Few songs are as legendary as “Green Onions” by Booker T & the MG’s. Not just legendary as a soul song, but as a music phenomenon. (How many other all-instrumental songs have become so well-known in recent music history?) While only peaking at number 3 on Pop Charts, the song has been in over 20 major films since its recording in 1962.

But Booker T Jones cannot be defined by the early hit he delivered with Steve Cropper, Al Jackson, Jr., and Lewis Steinberg. His career started at Stax Records in Memphis, Tennessee, where the teenage multi-instrumentalist found a spot in the house band. His skills with a Hammond B4 organ took him on tour with groundbreaking soul musicians like Otis Redding, Wilson Pickett, Sam & Dave, and Albert King.

After leaving Stax, Booker T’s many abilities led to recording with Bobby Darin and John Lee Hooker, scoring a number of movies, and producing Willie Nelson’s multi-platinum Stardust and Bill Wither’s Ain’t No Sunshine. His numerous professional feats earned him a permanent place in the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 1992 and the Musicians Hall of Fame in 2008, as well as a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award.

On April 21 of last year, Booker T released Potato Hole (Anti-), which was recorded with the Drive-By Truckers and Neil Young on lead guitar. The nine-song album features six original tracks and three covers: “Hey Ya” by Outkast, “Get Behind the Mule” by Tom Waits, and “Space City” by the Drive-By Truckers. The impressive collaborative effort won a Grammy for Best Pop Instrumental Album, and the track “Warped Sister” was nominated was Best Rock Instrumental Performance.

While I have not come close to touching on the long resume and enormous ability possessed within this man’s being, I want to emphasize that this is not a show to be missed.

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Download: Booker T. Jones – She Breaks

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Booker T. Jones – Hey Ya

Who: Booker T. Jones w. J.J. Grey and Dustin Busch
Where: The Englert Theatre
When: Wednesday, March 31
Doors: 7 pm
Cover: $26 Advance / $29 day of show

Don’t miss our rapid-fire, last-minute Mission Creek Festival previews or peak at some you may have missed (including a local music, festival mixtape) here.