Rare Steve Cropper recording reborn through tribute video

Legendary guitarist and songwriter Steve Cropper is the subject of a newly released tribute video reflecting on his 2012 studio collaboration with singer-songwriter Sheri Miller on her song “I Could Love You Still.”

The collaboration took place in 2012, when Cropper recorded electric guitar for Miller’s soul ballad at the invitation of producer and bassist Will Lee. The session was not planned as a high-profile pairing, and Cropper joined simply because he connected with the song. According to Miller, he approached the recording by listening closely to the lyrics and shaping his part around the emotional core of the music.

In a personal essay, Miller described Cropper’s presence in the studio and his dedication to serving the song. “At a point in his life when Steve had nothing left to prove,” she writes, “he still showed up whole-heartedly, bringing his full presence and care to a piece of music simply because it spoke to him.” She also noted that the arpeggiated guitar part she originally wrote for the song had been influenced by the R&B and soul music she grew up with, much of it shaped by Cropper’s playing.

Reflecting on the experience years later, Miller shared, “If I ever dared to imagine, in my craziest, wildest dreams, the exact legend who was part of the DNA of my song would years later record and play his electric guitar, overdubbing my part, my jaw would’ve dropped in sheer awe. It was wildly surreal and deeply affirming…a quiet conversation across time.”

Miller’s essay and video present a portrait of Cropper that focuses on his musicianship and character rather than revisiting familiar highlights of his career. “What I appreciate most now,” she writes, “isn’t the big names attached to the recording, but how Steve masterfully approached the art of song. His overwhelming generosity. His clear attentiveness. His acceptance of me as an equal, respected collaborator in the studio. His powerful belief that the song always comes first.”

The newly re-edited tribute video for “I Could Love You Still” features previously unseen studio photos alongside archival images from throughout Cropper’s career. Rather than positioning the release as a reissue, the video highlights the original session and its atmosphere, emphasizing Cropper’s restraint, musical sensitivity, and commitment to craft.

Listening back to the recording, Cropper’s performance stands out for its subtlety. There are no flashy flourishes or attention-grabbing solos. Instead, his guitar work moves through the song with precision, responding to the vocal phrasing and leaving space where needed.

“I Could Love You Still” has become one of Miller’s signature recordings. She has built a career centered on traditional songwriting craft, soulful vocals, and emotional storytelling, most recently showcased on her acclaimed EP, Waking Up To This Miracle Life.

The tribute video reframes the song as a document of a rare creative moment, preserving a glimpse of Cropper’s musical approach later in his career. Closing her reflection, Miller writes, “I felt his genius, honored that I was sitting at the foot of a master.”