Guitar legend Steve Cropper has one hell of a reputation. Known worldwide as a superstar musician, producer and songwriter, he has worked with the likes of Otis Redding, Art Garfunkel, Ringo Starr and Elton John, to name but a few.

And tonight, he makes his Belfast debut, as part of the Big River Blues and Jazz Festival 2008.

Cropper hails from Memphis, Tennessee, and, after more than 50 years in the business, he’s just about the biggest thing the Belfast soul scene has ever laid eyes on.

So what brings him here after all this time? “The organisers of the festival were persistent in getting me to play, and I’m glad I said yes,” said Cropper.

“This is the first time ever that I’ve gone out on stage as a guest artist and although we haven’t practiced all that much yet, I’m really looking forward to it.

“I’ve never been to Northern Ireland, but I’m already touring in the UK so I wanted to come.”

Cropper picked up his first guitar in high school, and after massive success with bands like The Mar-Keys, Booker T and the MGs, and the legendary Stax Records label, his name was rarely out of the headlines.

He clocked his first Number

One in 1962, at the age of 21, with the hit soul record ‘Green Onions’.

Cropper ensured his place in history by co-writing (Sittin' On) The Dock of the Bay with Otis Redding, along with the hit songs Knock On Wood with Eddie Floyd, and In the Midnight Hour with Wilson Pickett.

Cropper was once named the second greatest guitar player of all time (second only to Jimi Hendrix) by Mojo Magazine.

He admits to being a background kinda guy, but one of the many big names who collaborated with Cropper at Stax Records was Isaac Hayes, best known for his Oscar-winning theme song from the movie Shaft, who passed away just last week.

Cropper will guest star tonight at Belfast’s Mandela Hall with rock legends The Animals.

More details about the Festival are available at www.bigriverbluesandjazz.com.