Andrew Love, Memphis Horns tenor sax, dies

MEMPHIS, Tenn. -- Tenor saxophonist Andrew Love, who formed the award-winning Memphis Horns duo with trumpeter Wayne Jackson and played unforgettable lines behind the royalty of soul, rock, pop and R&B, died at his Memphis home Thursday.

He was 70, his wife said, and had been suffering from Alzheimer's disease.

Love is best known for his work with Jackson as The Memphis Horns. The two were awarded the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award in February, only the second instrumental backup group to receive the honor.

"He played with such feeling. He played with grace, soul," Love's wife, Willie Love, said. "Andrew played notes from his heart."

Love and Jackson played together on 52 No. 1 records and 83 gold and platinum records, according to Memphis-based Stax Records. They backed up Aretha Franklin, Elvis Presley, Otis Redding, Neil Diamond, Isaac Hayes, the Doobie Brothers, U2, Jack White, Alicia Keys and many other American pop music acts.

The Memphis Horns could sound soulful and romantic on one song, loud and rousing on another. They provided the horn tracks on dozens of well-known songs, including Diamond's "Sweet Caroline," Presley's "Suspicious Minds," Sam & Dave's "Soul Man," Al Green's "Let's Stay Together," and Steve Winwood's "Roll With It."

Jackson said he first heard Love play at the Manhattan Club with the Willie Mitchell band. They were first paired together as part of the Stax Records' Mar-Key Horns.

"I knew we would be perfect together," Jackson said in a statement. "He had a big tone and I had a big tone, and I knew that they would blend in the most natural, beautiful way."