Booker T. Jones helped shape the sound of American soul. A working musician by sixteen, the Memphis-born multi-instrumentalist became a central figure at Stax Records, where he formed Booker T. & the MGs—one of the defining bands of the label’s era.

Their 1962 instrumental “Green Onions” became an international hit, while tracks including “Time Is Tight,” “Hip Hug-Her,” and the frequently sampled “Melting Pot” established a catalog built on deep grooves, economical arrangements, and Jones’ unmistakable Hammond organ. His career also includes collaborations with Otis Redding, Wilson Pickett, Sam & Dave, Bob Dylan, Neil Young, Willie Nelson, and Carlos Santana.

Inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame with the MGs in 1992 and later honored with a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award, Jones continues to perform internationally—carrying the sound of Memphis soul forward more than six decades after “Green Onions.”