Wayne Jackson (left) and Andrew Love (right)

Tom Johnston has written the following piece on the recent passing of Andrew Love of the Memphis Horns:

Andrew Love and Wayne Jackson are part of of our history (What Were Once Vices Are Now Habits and Takin It To The Streets) and they played on more hits for Stax Volt, Atlantic and Warner Brothers than I can count. From Otis Redding and Al Green, to Sam and Dave, Aretha Franklin, Albert King, Isaac Hayes, Rufus and Carla Thomas, Johnny Taylor, and Eddie Floyd. In other words, some of the top R&B songs and players of all time. A host of people in the rock world had them play on their records as well, and fortunately we were one of the lucky bands they worked with both in the studio and on the road.

Andrew was a great guy, incredible player and family man, and it was a privilege to know and work with him. He will be missed.

-Tom Johnston

Wayne Jackson has also written the following obituary:

The Passing of Andrew Love April 12, 2012…What can I say about my best friend, Andrew Love? He was the best man I knew. He was a great husband and father. He was a fabulous musician, and he left behind for us a wealth of recorded saxophone so we can continue to be amazed by him. How fortuitous of God to have put the two of us together. The first time I heard Andrew play was at the Manhattan Club with the Willie Mitchell band. I knew we would be perfect together. He had a big tone, and I had a big tone. And I knew that they would blend in the the most natural, beautiful way. We loved to laugh together. We laughed and traveled all over the world together making records with artists of all genres. Andrew and I knew we were blessed beyond most people. We got to do what we loved everyday and share our unique gifts. It all paid off this year with The Memphis Horns receiving the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award.

I will miss him.

-Wayne Jackson

The LA Times has also posted an obituary for Andrew Love. Read it here.

“Mike was a one-of-a kind guy and a long-time member of the Doobie Brothers,” remembers Cohn. “He was a fighter and fought the big battle with cancer and he was a close personal friend of mine and I speak for Mike’s family and the entire band when I say he will be greatly missed.”

The Doobie Brothers Tom Johnston remembered Hossack, “Mike has always been a part of my musical life and the life of the Doobie Brothers; from our earliest singles, like China Grove and Blackwater to our most recent single Brighter Day.   He was an incredible musician, a studio quality drummer.  The last few years, he was brave and determined to keep on playing in the face of ill health, and I will always admire him for that.  He was a terrific dad and family man, and we will all miss him.”

The Doobie’s Pat Simmons, who was a close friend of Hossack’s, said, “When my kids were little, they used to call him Big Mike, because to them he was such a big guy.  But to me and those who knew him, he had an even a bigger heart.  We were friends for 43 years and we shared some wonderful adventures together, times I will never forget.  Thanks for all those wonderful memories Mike, and all the great music. We love you.”

Michael Hossack was born in Paterson, New Jersey on October 17, 1946 (a real baby boomer). At age twelve Mike started playing drums in the Little Falls Cadets, a Boy Scout Drum and Bugle Corp. He credits his drum instructors, Joe Whelan (Little Falls Cadets), Bob Peterson (Our Lady of Lourdes Cadets), and George Tuttle (Fair Lawn Cadets) for teaching him the disciplines of playing with other drummers.

“People always ask me of it’s hard to play with another drummer. I tell them that after playing along with up to twelve other drummers at once in the drum corps, this is a snap!”

After serving in the Navy during the Vietnam era, Mike returned to New Jersey in January of 1969 and was about to embark on a career in law enforcement. Fortunately, a friend convinced him to audition for a California band called Mourning Reign, who were playing at a local resort. After a long winter of starvation and deprivation playing upstate New York, the band longed for the gentle breezes of the San Francisco Bay area they called home.

Soon after arriving on the west coast, the band signed a production contract with the same company as a new bay area band, The Doobie Brothers. Unfortunately for Mourning Reign, tough financial times hastened the demise of the band. Fortunately for Mike, the Doobie Brothers had heard of his abilities and invited him to jam with the band. What Mike didn’t know is that the “jam” turned out to be a real gig and audition at Bimbo’s in San Francisco. After his trial by fire, the band decided that the two drummer concept was just what they needed for that extra percussive punch. Mike was invited to join the band and soon after found himself in the studio laying down tracks for the bands’ second album for Warner Brothers called “Toulouse Street”, soon to be followed by “The Captain and Me” and “What Were Once Vices Are Now Habits.”

Mike’s unique drumming style can be heard on every song containing drums on these early albums which included hits such as “Listen to The Music”, “Rockin’ Down The Highway”, “Jesus Is Just Alright”, “China Grove”, “Long Train Runnin”, and the band’s first #1 hit single “Blackwater”.

Along with success also came the pressures of continual touring and after a particularly grueling ten months on the road in 1973, Mike left the band. After a short hiatus he helped found a new band called Bonaroo, which recorded one album for Warner Brothers before disbanding in 1975. In 1976 he did a short stint for another two drummer band called DFK, (Les Dudek, Mike Finnigan and Jim Kreiger). Then in 1977, Mike became a partner in Chateau Recorders, a recording studio in North Hollywood and divided his time between working and raising his children.

In 1987, the Doobie Brothers called Mike and asked if he would like to join them in a series of benefit concerts for Veterans of The Vietnam War. Being a vet himself, Mike was more than happy to be included and rejoin his old buddies. The success of these concerts inspired the band to reform and soon they received an offer from Capitol Records to begin recording again, and have been going strong ever since, adding to Mike’s credits with the albums, “Cycles”, “Brotherhood”, “Sibling Rivalry” “Rockin’ Down the Highway-The Wildlife Concerts” and “World Gone Crazy”.

Mike is survived by his son Mike Jr. of Dallas Tx. and daughter Erica Oliver of Denver CO. He was preceded in death by his mother Aida Hossack.

Arrangements pending check www.doobiebros.com for future memorial details.

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Contact:
Diana Baron for the Doobie Brothers/diana@dbaronmedia.com/ 310 315 5444
Michael Coats for Bruce Cohn/michael@coatspr.com /(707) 935-6203

Doobie Brothers drummer Michael Hossack passed away yesterday in Dubois, Wyoming, at the age of 65. His family was by his side. Our thoughts and condolences go out to his family and loved ones. We will miss him greatly.

Statements from the band and management:

“Mike was a one-of-a kind guy and a long-time member of the Doobie Brothers. He was a fighter and fought the big battle with cancer and he was a close personal friend of mine and I speak for Mike’s family and the entire band when I say he will be greatly missed.”
-Bruce Cohn (Manager)

“Mike has always been a part of my musical life and the life of the Doobie Brothers; from our earliest singles, like ‘China Grove’ and ‘Blackwater’ to our most recent single ‘Brighter Day. He was an incredible musician, a studio quality drummer. The last few years, he was brave and determined to keep on playing in the face of ill health, and I will always admire him for that. He was a terrific dad and family man, and we will all miss him.”
-Tom Johnston (Vocals/Guitars)

“When my kids were little, they used to call him ‘Big Mike,’ because to them he was such a big guy.  But to me and those who knew him, he had an even a bigger heart.  We were friends for 43 years and we shared some wonderful adventures together, times I will never forget. Thanks for all those wonderful memories Mike, and all the great music. We love you.”
-Patrick Simmons (Vocals/Guitars)