the Tennessee Two
What organization or association or team did Marshall Grant join in 1954?
Marshall Grant Marshall Garnett Grant ( May 5 , 1928 – August 7 , 2011 ) was the upright bassist and electric bassist of singer Johnny Cashs 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 . Early life . Grant was raised in Bessemer City , North Carolina . He was one of twelve children born of Willie Leander ( 1888–1968 ) and Mary Elizabeth ( Simmonds ) Grant ( 1895–1965 ) . His siblings are Wade ( 1910–1985 ) , Olson ( 1912–1993 ) , Burlas ( 1914–1915 ) , Vernal ( 1916–1971 ) , Eulean ( 1918–2012 ) , Hershel ( 1921–2014 ) , Doris ( 1923–2006 ) , Odell ( 1925–2011 ) , Ed ( 1931–2012 ) , Norma Jean ( b . 1935 ) and Aubrey Grant ( b . 1937 ) . Grant married Etta May Dickerson on November 9 , 1946 . They had one son , Randy . Grant and his wife settled in Memphis , Tennessee in 1947 . Grant worked as a 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 guitarists , along with another Automobile Sales co-worker and steel guitar player , A.W . Red Kernodle . Grant was a self-taught musician , learning to play the bass after the group collectively decided that Grant should switch to playing bass , and that Perkins would play lead guitar . During the formation of this group , Cash used Grants Martin guitar for performances , and for many years thereafter , for songwriting . 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 Cashs 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 , Grants Epiphone Newport bass is famously featured in the foreground of the iconic photo by Jim Marshall . In the early 1970s , he briefly endorsed Micro-Frets instruments and Sunn amplifiers . Legal troubles with Cash . Cashs 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 Luther Perkins . 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 Cashs closest and most trusted friend ; indeed , he played a critical role in helping Cash along when Cashs 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 Brothers until their retirement in 2002 . He last lived in Hernando , Mississippi , with his wife . Grants autobiographical 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 . Ettas Tune included on Rosanne Cashs 2014 album , The River and the Thread , is dedicated to Grant and his wife . 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 Grants pit crews . Grants distinctive boats were most appropriately given such names as Ring of Fire and A Boat Named Sue among others of his personal musical references . Walk The Line . Marshall Grant is played by Larry Bagby in the 2005 film , Walk the Line Death . Marshall Grant died at the age of 83 on August 7 , 2011 while in Jonesboro , Arkansas attending a festival to restore the childhood home of Johnny Cash .