Marshall Grant
Encyclopedia
Marshall Garnett Grant was the upright bassist and electric bassist of singer Johnny Cash
's original backing duo, the Tennessee Two, in which Grant and electric guitarist
Luther Perkins
played. The group became known as The Tennessee Three in 1960, with the addition of drummer W. S. Holland
. Grant also served as road manager for Cash and his touring show company.
. He was one of twelve children born of Willie Leander (1888–1968) and Mary Elizabeth (Simmonds) Grant. His siblings are Wade (1910–1985), Olson (1912–1993), Burlas (1914–1915), Vernal (1916–1971), Eulean (b:1918), Hershall (b:1921), Doris (1923–2006), Odell (b:1925), Ed (b:1931), Norma Jean (b:1935) and Aubrey Grant (b:1937).
Grant married Etta May Dickerson on November 9, 1946. They had one son, Randall.
Grant and his wife settled in Memphis, Tennessee
in 1947. Grant worked as an mechanic; first for Wagner Brake Service, then C.M. Booth Motor Company, and later, Automobile Sales Company in Memphis. It was during this time that he met fellow Automobile Sales employees Luther Perkins and Roy Cash, Sr., older brother of Johnny Cash. When the younger Cash returned to Memphis after serving in the U.S. Air Force, Grant, Perkins and Cash began playing together as three rhythm guitar
ists, along with another Automobile Sales co-worker and steel guitar player, A.W. "Red" Kernodle. Grant was a self-taught musician, and learned to play the bass after the group collectively decided that Grant should switch to playing bass, and that Perkins would play lead guitar.
Grant was an important part of the trademark 'boom-chicka-boom' sound of Johnny Cash that would change the sound of country music. He recorded with Cash from 1954 until 1980. Grant also voluntarily took on the responsibilities of road manager for Cash's touring show. During his career with Cash, Grant played Epiphone
upright basses and electric basses by Fender
, Epiphone
and Micro-Frets. On the album cover for Johnny Cash At San Quentin, Grant's Epiphone Newport bass is famously featured in the foreground. In the early 1970s, he endorsed Micro-Frets instruments and Sunn
amplifiers.
In 1980, Grant filed suit against Cash for wrongful dismissal and for embezzlement
of retirement funds. A lawsuit against Cash for slander was also considered. In coincidental action, Luther Perkins' daughters from his first marriage filed suit against Cash for embezzlement of retirement funds. Both lawsuits were eventually settled out-of-court.
Despite the bitter legal battles, the two men later reconciled. Grant contends that he was probably Cash's closest and most trusted friend; indeed, he played a critical role in helping Cash along when Cash's drug problems threatened his career and his life. Grant made a final appearance onstage with Cash in 1999 as an original member of The Tennessee Two.
until their retirement in 2002. He last lived in Hernando, Mississippi
, with his wife.
Grant's autobiograpical book I Was There When It Happened: My Life With Johnny Cash was published in October, 2006. It is a behind-the-scenes story of their beginnings and rise to fame.
He "laid down [his] bass for the last time" at the Brooks Museum in Memphis, Tennessee, in August, 2010.
Luther Perkins and Marshall Grant, as The Tennessee Two, were inducted into the Musicians Hall of Fame.
in the 2005 film, Walk the Line
attending a festival to restore the childhood home of Johnny Cash
.
Johnny Cash
John R. "Johnny" Cash was an American singer-songwriter, actor, and author, who has been called one of the most influential musicians of the 20th century...
's original backing duo, the Tennessee Two, in which Grant and electric guitarist
Electric Guitarist
-Personnel:*John McLaughlin – guitar, producer *Dennis McKay – co-producerTrack 1*Billy Cobham – drums*Stu Goldberg – Minimoog, electric piano, organ*Jerry Goodman - Violin*Fernando Saunders – bass guitarTrack 2*Carlos Santana – guitar...
Luther Perkins
Luther Perkins
Luther Monroe Perkins was an American country music guitarist and a member of the Tennessee Three, the backup band for singer Johnny Cash. Perkins was an iconic figure in what would become known as rockabilly music...
played. The group became known as The Tennessee Three in 1960, with the addition of drummer W. S. Holland
W. S. Holland
W. S. "Fluke" Holland is a drummer who worked extensively with numerous rock and roll musicians, beginning with Carl Perkins, but became well known as the drummer in singer Johnny Cash's succession of backing bands: The Tennessee Three, The Great Eighties Eight, and The Johnny Cash Show Band...
. Grant also served as road manager for Cash and his touring show company.
Early life
Grant was raised in Bessemer City, North CarolinaBessemer City, North Carolina
Bessemer City is a small suburban city in Gaston County, North Carolina, United States. The population was 5,592 at the 2010 census. The city is approximately 6 miles northwest of Gastonia and 25 miles west of Charlotte...
. He was one of twelve children born of Willie Leander (1888–1968) and Mary Elizabeth (Simmonds) Grant. His siblings are Wade (1910–1985), Olson (1912–1993), Burlas (1914–1915), Vernal (1916–1971), Eulean (b:1918), Hershall (b:1921), Doris (1923–2006), Odell (b:1925), Ed (b:1931), Norma Jean (b:1935) and Aubrey Grant (b:1937).
Grant married Etta May Dickerson on November 9, 1946. They had one son, Randall.
Grant and his wife settled in Memphis, Tennessee
Memphis, Tennessee
Memphis is a city in the southwestern corner of the U.S. state of Tennessee, and the county seat of Shelby County. The city is located on the 4th Chickasaw Bluff, south of the confluence of the Wolf and Mississippi rivers....
in 1947. Grant worked as an mechanic; first for Wagner Brake Service, then C.M. Booth Motor Company, and later, Automobile Sales Company in Memphis. It was during this time that he met fellow Automobile Sales employees Luther Perkins and Roy Cash, Sr., older brother of Johnny Cash. When the younger Cash returned to Memphis after serving in the U.S. Air Force, Grant, Perkins and Cash began playing together as three rhythm guitar
Rhythm guitar
Rhythm guitar is a technique and rôle that performs a combination of two functions: to provide all or part of the rhythmic pulse in conjunction with singers or other instruments; and to provide all or part of the harmony, ie. the chords, where a chord is a group of notes played together...
ists, along with another Automobile Sales co-worker and steel guitar player, A.W. "Red" Kernodle. Grant was a self-taught musician, and learned to play the bass after the group collectively decided that Grant should switch to playing bass, and that Perkins would play lead guitar.
Grant was an important part of the trademark 'boom-chicka-boom' sound of Johnny Cash that would change the sound of country music. He recorded with Cash from 1954 until 1980. Grant also voluntarily took on the responsibilities of road manager for Cash's touring show. During his career with Cash, Grant played Epiphone
Epiphone
The Epiphone Company is a musical instrument manufacturer founded in 1873 by Anastasios Stathopoulos. Epiphone was bought by Chicago Musical Instrument Company, which also owned Gibson Guitar Corporation, in 1957. Epiphone was Gibson's main rival in the archtop market...
upright basses and electric basses by Fender
Fender
Fender Musical Instruments Corporation, commonly referred to as simply Fender, of Scottsdale, Arizona is a manufacturer of stringed instruments and amplifiers, such as solid-body electric guitars, including the Stratocaster and the Telecaster...
, Epiphone
Epiphone
The Epiphone Company is a musical instrument manufacturer founded in 1873 by Anastasios Stathopoulos. Epiphone was bought by Chicago Musical Instrument Company, which also owned Gibson Guitar Corporation, in 1957. Epiphone was Gibson's main rival in the archtop market...
and Micro-Frets. On the album cover for Johnny Cash At San Quentin, Grant's Epiphone Newport bass is famously featured in the foreground. In the early 1970s, he endorsed Micro-Frets instruments and Sunn
Sunn
Sunn Amplifiers, are a brand of musical instrument amplifiers.- History :In early 1963, the Kingsmen, a band based in the U.S. state of Oregon, became known for the song "Louie, Louie". After its hit single, the band soon embarked on a fifty-state national tour...
amplifiers.
Legal troubles with Cash
Cash's recurring drug problems eventually led to issues that resulted in Grant being fired by Cash. It was at this time that Grant discovered that Cash had embezzled retirement funds set aside for Grant and the late Luther Perkins.In 1980, Grant filed suit against Cash for wrongful dismissal and for embezzlement
Embezzlement
Embezzlement is the act of dishonestly appropriating or secreting assets by one or more individuals to whom such assets have been entrusted....
of retirement funds. A lawsuit against Cash for slander was also considered. In coincidental action, Luther Perkins' daughters from his first marriage filed suit against Cash for embezzlement of retirement funds. Both lawsuits were eventually settled out-of-court.
Despite the bitter legal battles, the two men later reconciled. Grant contends that he was probably Cash's closest and most trusted friend; indeed, he played a critical role in helping Cash along when Cash's drug problems threatened his career and his life. Grant made a final appearance onstage with Cash in 1999 as an original member of The Tennessee Two.
Later career
Following his career with Cash, Grant managed the Statler BrothersStatler Brothers
The Statler Brothers were an American country music vocal group founded in 1955 in Staunton, Virginia.Originally performing gospel music at local churches, the group billed themselves as The Four Star Quartet, and later The Kingsmen...
until their retirement in 2002. He last lived in Hernando, Mississippi
Hernando, Mississippi
Hernando is a city in central DeSoto County, Mississippi. The population was 6,812 at the 2000 census. The 2006 census estimate reflects a population of 10,580. Hernando is the county seat of DeSoto County, the second-most-populous county in the Memphis metropolitan area. US Hwy 51 and the I-55...
, with his wife.
Grant's autobiograpical book I Was There When It Happened: My Life With Johnny Cash was published in October, 2006. It is a behind-the-scenes story of their beginnings and rise to fame.
He "laid down [his] bass for the last time" at the Brooks Museum in Memphis, Tennessee, in August, 2010.
Luther Perkins and Marshall Grant, as The Tennessee Two, were inducted into the Musicians Hall of Fame.
Powerboat Racing
For many years, Grant owned and raced outboard powerboats. His teams included notable drivers such as Dick Pond, Charlie Bailey and Billy Seebold. Often, members of the Johnny Cash band would work in Grant's pit crews.Walk The Line
Marshall Grant is played by Larry BagbyLarry Bagby
Larry Bagby is an American actor and a musician.Bagby was born Lawrence Bagby III in Marysville, California. His father was a member of a dance band. Bagby's most notable roles include:...
in the 2005 film, Walk the Line
Walk the Line
Walk the Line is a 2005 American biographical drama film directed by James Mangold and based on the early life and career of country music artist Johnny Cash...
Death
Marshall Grant died at the age of 83 on August 7, 2011 while in Jonesboro, ArkansasJonesboro, Arkansas
Jonesboro is a city in and one of the two county seats of Craighead County, Arkansas, United States. According to the 2010 US Census, the population of the city was 67,263. A college town, Jonesboro is the largest city in northeastern Arkansas and the fifth most populous city in the state...
attending a festival to restore the childhood home of Johnny Cash
Johnny Cash
John R. "Johnny" Cash was an American singer-songwriter, actor, and author, who has been called one of the most influential musicians of the 20th century...
.