Died On This Date (April 12, 2012) Andrew Love / The Memphis Horns
themusicsover Andrew Love
November 21, 1941 – April 12, 2012
Andrew Love was a tenor saxophone player, who along with Wayne Jackson on trumpet, made an indelible mark on popular music as the Memphis Horns . They have been called the greatest horn section soul music has ever known and played on virtually every Stax record that required a horn section. Their signature sound can be heard on iconic Stax recordings from the likes of Isaac Hayes, Sam and Dave, and Otis Redding, to name a few. If that weren’t enough, they can also be heard on Neil Diamond’s “Sweet Caroline,” Dusty Springfield’s “Son Of A Preacher Man,” and Elvis Presley’s “Suspicious Minds.” They were also featured in U2’s film, Rattle And Hum. Throughout their career, Love and Jackson played on more than 80 gold and platinum albums and upwards of 50 Number One singles. In February of 2012, the Memphis Horns were awarded the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award. Andrew Love was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s Disease in 2002 and ultimate died from it on April 12, 2012. He was 70 years old.
Ritchie Teeter was a rock drummer who made is mark playing behind the Dictators during some of the band’s glory years. With a sound and vibe that was not that far removed from the Ramones, MC5, the Stooges, or the New York Dolls, the Dictators built a dedicated following that remains loyal to this day. Teeter joined the band following the release of their first album, Go Girl Crazy, and can be heard playing on 1977’s Manifest Destiny and 1978’s Bloodbrothers. Both are considered essential for any respectable early New York punk collection. Teeter went on to play in Twisted Sister in late 1980/early 1981, but never appeared on any of their albums. He did participate in later Dictator reunion shows, though not much is known about his more recent life. It appears that Teeter retired from the business some time ago, or he at least kept a very low profile. Ritchie Teeter was 61 when he died of esophageal cancer on April 10, 2012.
Scott Riccuiti was a respected Boston, Massachusetts area singer-songwriter and guitarist who had been entertaining folks throughout the area going back to at least the mid ’80s. As a member of Childhood, Riccuiti successfully competed in Boston battle-of-the-bands, culminating in their victory in radio juggernaut, WBCN’s Rock ‘n Roll Rumble in 1987. That lead to respectable video play on MTV for the band. Childhood ultimately disbanded in 1993. Other groups in which Riccuiti played included Pistol Whipped, A Pony For My Birthday, Huck, and Preacher Roe. And other acts he performed with on stage over the years include Shana Morrison and 
Vince Lovegrove was a famous Australian artist manager, television producer, journalist, and one-time pop star himself. As a singer, Lovegrove performed with several Perth bands during the early ’60s. In 1966, he founded the Valentines in which he sang co-lead with future AC/DC front man, Bon Scott. In fact, it was Lovegrove who ultimately introduced Scott to the other members of AC/DC who of course, went on to become a rock and roll dynasty. The Valentines scored several Australian hits before disbanding in 1970. Lovegrove went on to become a pop music journalist, writing for such magazines as Go-Set and Immedia!. As a manager, Lovegrove, at one point or another, oversaw the careers of AC/DC, Cold Chisel, Jimmy Barnes, and the Divinyls. During the mid ’80s, Lovegrove’s wife, Suzi Sidewinder, was diagnosed with HIV. Prior to this knowledge, Suzi passed the virus along to their then-unborn son, Troy Sidewinder, while he was in her womb. Suzi died of AIDS in 1987, while Troy passed away from it in 1993. Lovegrove forged on as an HIV awareness activist, educating people that the virus was much more than a “gay disease.” He made two very personal and critically acclaimed documentaries on the subject, Suzi’s Story, and A Kid Called Troy. Lovegrove continued writing and performing well into the 2000s. Vince Lovegrove was killed in an automobile accident on March 24, 2012. He was 64.