Wayne Jackson, half of Memphis Horns duo, dies at age 74

MEMPHIS, Tenn. — Trumpet player Wayne Jackson, who played standout horn lines on rock ‘n’ roll, soul, R&B and pop mainstays along with Memphis Horns partner and tenor saxophonist Andrew Love, has died. He was 74.

His wife, Amy, said her husband died of congestive heart failure Tuesday night at a hospital with her by his side. Jackson had been hospitalized and released June 7 before taking a turn for the worse Monday night and being readmitted.

“He led an incredible life and he left an amazing music legacy,” Amy Jackson said.

Jackson and Love performed recordings by numerous top-shelf artists, including Otis Redding, Elvis Presley, Neil Diamond and U2.

Jackson and Love — the Memphis Horns — were awarded the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award in February 2012, only the second instrumental backup group in history to receive the honor at the time. According to his wife, in his acceptance speech, he said, “It’s been a dance of love between me and that trumpet.”

Love died in April 2012.

Love, who was black, and Jackson, who was white, played together on 52 No. 1 records and 83 gold and platinum records, according to Memphis-based Stax Records. Amy Jackson said her husband received his first gold record in 1961 and his last in 2005.

The duo 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 wistful and romantic on one song, boisterous and up-tempo on another. They provided the horn tracks on dozens of well-known songs, including Redding’s “Dock of the Bay,” Franklin’s “Respect,” Diamond’s “Sweet Caroline,” Presley’s “Suspicious Minds,” Sam &Dave’s “Soul Man,” Al Green’s “Let’s Stay Together,” Steve Winwood’s “Roll With It,” Peter Gabriel’s “Sledgehammer,” and U2’s “Angel of Harlem.”

Jackson was born in Memphis and was raised across the Mississippi River in West Memphis, Arkansas, according to his website.

On his website, he described the time when his mother gave him a trumpet at age 11.

“I opened up the case, and it smelled like oil and brass. I loved that, so I put it together, blew, and out came a pretty noise,” he said.

Jackson said he first heard Love play at the Manhattan Club with the Willie Mitchell band.

“I knew we would be perfect together,” Jackson said in a statement released after Love died. “He had a big tone and I had a big tone, and I knew that they would blend in the most natural, beautiful way.”

They were first paired together as part of the Stax Records’ Mar-Keys, which backed most of Stax’s catalog of artists. They played behind Redding, Isaac Hayes, Rufus Thomas and Carla Thomas, among others.

In 1969, Jackson and Love formed The Memphis Horns. Jackson later moved to Nashville and spent three years traveling with country music performer Marty Robbins, according to Jackson’s Web site.

In 2008, Jackson and Love were inducted into the Musicians Hall of Fame. Jackson also wrote three books.

Funeral arrangements were pending.

Talk to us

> Give us your news tips.

> Send us a letter to the editor.

> More Herald contact information.

More in Local News

Trader Joe’s customers walk in and out of the store on Monday, Nov. 20, 2023 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
New Trader Joe’s opens this week at Everett Mall

It’s a short move from a longtime location, essentially across the street, where parking was often an adventure.

Ian Bramel-Allen enters a guilty plea to second-degree murder during a plea and sentencing hearing on Wednesday, March 6, 2024, at Snohomish County Superior Court in Everett, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
‘Deep remorse’: Man gets 17 years for friend’s fatal stabbing in Edmonds

Ian Bramel-Allen, 44, pleaded guilty Wednesday to second-degree murder for killing Bret Northcutt last year at a WinCo.

Firefighters respond to a small RV and a motorhome fire on Tuesday afternoon in Marysville. (Provided by Snohomish County Fire Distrct 22)
1 injured after RV fire, explosion near Marysville

The cause of the fire in the 11600 block of 81st Avenue NE had not been determined, fire officials said.

Ashton Dedmon appears in court during his sentencing hearing on Tuesday, March 5, 2024, at Snohomish County Superior Court in Everett, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
Everett Navy sailor sentenced to 90 days for fatal hit and run

Ashton Dedmon crashed into Joshua Kollman and drove away. Dedmon, a petty officer on the USS Kidd, reported he had a panic attack.

A kindergarten student works on a computer at Emerson Elementary School on Wednesday, Feb. 28, 2024, in Everett, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
‘¡Una erupción!’: Dual language programs expanding to 10 local schools

A new bill aims to support 10 new programs each year statewide. In Snohomish County, most follow a 90-10 model of Spanish and English.

Cassie Franklin, Mayor of Everett, delivers the annual state of the city address Thursday morning in the Edward D. Hansen Conference Center in Everett, Washington on March 31, 2022.  (Kevin Clark / The Herald)
At Everett mayor’s keynote speech: $35 entry, Boeing sponsorship

The city won’t make any money from the event, city spokesperson Simone Tarver said. Still, it’s part of a trend making open government advocates wary.

Logo for news use featuring the Tulalip Indian Reservation in Snohomish County, Washington. 220118
Woman drives off cliff, dies on Tulalip Reservation

The woman fell 70 to 80 feet after driving off Priest Point Drive NW on Sunday afternoon.

Everett
Boy, 4, survives fall from Everett fourth-story apartment window

The child was being treated at Seattle Children’s. The city has a limited supply of window stops for low-income residents.

People head out to the water at low tide during an unseasonably warm day on Saturday, March 16, 2024, at Lighthouse Park in Mukilteo, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
Everett shatters record high temperature by 11 degrees

On Saturday, it hit 73 degrees, breaking the previous record of 62 set in 2007.

Snohomish County Fire District #4 and Snohomish Regional Fire & Rescue respond to a motor vehicle collision for a car and pole. The driver was pronounced dead at the scene, near Triangle Bait & Tackle in Snohomish. (Snohomish County Sheriff’s Office)
Police: Troopers tried to stop driver before deadly crash in Snohomish

The man, 31, was driving at “a high rate of speed” when he crashed into a traffic light pole and died, investigators said.

Alan Dean, who is accused of the 1993 strangulation murder of 15-year-old Bothell girl Melissa Lee, appears in court during opening statements of his trial on Monday, March 18, 2024, at Snohomish County Superior Court in Everett, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
31 years later, trial opens in Bothell teen’s brutal killing

In April 1993, Melissa Lee’s body was found below Edgewater Creek Bridge. It would take 27 years to arrest Alan Dean in her death.

Logo for news use featuring the municipality of Snohomish in Snohomish County, Washington. 220118
Man dies after crashing into pole in Snohomish

Just before 1 a.m., the driver crashed into a traffic light pole at the intersection of 2nd Street and Maple Avenue.

Support local journalism

If you value local news, make a gift now to support the trusted journalism you get in The Daily Herald. Donations processed in this system are not tax deductible.