Tennessee Two

Verified Timeline

Lore & Background

The formation of this specific pairing began in Memphis, where Roy Cash Sr. introduced his brother Johnny to Marshall Grant, A.W. 'Red' Kernodle, and Luther Perkins in 1954. The four men would gather at Perkins' or Grant's homes to play, with Grant moving to upright bass, Kernodle to steel guitar, and Perkins purchasing a Fender Esquire electric guitar. It was Perkins' performance style on the Fender that created the famous 'boom-chicka-boom' rhythm. When they auditioned for Sam Phillips in 1955, Kernodle left the session, leaving Grant and Perkins to back Cash as the 'Tennessee Two.' This lineup persisted through their time at Sun Records until 1960, when W.S. Holland joined on drums. Although Holland had collaborated with Cash earlier in the 1950s, his official inclusion marked the end of the 'Two' era, though they briefly reverted to the name for instrumental releases recorded prior to his joining.

In Their Own Story

In August 1968, the era of the original lineup ended when Luther Perkins died from injuries sustained in a house fire after reportedly falling asleep with a lit cigarette. Bob Wootton filled in as guitarist at a performance the following month and continued with the band for decades. The group's history includes a unique detour in 1975 when Columbia Records sought to update Cash's sound, resulting in the album 'John R. Cash' recorded with new session musicians; this remains the only major recording of that era on which no member of the Tennessee Three participated. Following this experiment, the next album, 'Look at Them Beans,' reinstated the core group and their signature sound. The 'Tennessee Two' identity was formally retired in 1980 when Marshall Grant left to manage the Statler Brothers, leading Cash to discontinue the name due to legal disputes.

Reader's Guide

Listeners seeking the authentic 'Tennessee Two' experience should focus on recordings from 1954 through 1960, specifically the two instrumental singles released in 1961 that were recorded in 1959. These tracks capture the unique interplay between Marshall Grant's upright bass and Luther Perkins' electric guitar without the addition of W.S. Holland's drums. The sound is defined by the steady, simple rhythm created by Perkins' Fender Esquire style, which became known as 'freight train' or 'boom-chicka-boom.' While later configurations included Carl Perkins on rhythm guitar in 1968 and various other musicians through the decades, the core contribution of Grant and Perkins established the sonic foundation for all subsequent Johnny Cash recordings.

Did You Know?

• The name 'Tennessee Two' was suggested by Sun Records owner Sam Phillips after A.W. 'Red' Kernodle left the 1955 audition.
• In 1961, Columbia released two instrumental singles recorded in 1959 credited to 'The Tennessee Two,' even though W.S. Holland had joined the group in 1960.
• Luther Perkins died in August 1968 after falling asleep with a lit cigarette, leading to Bob Wootton joining the band.
• The 1975 album 'John R. Cash' is the only major recording of that era featuring no members of the backing group.
• Marshall Grant left the band in 1980, causing Johnny Cash to discontinue using the name 'The Tennessee Three' due to legal reasons.