Formed in 1962 in Memphis, Tennessee, Booker T and the MG's ("MG" officially stood for "Memphis Group") would make their way into history as one of the most important soul outfits in the history of music. They were indispensable as the house band for Stax records, backing up many rising artists (Otis Redding, Sam & Dave, Albert King, and many others), but it was the MG's themselves that put Stax on the map with such singles as "
Green Onions", which peaked at number 3 on the Pop Charts, and "Hip Hug-Her", which peaked at number 6 on the Pop charts.
The group consisted of four core members: Booker T. Jones on keyboards and organ (as well as many other instruments), Steve Cropper on guitar, Al Jackson Jr. on drums, and Donald "Duck" Dunn on bass. Cropper and Dunn were originally in the first house band for Stax, The Mar-Keys, and later were part of The Blues Brothers, both in the band and in the movie. Various others added horns and other instruments, and a young Isaac Hayes covered the keys on at least one session.
Not only were they blazing new trails with their funky instrumental soul music, but also with their integration of races, as two of them were white (Donald "Duck" Dunn and Steve Cropper) and two of them were black (Booker T. Jones and Al Jackson), which was very unusual for 1962.
The group has continued to give concerts over the years.
In 1992, the MGs were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame where in 1995, and when the Rock and Roll Hall Of Fame opened its museum in Cleveland, Ohio, the MGs served as the house band.
They supplied the music for Neil Young's 2002 album Are You Passionate?. They have been called the most influential stylists in modern American music and just this year received the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award. These were four guys far ahead of their times. Find out more about Booker T. Jones at his website: http://www.bookert.com/
Research info taken from: www.last.fm
Visit my e-zine: http://www.concelebratory.blogspot.com/
and personal blog: http://www.copyat5.blogpot.com/
Green Onions", which peaked at number 3 on the Pop Charts, and "Hip Hug-Her", which peaked at number 6 on the Pop charts.
The group consisted of four core members: Booker T. Jones on keyboards and organ (as well as many other instruments), Steve Cropper on guitar, Al Jackson Jr. on drums, and Donald "Duck" Dunn on bass. Cropper and Dunn were originally in the first house band for Stax, The Mar-Keys, and later were part of The Blues Brothers, both in the band and in the movie. Various others added horns and other instruments, and a young Isaac Hayes covered the keys on at least one session.
Not only were they blazing new trails with their funky instrumental soul music, but also with their integration of races, as two of them were white (Donald "Duck" Dunn and Steve Cropper) and two of them were black (Booker T. Jones and Al Jackson), which was very unusual for 1962.
The group has continued to give concerts over the years.
In 1992, the MGs were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame where in 1995, and when the Rock and Roll Hall Of Fame opened its museum in Cleveland, Ohio, the MGs served as the house band.
They supplied the music for Neil Young's 2002 album Are You Passionate?. They have been called the most influential stylists in modern American music and just this year received the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award. These were four guys far ahead of their times. Find out more about Booker T. Jones at his website: http://www.bookert.com/
Research info taken from: www.last.fm
Visit my e-zine: http://www.concelebratory.blogspot.com/
and personal blog: http://www.copyat5.blogpot.com/
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