Marshall Grant

Marshall Grant is an American upright and occasional electric bassist. He played in Johnny Cash's backing band and for June on some of her albums. He also served as the road 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.

Biography
Marshall was raised in Bessemer City, NC. He is one of twelve children born to 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 country music. He recorded with Johnny from 1954 to 1980. Cash's drug problem eventually led to Cash 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 beginnings and rise to fame from an inside view.

Marshall Grant was played by Larry Bagby in the 2005 movie Walk the Line.