Marshall Grant

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Marshall Grant
Birth name	Marshall Grant
Born	May 1928
Genre(s)	Country music
Occupation(s)	Bassist
Instrument(s)	Upright bass, Bass Guitar
Associated acts	Johnny Cash and the Tennessee Two
Website	at the Rockabilly Hall of Fame

Marshall Grant (born May 1928) is best known as the bassist of the Tennessee Two, Johnny Cash's backing band, in which he played with Luther Perkins. He also served as road manager and stage manager for Johnny Cash during this time. Before the band was signed by Sun Records he worked as a mechanic in Memphis, Tennessee.

Marshall was raised in Bessemer City, NC. He is one of twelve children born of Willie Leander (1888-1968) and Mary Elizabeth (Simmmonds) Grant. His siblings are Wade (1910-1985), Olson (1912-1993), Burlas (1914-1915), Vernal (1916-1971), Euleen (b:1918), Hershall (b:1921), Doris (1923-2006), Odell (b:1925), Ed (b:1931), Norma Jean (b:1935) and Aubrey Grant (b:1937 now a Reinhardt who resides in Cherryville, N.C).

He was an important part of the boom-chicka-boom sound of Johnny Cash that would change what we know as country music. He recorded with Johnny from 1954-1980. Grant also served as road manager and stage manager of the Johnny Cash Show. Cash's drug problem eventually led to Cash's firing his best friend of all time.

Grant and June Carter Cash were instrumental in saving Johnny Cash from destruction during his first period on drugs. Grant often alludes to stories of June and himself giving an arm and a leg to save Johnny Cash from himself.

Following his career with the Man in Black, he managed the Statler Brothers until their retirement in 2004. Grant lives in Hernando, Mississippi, with his wife, Etta.

Marshall's book I Was There When It Happened: My Life With Johnny Cash was released in October 2006. It is the tale of their beginning and rise to fame by one who was there.

Marshall Grant is played by Larry Bagby in the 2005 film Walk the Line.