As far as legends go, everyone remembers the big names: Elvis, The Beatles, Ray Charles, B.B. King, and so on. But a name only a few people would know, Booker T and the MG’s, came to be one of the most important studio bands in the history of American music. Best known for their individual instrumental hit “Green Onions”, which we went over in lecture, the most important contributions the MGs had was their roll as a studio band at Stax Records. Playing behind artists such as Wilson Pickett, Otis Redding, Sam & David, and the Staple Singers, their impact was enormous. I got the chance the see Booker T. Jones perform live at Royce Hall on December 4th, and it was an experience for the books.
Back in 1962, Booker T Jones and the 3 other people…show more content… For instance, after their final album, Melting Pot, was released, Cropper worked with artists such as Dolly Parton and Rod Stewart. Dunn, another member of the MGs, worked with Peter Framption, Eric Clapton, Bob Dylan, and others. Jones, on the other hand, focused on individual work. He released four solo albums and “played sessions with the likes of Dylan, Willie Nelson, Rodney Crowell, Carlos Santana, and John Lee Hooker”. Jones also produced Bill Withers’ outstanding debut album in 1971, and were working on a reunion album in 1975 when drummer Al Jackson Jr. was shot and killed. Jones’ first solo album, Try and Love Again, was released in 1978, the same year he produced Willie Nelson’s Stardust, “a collection of pop standards that established Nelson as one of country’s biggest crossover acts”. This marked Jones’ biggest success as a producer. In 1986, the MGs performed a reunion show for the Atlantic Records fortieth anniversary. Even though Jones was unable to go do to an illness, the show encouraged the group to reform to play at concerts in the future. One other memorable show was at a 1992 concert commemorating Bob Dylan’s thirtieth anniversary in the music business. At that concert, the band played with artists such as Johnny Cash, and Stevie Wonder.
Booker T. Jones, has an array of musical awards. In 1992, the MGs were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, and even played at the opening of the Hall in 1995 along with Aretha Franklin and Creedence Clearwater Revival’s John Fogerty. Later, in 2007, the MGs received the Grammys’ Lifetime Achievement Award. Jones also took home Best Pop Instrumental Album Grammy Awards for his work in 2010’s Potato Hole and 2012’s The Road From Memphis, his collaboration with The