Memphis Music - make that American Music – has copped a beating in the last couple of weeks. First it was legendary producer, songwriter and session guitarist Chips Moman, who passed away June 13. And then came the very sad news that trumpet player Wayne Jackson of the legendary Memphis Horns had also passed. If you don’t know Wayne Jackson’s name, you certainly know his music – he and partner Andrew Love (who died in 2012) played on a staggering 52 #1 records, and 83 Gold and Platinum records. Their horn lines are some of the most recognizable ever.
In addition to all the hits from Otis Redding, Aretha Franklin, Isaac Hayes and all the stars of Stax, they also played on the likes of "Suspicious Minds" by Elvis Presley and "Son of A Preacher Man" by Dusty Springfield. You'll also hear them on more recent recordings by the likes of U2 ("Angel Of Harlem"), Peter Gabriel (“Sledgehammer") and even Australia’s own You Am I, who had the Memphis Horns guest on their Gold-selling ’97 album #4 Record.
You Am I’s Tim Rogers, who was a massive fan of both the man and his work, has kindly written a few words for us about Wayne…
Wayne Jackson and Andrew Love - the Memphis Horns - played on our #4 Record album which we recorded in Los Angeles in 1997 or 1998.
Our producer George Drakoulias knew them from sessions before, and the ease with which he assured us they would be willing and able to play with our band shocked and excited us to the point where for maybe the first time we edited our own songs to try get them to a shape we thought would be good enough for them to play on. We knew of their legacy and it loomed like a monolith when George asked the three of us to join Andrew and Wayne the morning they landed in from Memphis and Nashville. We had experienced some condescension in the previous few weeks from folks working in and around the studio we were working at (Sound City I believe?) which we’d accepted as ritualistic because either we were Australian or just a bit green, but from the moment we sat in the booths at Swingers, a diner below our hotel, Andrew and Wayne fixed us eye-steady and accepted our questions and compliments in an avuncular and generous fashion. They had genuine style. Both different men in character and delivery, Wayne’s quickfire enthusiasm folded into Andrew’s gentle ease, but when they remembered a story together (usually an answer to a question of ours) they could wax on like a classic comedy duo. Decades of locking harmonies down must do that to a duo. As their generosity became clear, our questions came like kids questioning astronauts. My memory may be askew, but in the car to the studio, Rusty (whose knowledge of anything to do with ANY music leaves mine floundering in the dust) asked in an admirably open way: “So whaddya think your favourite tour was? They turned to each other, nodded heads and said, calmly: “Otis. Europe. ’66.” Holy FUCK! We were in the presence of men who had played with Otis Redding. We knew it, but to hear vocal confirmation and stories associated was like being allowed into a secret coven. In the presence of greats. Monoliths. And they even gave us some dirt on Sting…..
The session with Andrew and Wayne went for only a day if I remember correctly, but it consisted of the barest, most beautiful elements. We listened, took a few notes, then the Memphis Fuggin' Horns went and laid down an original line of trumpet and sax, then a harmony on the same instruments, then Andrew would lean into the mic and in a rich baritone, intone: “Hambone”. It were time for the baritone sax. And while the parts were being built up, it dawned on us then belted us across the face: that’s the sound. We were so far out of our depth, but we wanted to drown slowly. Russ and I went to get some whiskey and beer from a store close by. On return Andrew asked what we were having. Eyeing the whiskey, he said gently “Yeah, I’ll have a little o’ that good coffee”. Wayne took a break and questioned me on my drink of choice, saying “God or Alcohol, same equation to some.” which sounded like words from a man who had seen the good and bad both can do, so I stopped being so flagrant with my little celebration. Wayne had the cheekiest smile you could paint, but it came from somewhere hard fought for, if I can be so presumptuous, and I would only say so after he took me outside and wandered the courtyard just chattin’ about nothing really. About how good he was feeling to be on another session with his friend mostly. So refreshing and heartwarming after a few weeks of studied insouciance from some around us.
A gentleman walked by us selling mobile phones (rare at the time, certainly for us) and Wayne asked if I had some bucks as he wanted to get one for his wife. I had some tourist bucks so hell yeah and gave him some twenties and he bought a phone. “I’ll get them bills back to ya Timmy” he said to which I could only reply: “No damn way Wayne Jackson! You’re giving me a day out to remember forever!”
We went to Hoagly Woagly’s BBQ joint after the session to have a sit down drawwn out meal where between Wayne, Andrew and George the stories were flying. We were in hog heaven. Our favourite memory of the dinner is when Estelle Axton (the co-founder of the Stax Record Label) was mentioned, both Wayne and Andrew would bow their heads slightly and say gently,”Mama…”. George then let on to the table that I was only eating tomatoes and bread (I was a vegetarian at the time), to great amusement. It felt almost good to be regarded as the silly lil’ kid for a while. Wayne and Andrew just held their bemused smiles and continued on with the stories.
The next morning I woke to a rap at the door. I was a little dusty from a long night, but I opened the door slightly to find Wayne, freshly showered and dressed and packed, looking like he was off to Sunday service and a big, chesshire smile handing me a cheque for sixty bucks, the amount I’d lent him. I refused, but he insisted, and gave me a hug and tacked on, ”Get us down to Australia man, even just for a party. We can do THAT too!”
I never cashed the cheque of course and it has pride of place in my house today.
Rest easy and rest well Wayne. Thank you for the most wonderful day.
Love, a bunch of convicts,
Tim Rogers
Here are some of Wayne Jackson and The Memphis Horns' finest moments - from Elvis to Al Green to You Am I:
