Marshall Grant
May 1928 – August 6, 2011
Marshall Grant is perhaps best remembered as the bassist and back-up singer for Johnny Cash’s legendary Tennessee Two and later, the Tennessee Three when a drummer was added. Born in North Carolina, Grant eventually landed in Memphis, Tennessee where he found work as an auto mechanic. He was soon introduced to Cash by his older brother, Roy Cash, Sr., who was working for an automobile company at the time. Grant, Cash, Luther Perkins, and Red Kernodle began jamming together on guitar, and when they decided to add bass to the mix, Grant taught himself how to play the instrument. The year was 1954, and Grant went on to play with Cash until 1980, helping change country music forever with their “boom-chicka-boom” sound. He played on countless Cash recordings and was by his side for the legendary San Quentin and Folsom Prison gigs. In 1980, Grant was fired by Cash during his much documented drug-riddled period, leading to bitter lawsuits which were eventually settled out of court. Grant and Cash later reconciled their friendship and were reunited on stage in 1999. Away from Cash, Grant can be heard on recordings by the likes of June Carter, Waylon Jennings, the Highwaymen, and Bob Dylan. He also served as Cash’s manager as well as that of the Statler Brothers in later years. In 2006, Grant released his memoirs, I Was There When it Happened: My Life With Johnny Cash. He also became a respected power boat owner and racer. Marshall Grant was 83 when he passed away on August 6, 2011.
Thanks to Harold Lepidus of the Bob Dylan Examiner for the assist
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