Marshall Grant

Bassist and road manager for Johnny Cash from 1954 to 1979, co-founder of the Tennessee Two, and author of 'I Was There When It Happened.'

Marshall Garnett Grant (May 5, 1928 – August 7, 2011) was the upright and electric bassist for Johnny Cash's original backing duo, the Tennessee Two, alongside guitarist Luther Perkins. The group became known as the Tennessee Three in 1960 with the addition of drummer W. S. Holland. Raised in Lattimore, North Carolina, Grant was one of eleven children born to Willie Leander and Mary Elizabeth (Simmonds) Grant. He married Etta May Dickerson on November 8, 1946; they had two sons, Randy and Gary, and settled in Memphis, Tennessee, in 1947. Working as a mechanic at Automobile Sales Company, Grant met Luther Perkins and Roy Cash Jr. When Johnny Cash returned from the U.S. Air Force, the group began playing together with steel guitar player A.W. "Red" Kernodle. The group collectively decided Grant should switch to bass while Perkins played lead; Grant was self-taught on the instrument. He recorded with Cash from 1954 until 1979, creating the trademark 'boom-chicka-boom' sound.

Quick Facts

Birth name

Marshall Garnett Grant

Born

5 May 1928

Birthplace

Bryson City, North Carolina, U.S.

Died

7 August 2011

Place of death

Jonesboro, Arkansas, U.S.

Instrument

Double bass
bass guitar
guitar

Occupation

Bassist

Genre

Country
rock and roll
rockabilly

Lore & Background

Grant's career was defined by a complex mix of deep loyalty and eventual legal confrontation. He recorded with Cash from 1954 until 1979, serving as road manager for the touring show company while playing Epiphone upright basses and electric basses by Fender, Epiphone, and Micro-Frets. In the early 1970s, he briefly endorsed Micro-Frets instruments and Sunn amplifiers. Luther Perkins' guitar is famously featured in the foreground of the iconic photo on the album cover for 'Johnny Cash At San Quentin.' However, Cash's recurring drug problems led to issues resulting in Grant being fired. During this time, Grant discovered that Cash had embezzled retirement funds set aside for both Grant and Luther Perkins. In 1980, Grant filed suit against Cash for wrongful dismissal and embezzlement of these funds; a lawsuit for slander was also considered. Coincidentally, Luther Perkins' daughters from his first marriage filed suit against Cash for the same embezzlement. Both lawsuits were eventually settled out-of-court. Despite the bitter legal battles, the two men later reconciled. Grant contended that he was probably Cash's closest and most trusted friend, playing a critical role in helping Cash when drug problems threatened his career and life. Grant made a final appearance onstage with Cash in 1999 as an original member of the Tennessee Two.

Reader's Guide

For fans seeking to understand Marshall Grant's legacy, his autobiography 'I Was There When It Happened: My Life With Johnny Cash' offers a direct account. Published in October 2006, it details their beginnings and rise to fame from the perspective of someone who was there from the start. Following his career with Cash, Grant managed the Statler Brothers until their retirement in 2002. He last lived in Hernando, Mississippi, with his wife Etta. His dedication to music continued even after leaving Cash; he "laid down [his] bass for the last time" at the Brooks Museum in Memphis, Tennessee, in August 2010. In a touching tribute years later, Rosanne Cash included "Etta's Tune" on her 2014 album 'The River and the Thread,' dedicated to Grant and his wife. His life ended on August 7, 2011, at age 83 in Jonesboro, Arkansas, while attending a festival to restore Johnny Cash's childhood home. For those interested in visual depictions, he was played by Larry Bagby in the 2005 film 'Walk the Line.' His siblings included Wade, Olson, Burlas, Vernal, Eulean, Hershel, Doris, Odell, Ed, Norma Jean, and Aubrey Grant.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who was Marshall Grant?

Marshall Garnett Grant was a foundational musician who played bass for Johnny Cash's early group known as the Tennessee Two. Beyond playing music, he also handled road management duties for over twenty-five years.

What instruments did he play in the band?

Grant played both the upright acoustic bass and electric bass instruments throughout his career with Cash. His rhythmic foundation was essential to the evolving sound of the Tennessee Three.

How long did Marshall Grant tour with Johnny Cash?

He toured and recorded with the singer continuously from 1954 until his departure in 1980. This long tenure made him one of the most consistent members of Cash’s musical family.