Johnny Echols

Johnny Echols was born in Memphis, Tennessee. He moved with his family to Los Angeles, California in the late 1950s, and re-established a childhood friendship with Arthur Lee, who had also moved to the city from Memphis a few years earlier; their respective families were friends. Echols began playing guitar as a child, and in his teens played in bands with Billy Preston, Marilyn McCoo, Clarence McDonald and others. Echols and Lee both attended Dorsey High School, and decided to form a band together. The band developed into "Arthur Lee and the L.A.G.\'s" (a play on Booker T. and the M.G.\'s) before splitting up. Lee and Echols then formed The American Four, who later changed their name to The Grass Roots before a final name change to Love in 1965. Echols also worked as a studio musician alongside Glen Campbell and others.\n', '

Echols contributed as lead guitarist to Love\'s first t…