John Marshall Echols (/ˈɛkəlz/; born February 21, 1947) is an American songwriter and guitarist, who was a co-founder and the lead guitar player of the psychedelic rock band Love.

[1][2] Echols and Lee both attended Dorsey High School, and decided to form a band.

[1] Echols contributed as lead guitarist and writer to Love's first three albums: Love, on which he is credited as co-writer of three songs; Da Capo, credited as co-writer of the side-long improvised track "Revelation" and Forever Changes, often cited as one of the greatest rock albums of its time.

[4] Forever Changes comprised songs written by Lee and by fellow band member Bryan MacLean.

[5] Echols moved to New York City, where he gave up drugs, worked as a studio musician with Miles Davis and others,[6] and taught guitar.