The Great Eighties Eight
Encyclopedia
The Great Eighties Eight (Seven after 1981/The Johnny Cash Show Band after 1982) was Johnny Cash
's band during the 1980s. It was formed after longtime bass player Marshall Grant
left the Tennessee Three, and Cash extended his band. The people and number of people changed frequently throughout the 1980s and by 1981 only seven people remained, making the band the Great Eighties Seven. This band was not as popular as the Tennessee Three
, and did not have the fanbase that the original Tennessee Two/Three had enjoyed.
days. As Cash was becoming a household name again with his American Recordings success, the demand for his appearance live was as high as ever. Cash and their Show Band toured all over the world until 1997, when illness forced Cash to retire, and the band to find other jobs. In 1999, when the All-Star Tribute to Johnny Cash was planned and filmed, Cash made a surprise visit appearance singing "Folsom Prison Blues" and "I Walk the Line". Backing him were WS Holland, Bob Wootton, Earl Poole Ball, John Carter Cash and for the first time in 19 years, Marshall Grant on bass. This was the last time Cash appeared at any major event, backed by a full band.
Johnny Cash
John R. "Johnny" Cash was an American singer-songwriter, actor, and author, who has been called one of the most influential musicians of the 20th century...
's band during the 1980s. It was formed after longtime bass player Marshall Grant
Marshall Grant
Marshall Garnett Grant was the upright bassist and electric bassist of singer Johnny Cash's 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...
left the Tennessee Three, and Cash extended his band. The people and number of people changed frequently throughout the 1980s and by 1981 only seven people remained, making the band the Great Eighties Seven. This band was not as popular as the Tennessee Three
Tennessee Three
The Tennessee Three was the backing band for country music and rockabilly singer Johnny Cash for nearly 25 years, until Cash's reorganizing of the group and naming it The Great Eighties Eight in 1980....
, and did not have the fanbase that the original Tennessee Two/Three had enjoyed.
1980s
In March 1980, Marshall Grant the last remaining member of Cash's original band, the Tennessee Two, had a rather unfortunate departure from the Tennessee Three. With him left the name, the Tennessee Three and a void in the band. A new bassist needed to be hired and Cash filled this position with Joe Allen, one of Nashville's best bassists at the time. Another new member was added to the band, a young man named Marty Stuart. The new line-up was now WS Holland, Bob Woottton, Earl Ball, Joe Allen, Marty Stuart, Jerry Hensley, Jack Hale Jr., and Bob Lewin. The band was renamed the Great Eighties Eight. In late 1980-early 1981 (date is unknown), Joe Allen left the Great Eighties Eight and in his place, Cash hired bassists Henry Strezlecki, another well-known session bassist. Strezlecki played bass with Cash until spring 1981 and his bass playing can be heard on the Survivours Live album, which was recorded in April 1981. Sometime in mid spring 1981, a bassists named Chris Powell played bass, but it was for a short time and by late May 1981, Marty Stuart had moved to playing bass in the band. No longer eight member, the bame was changed to the Great Eighties Seven. Stuart played bass for the band well into 1982 when Cash's future son-in-law, Jimmy Tittle was hired to take over the bass playing duties. It was also sometime in 1982 (Spring-Summer) that Jerry Hensley left the band to pursue other interests. The seven piece band was once again re-names, this time to The Johnny Cash Show Band. The line-up of this band remained unchanged for quite some time, until late 1985/early 1986 when Marty Stuart left the band to pursue his solo career, and Jim Soldi was found by Marty to take his place as second guitarist. It was also in early 1986 that Jimmy Tittle left for a short time and Joe Allen was re-hired. At this point in time (early 1987), Cash took his show to Austin, Texas and recorded live at Austin City Limits. The recordings were released in part in 2006 and the band playing was the Show Band of this era. By late 1987/early 1988 Jimmy Tittle had returned to playing the bass. The band remained unchanged until September 1989 when the majority of the band left for one reason or another. Bob Wootton, Jim Soldi, Jimmy Tittle Jack Hale Jr. and Bob Lewin left the Show Band and Cash was forced to find a new lead guitarist and bassist. In September 1989 he hired Kerry Marx and Steve Logan as new lead guitarist and bassist, respectfully.1990s
The new Johnny Cash Show band stayed with Cash until 1992 and can be heard and seen on The Great Lost Performance, and Cash for Kenya-Live in Johnstown. In December 1992, Kerry Marx and Steve Logan both left the Johnny Cash Show Band and Cash re-hired longtime guitarist Bob Wootton, and new timer, Dave Roe to fill in for bassist. This new Show Band, which at time could be up to six member was formed on the dawn of Cash's American Recordings days. David Carter Jones, Cash's nephew would play second guitar off and on from 1993–1995, and his playing can be seen on the Live in Ireland 1993 DVD. John Carter Cash, son of Johnny Cash and June Carter Cash would also play rhythm guitar during the 1990s, but both these men were not permanent members of the Show band. In 1994–95, Earl Poole Ball was away quite a lot, so at time, the band was a three-piece band, bringing back the old Tennessee ThreeTennessee Three
The Tennessee Three was the backing band for country music and rockabilly singer Johnny Cash for nearly 25 years, until Cash's reorganizing of the group and naming it The Great Eighties Eight in 1980....
days. As Cash was becoming a household name again with his American Recordings success, the demand for his appearance live was as high as ever. Cash and their Show Band toured all over the world until 1997, when illness forced Cash to retire, and the band to find other jobs. In 1999, when the All-Star Tribute to Johnny Cash was planned and filmed, Cash made a surprise visit appearance singing "Folsom Prison Blues" and "I Walk the Line". Backing him were WS Holland, Bob Wootton, Earl Poole Ball, John Carter Cash and for the first time in 19 years, Marshall Grant on bass. This was the last time Cash appeared at any major event, backed by a full band.
Personnel
The following list illustrates the musicians who were involved with this band at some time, what instrument they played, and how long they were in the band.- WS Holland - drums 1980-97
- Bob Wootton - electric guitar 1980-89 1992-97
- Earl Poole Ball - piano 1980-97
- Marty Stuart - guitar, mandolin, fiddle, bass 1980-85
- Joe Allen - bass 1980-81 1986-87
- Jerry Hensley - guitar 1980-82
- Jack Hale Jr. - trumpet, French horn, harmonica - 1980-89
- Bob Lewin - trumpet, French horn, keyboards - 1980-89
- Henry Strezlecki - bass 1981
- Jim Soldi - guitar 1985-89
- Jimmy Tittle - bass 1982-86 1987-89
- Kerry Marx - guitar 1989-92
- Steve Logan - bass 1989-92
- Dave Roe - bass 1992-97
- John Carter Cash - guitar 1992-97 (part time)
- David Carter Jones - guitar 1993-95 (part time)
- Hugh Wadell - drums May 1989 (while WS Holland was ill)