The Stax House Band: Booker T. & The M.G.’s – The Sound of Southern Soul
Led by keyboardist Booker T. Jones, the Stax Records house band—Booker T. & The M.G.’s—not only backed an incredible roster of legendary soul artists but also carved out a name for themselves with instrumental hits like Green Onions.
Often viewed as Stax’s answer to Motown’s Funk Brothers, this tight-knit unit was instrumental in shaping the Memphis sound. Their work with Otis Redding, Sam & Dave, Albert King, Eddie Floyd, Bill Withers, Aretha Franklin, and Wilson Pickett created the blueprint for what we now call Southern Soul. Add the Memphis Horns into the mix and you get a sound that’s raw, funky, and deeply emotional.
The list of songs they helped bring to life is staggering: Green Onions, Born Under A Bad Sign, (Sittin’ On) The Dock Of The Bay, Ain’t No Sunshine, Soul Man, Hold On I’m Coming, Knock On Wood, Try A Little Tenderness, Respect (the Otis Redding original), and Mr. Pitiful—just to name a few.
As for the name M.G.’s? Many speculated it was a nod to the MG sports car. But the accepted meaning now is Memphis Group. That said, bassist Donald “Duck” Dunn famously joked it stood for musical geniuses—and honestly, it’s hard to argue with that.
Despite being relatively unknown to the average listener, Booker T. & The M.G.’s played a massive role in shaping modern music. Let’s take a closer look at the core members of this band whose groove defined a generation.
Booker T. & The M.G.’s Core Band Members
At the heart of the Memphis sound were four musicians whose chemistry and groove became the backbone of countless soul and R&B classics.
Booker T. Jones was the bandleader, playing both piano and organ. He wasn’t just a performer—he also co-wrote many of the band’s most iconic songs and took on production duties, becoming a key architect of the Stax sound.
Steve Cropper handled the guitar work and shared co-writing credits on a number of tracks, most famously with Otis Redding on (Sittin’ On) The Dock Of The Bay. His crisp, understated guitar style became a signature part of the Stax sound.
Donald “Duck” Dunn wasn’t the original bass player—that was Lewie Steinberg—but Dunn eventually took over and became inseparable from the M.G.’s legacy. His deep, melodic bass lines provided the glue that held many tracks together.
Al Jackson Jr., the drummer, was a founding member and a rock-solid presence both behind the kit and in the producer’s chair. He played a huge role in shaping the sound of Albert King and also worked outside of Stax, contributing to recordings on Hi Records, including Al Green’s Let’s Stay Together. His drumming can also be heard with Rod Stewart, Elvis Presley, Eric Clapton, Ann Peebles, and Donny Hathaway.
Together, these four players created a groove so tight and influential that their impact still reverberates through soul, funk, and rock music to this day.
Booker T. & The M.G.’s Tunes | Related Pages
(Sittin’ On) the Dock of the Bay | Chords + TAB
Learn how to play (Sittin’ On) the Dock of the Bay by Otis Redding using chords, lyrics, chord analysis, a chord chart, and the original recording.
| G | B7 | C | A |
Sittin’ in the mornin’ sun, I’ll be sittin’ when the evenin’ comes…
Check out the full TAB lesson here: (Sittin’ On) The Dock Of The Bay (Otis Redding) Guitar Lesson with TAB.
Ain’t No Sunshine | Chords + TAB
You can learn how to play Ain’t No Sunshine by Bill Withers using chords, lyrics, a chord chart, chord analysis, and Spytunes video guitar lessons.
| Am7 Em G5 | Am7 | Am7 Em G5 |
Ain’t no sunshine when she’s gone, it’s not warm when she’s away…
Start learning with the full lesson series: Ain’t No Sunshine – Guitar Lessons with TAB.
Born Under A Bad Sign | Chords + Lyrics
You can learn how to play Born Under A Bad Sign by Albert King using chords, lyrics, chord analysis, a chord chart, and the original recording.
| Db7 | Db7 | Db7 | Db7 (Gb G) |
Born under a bad sign, I’ve been down since I began to crawl…
Hold On, I’m Comin’ | Chords + TAB
You can learn how to play Hold On, I’m Comin’ by Sam & Dave using chords, lyrics, chord analysis, a chord chart, and the original recording.
| Ab7 | Ab7 | Ab7 | Ab7 |
Don’t you ever, be sad. Lean on me, when the times are bad…
Check out the full TAB lesson here: Hold On, I’m Comin’ (Sam & Dave) Guitar Lesson with TAB.
Knock On Wood | Chords + TAB
You can learn how to play Knock On Wood by Eddie Floyd using chords, lyrics, chord analysis, a chord chart, the original recording, and cover versions.
| A6 | A6 | A6 | A6 |
I don’t want to lose, this good thing, that I got…
Check out the full TAB lesson here: Knock On Wood (Eddie Floyd) Guitar Lesson with TAB.
Respect | Chords + TAB
You can learn how to play Respect by Aretha Franklin using chords, lyrics, TAB, backing track, a chord chart, and Spytunes video guitar lessons.
| G7 | F7 |
(Oh) What you want, (Oh) Baby, I got it…
Start learning with the full lesson series: Respect – Guitar Lessons with TAB.
Soul Man | Chords + TAB
You can learn how to play Soul Man by Sam & Dave using chords, lyrics, TAB, backing track, a chord chart, and Spytunes video guitar lessons.
| G G7 G | G G7 G |
Coming to you, on a dusty road…
Start learning with the full lesson series: Soul Man – Guitar Lessons with TAB.
Booker T. & The M.G.’s on the web
