 1967, Otis Redding Was in the Studio Recording the Classic Song He Wouldn’t Live To See Reach No. 1

Born Sept. 9, 1941 in Dawson, Georgia, Otis Redding broke racial barriers and wrote the blueprint for soul music in his short life. Tragically, the 26-year-old died in a plane crash near Madison, ...
The Atlantic

The Father of Rhythm Guitarists

Steve Cropper, who died Wednesday at 84, is not a household name, but the music he made is some of the most familiar in American pop. The twanging guitar line that opens Sam & Dave’s “Soul Man”—that’s ...
KOIN 6

Steve Cropper, who wrote ‘(Sittin’ on) the Dock of the Bay’ and ‘In the Midnight Hour’, dies at 84

MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) — Steve Cropper, the lean, soulful guitarist and songwriter who helped anchor the celebrated Memphis backing band Booker T. and the M.G.’s at Stax Records and co-wrote the classics ...