Biography
Steve Cropper & Felix Cavaliere is a collaborative pairing of two pivotal “blue‑eyed soul” figures whose joint work unites Memphis soul with East Coast R&B. Cropper, born in 1941 in Dora, Missouri and raised around Memphis, became famous as the guitarist, songwriter, producer, and in‑house A&R man at Stax Records, co‑founding Booker T. & the M.G.’s and playing on or helping shape classic recordings by Otis Redding, Wilson Pickett, Sam & Dave, and many others.[1][8] Cavaliere, born November 29, 1942 in Pelham, New York, came to prominence as co‑lead vocalist and Hammond organ player for The Young Rascals (later The Rascals), co‑writing and singing on 1960s hits such as “Good Lovin’,” “Groovin’,” and “People Got to Be Free,” which helped define a strand of soulful, socially aware pop‑rock.[3][4]
Although they moved in overlapping circles of 1960s and 1970s soul and rock, Cropper and Cavaliere did not become a recording team until much later in their careers. After decades of individual work—as Cropper continued with session, production, and solo projects and Cavaliere pursued solo albums, production, and ongoing Rascals‑related touring—they joined forces for the album “Nudge It Up a Notch,” released on Stax Records on July 29, 2008.[1][3][6] Marketed as a meeting of “renowned guitarist and R&B legend” Steve Cropper and “vocal/keyboard legend” Felix Cavaliere, the record drew specifically on the blend of tight, groove‑based Memphis rhythm guitar and organ‑driven, melody‑rich East Coast soul.[1][6] The collaboration was successful enough that they reconvened for a second album, “Midnight Flyer,” released by Stax in 2010, again emphasizing the crossroads of Southern and Northern blue‑eyed soul traditions.[1]
Their joint work is characterized by warm Hammond‑organ textures, concise, hook‑laden guitar lines, and songcraft rooted in classic R&B structures but presented with veteran polish. Critics and biographical sources frame the partnership as a late‑career summit between two artists who had already shaped the language of white American soul: Cropper through his role in virtually every significant Stax release from 1961–1970, and Cavaliere through The Rascals’ string of chart hits and later honors, including induction into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame and the Songwriters Hall of Fame.[1][3][4][8] Together under the “Steve Cropper & Felix Cavaliere” billing, they extend their legacies by revisiting and refreshing the classic soul vocabulary they helped create, rather than attempting a stylistic reinvention.
Fun Facts
- Their first joint album, “Nudge It Up a Notch,” was released on Stax Records, the same label where Cropper had been a key architect of the classic 1960s Memphis soul sound, giving the project a strong historical resonance.[1][6]
- Cropper and Cavaliere’s collaboration has been described as sparks flying at the “crossroads of Memphis soul and East Coast R&B,” highlighting how their regional backgrounds shaped the character of their records together.[1]
- Before formally recording as a duo, Cropper and Cavaliere had an existing songwriting relationship, meeting regularly to write material that later informed the direction of their 2008 project.[2][7]
- Both artists entered their collaboration already honored by major institutions: Cavaliere had been inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame and Songwriters Hall of Fame, while Cropper was recognized by the Songwriters Hall of Fame, underscoring the veteran stature behind the duo name.[3][4][8]
Musical Connections
Mentors/Influences
- Stax Records R&B and soul tradition - Stylistic and professional environment that shaped Steve Cropper’s playing, writing, and production work as he became integral to the Stax sound. (Stax recordings with Booker T. & the M.G.’s, Otis Redding, Sam & Dave (1961–1970 era)) [Early 1960s–early 1970s[1][8]]
- 1960s soul and R&B pioneers associated with The Young Rascals - Cavaliere’s work with The Young Rascals positioned him within the lineage of American soul‑influenced pop; his Hammond‑organ‑driven style reflects broader 1960s R&B influences. (The Young Rascals / The Rascals hits such as “Good Lovin’,” “Groovin’,” “People Got to Be Free”) [Mid‑1960s–early 1970s[3][4]]
Key Collaborators
- Booker T. & the M.G.’s - Steve Cropper was the guitarist and a founding member of this Stax house band, which backed countless soul artists and helped define the label’s sound. (Booker T. & the M.G.’s recordings; numerous Stax sessions with Otis Redding, Sam & Dave and others) [Early 1960s–early 1970s[1][8]]
- The Young Rascals / The Rascals - Felix Cavaliere’s primary band as co‑lead vocalist and keyboardist, providing the foundation for his later collaboration with Cropper. (Albums and singles by The Young Rascals / The Rascals, including multiple US #1 hits) [1965–1972[3][4]]
- Stax Records artists (Otis Redding, Wilson Pickett, Sam & Dave, others) - Cropper worked as guitarist, songwriter, producer, and A&R man on records by major Stax‑related artists, experience he later brought into his work with Cavaliere. (Stax singles and albums from approximately 1961–1970) [1961–1970[1]]
- Jon Tiven - Producer who worked with Cropper on the first of his two collaborations with Cavaliere and later on other projects. (Production on Steve Cropper & Felix Cavaliere’s collaborative material; later collaboration on a 5 Royales tribute) [Late 2000s–early 2010s[1]]
- Steve Cropper & Felix Cavaliere (mutual collaboration) - Formal duo collaboration uniting Cropper’s Memphis soul guitar and Cavaliere’s Rascals‑style vocals and keyboards. (Albums “Nudge It Up a Notch” (2008) and “Midnight Flyer” (2010)) [2008–2010[1][3][6]]
Artists Influenced
- Blue‑eyed soul and pop‑rock artists following the 1960s - Both Cropper and Cavaliere are cited as among the most celebrated blue‑eyed soul practitioners; their styles and recordings helped set templates for later white soul‑influenced rock and pop musicians. (Influence via Stax recordings (Cropper) and The Rascals’ hits (Cavaliere), extended through their collaborative albums on Stax) [Late 1960s onward[1][3][6][8]]
Connection Network
Discography
Albums
| Title | Release Date | Type |
|---|---|---|
| Nudge It Up a Notch | 2008-01-01 | Album |
| Nudge It Up a Notch | 2008-01-01 | Album |
Top Tracks
- One of Those Days (Nudge It Up a Notch)
- If It Wasn't for Loving You (Nudge It Up a Notch)
- Full Moon Tonight (Nudge It Up a Notch)
- One of Those Days (Absolute Soul)
- Without You (Nudge It Up a Notch)
- To Make It Right (Nudge It Up a Notch)
- Impossible (Nudge It Up a Notch)
- Still Be Loving You (Nudge It Up a Notch)
- Cuttin' It Close (Nudge It Up a Notch)
- Make the Time Go Faster (Nudge It Up a Notch)
External Links
References
Heard on WWOZ
Steve Cropper & Felix Cavaliere has been played 2 times on WWOZ 90.7 FM, New Orleans' jazz and heritage station.
| Date | Time | Title | Show | Spotify |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dec 17, 2025 | 14:18 | Help Me Somebodyfrom Ddicated - A Salute to The 5 Royals | Sittin' at the Crossroadw/ Big D | |
| Dec 5, 2025 | 07:42 | One of Those Daysfrom Nodge It Up a Notch | The Morning Setw/ Dave Dauterive |