A GUITARIST who has been rated among the greatest of all time has stunned a Yorkshire Dales landlord by asking to perform at his pub.

Music legend Steve Cropper, who plays on hits including include Sittin' On The Dock Of The Bay, Green Onions, Knock On Wood and In The Midnight Hour, contacted the landlord of the Buck Hotel, in Reeth, near Richmond, after a gig at an 800-capacity venue in Glasgow was cancelled days before the show.

Publican Jim Robson said the 73-year-old, whose current 26-date tour with 1960s band The Animals includes a concert in Moscow and blues festivals, had been determined to find a replacement venue to perform at on Saturday (November 22).

Mr Robson said Cropper, who performed alongside Ray Charles, Aretha Franklin and James Brown in the 1980 hit movie The Blues Brothers, would perform a set in the 80-capacity venue following a hour-long set by The Animals.

As a guitarist, A&R man, engineer, producer and songwriting partner of Otis Redding, Eddie Floyd and others and founding member of both Booker T and the MG’s, Cropper was involved in virtually every record issued by Stax Records from 1961 to 1970.

Compared to its main rival, Motown Records, the record label produced distinctive soul music, drawing influences from country, gospel and the blues.

Mr Robson said: "Steve Cropper is probably the best known soul guitarist in the world and is without doubt the best known musician we have had playing here.

"He had a number one hit when he was 16 and loads of success, but he's not an arrogant guy.

"The pub dates back to 1760 and was where people paid to use the toll road into County Durham, so it has seen a few things over the years, but this is definitely a first."

Mr Robson said due to the band's fee being significantly higher than the acts who usually perform at the venue, he would not be making a profit from the show, which starts at 7.30pm.

He said he hoped to have time to take the guitarist, who was raised in Memphis, on a tour of the Yorkshire Dales.

He said: "They are playing at a lot larger venues, but I couldn't resist the chance to have someone like Steve Cropper playing at a little venue in the sticks like this."

For tickets, costing £20, call 01748-884210.