Booker T. & the M.G.'s are a seminal American instrumental R&B/funk band that was highly influential in shaping the sound of Southern soul and Memphis soul. The original members of the band — organist Booker T. Jones, guitarist Steve Cropper, bassist Donald "Duck" Dunn, and drummer Al Jackson Jr. — formed in Memphis, Tennessee, in 1962 as the house band for Stax Records, where they would create some of the defining tracks of the genre and collaborate with artists like Otis Redding, Sam & Dave, and Wilson Pickett. Renowned for their tight, impeccable musicianship, the group's signature hit "Green Onions," released in 1962, is an enduring classic that exemplifies their funky, soulful sound.

Throughout the 1960s and 1970s, Booker T. & the M.G.'s released a host of successful albums and singles, both as a standalone group and as session musicians for other artists. Their work earned them widespread acclaim and numerous awards, eventually leading to their induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1992. The importance of albums such as "Melting Pot" and "McLemore Avenue" lies not only in the grooves of their music but also in their racial makeup during a period of intense racial tensions in the United States — the band was one of the first racially integrated rock groups, embodying the unifying power of music. In the later years, the band has continued to garner respect and praise, bolstering their legacy through reissues and remastered works like the 2023 remaster of "Mo' Onions" and the revelatory performance captured in "Live at the Monterey International Pop Festival."

Genres

Blues

Classic Soul

Instrumental Funk

Instrumental Soul

Memphis Soul

Soul

Southern Soul

Traditional Blues

Related Artists

Otis Redding

Sam & Dave

Wilson Pickett

Eddie Floyd

Isaac Hayes

Albert King

Carla Thomas

The Mar-Keys

Earth, Wind & Fire

Al Green

The Emotions

James Brown

Latest Release

Stax Records Presents

Booker T. & the M.G.'s

Album - 15 Tracks - Released May 20, 2024