MEMPHIS, Tenn. — 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 "Green Onions," "(Sittin' on) the Dock of the Bay" and "In the Midnight Hour," died at age 84.
Steve Cropper, who co-wrote classic songs, including “(Sittin' on) the Dock of the Bay” and “In the Midnight Hour,” during his years playing guitar at the legendary Stax Records in Memphis, died Dec. 3. He was 84. He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1992 as a member of Booker T. and the M.G.'s, the house band for the Stax/Volt labels.
Mark Humphrey, Associated Press
Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa
Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa, a Tokyo-born actor known for his roles in the film “Mortal Kombat” and TV series "The Man in the High Castle" died Dec. 4. He was 75.
Lucy Pemoni, Associated Press
Raul Malo
Raul Malo, the soulful tenor and frontman of the genre-defying, Grammy-winning band The Mavericks, died Dec. 8. He was 60. Malo was battling colon cancer and later leptomeningeal disease.
Mark Zaleski, Associated Press
Sophie Kinsella
Writer Sophie Kinsella, whose effervescent rom-com “Confessions of a Shopaholic” sparked a millions-selling series, died Dec. 10. She was 55 and had been diagnosed with brain cancer.
Bebeto Matthews, Associated Press
Anthony Geary
Anthony Geary, who rose to fame in the 1970s and '80s as half the daytime TV super couple Luke and Laura on “General Hospital,” died Dec. 14. He was 78.
Todd Williamson, Invision
Rob Reiner
Rob Reiner, the son of a comedy giant who became one himself as one of the preeminent filmmakers of his generation with movies such as “The Princess Bride,” “When Harry Met Sally …” and “This Is Spinal Tap,” died Dec. 14, along with his wife, Michele Singer Reiner. He was 78.
Brian Ach, Invision
Greg Biffle
Retired NASCAR driver Greg Biffle died Dec. 18 in a North Carolina plane crash along with his wife, two children and three others. He was 55. Biffle won championships in the Truck and Xfinity Series and drove for years in the Cup Series for Roush Fenway Racing.
Dave Tulis, Associated Press
James Ransone
James Ransone, the actor who played Ziggy Sobotka in the HBO series “The Wire” and appeared in many other TV shows and movies, died Dec. 19. He was 46.
