Customer Reviews

I Was There When It Happened: My Life with Johnny Cash

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1 star:		(2)

 

 

Marshall Grant, despite what others might believe, would know more about J.R. Cash and Johnny Cash than others who have managed to pick the bones of the legendary singer over the last few years. Unlike others who seem to want to make the man greater than his legacy, Marshall Grant opens that dangerous door of letting the reader know exactly what kind of performer Cash was while never ignoring his all too human dark side - which was darker than some might want to hear about. Grant forces readers to face the fact (in a very untabloid-ish manner that grabs your attention and demands your respect) that while Johnny Cash only seemed like someone who redeemed himself to achieve the god-like status he has been cloaked in, he was way more flawed and damaged a person than most people might imagine...He had some very nasty demons who chased him nearly all of his life and who made themselves known in horrible ways - including Cash's unfair firing of Grant in 1980, the unfair rumors of Grant's departure which evolved into a major lawsuit, the enormous amount of money withheld from both Grant and Luther Perkins estate, Cash's questionable financial habits, the fallout from his numerous "no-shows," his demanding nature to act above everything and everyone around him at times, his constant battle of never completely ridding himself of pills again and again, and his many indulgences that were as destructive to the people around him as they were to the singer himself. Grant also balances out his portrait of John Cash by offering many recollections of the many acts of generosity and his uncanny identification with those far less fortunate than him. Above all, Marshall Grant finally gives the late Luther Perkins the enomrous credit so many others might trivialize. If you want to hear the truth from someone who was closer to Cash than anyone except June Carter than Marshall Grant's book (endorsed by Cash's daughter Roseanne) is certainly well worth reading.

Despite what die hards may think, I found that Marshall's tale was told in a balanced and moderate way, never lacking in compassion. None of us know the cause for addiction and certainly cannot claim to know the cure; but one of the hallmarks of the "dis-ease" is denial and in reading Cash's self penned book it seems that he seemed to be floating above the truth some of the time.As part of the viewing public we see the illusion that is embodied by these charismatic superstars and we get shaken when we feel someone has revealed too much of the human side of our idols. Marshall points out that Cash was the ultimate humanitarian, generous to a fault and always sympathetic to the underdog. When we are riveted to Cash and cannot take our eyes and ears away from him when he is performing, it is because he is all there in his human wretched glory- able to convey the poignancy pf life in every syllable. Marshall never slams and blames Cash, just explained life as it was for those surrounding Cash. There is a great deal of industry insider info, and lets not forget that while Johnny Cash was the headliner and the lead, Marshall was an artist as well, performing and sharing of himself on and off stage. I enjoyed the panorama of the story and I appreciate that Marshall has penned this book.

What a neat book. I loved all the humorous pranks that those wandering troubadors did to amuse themselves on the road. Priceless stories. The book is loaded with information. It's all here, both good and bad. I couldn't put it down. Sat up until 4:30am reading the sucker. But I must say, the last 50 pages or so, I couldn't stop crying. Tears streamed down my face with every line. I cried like a baby. I deeply felt the pain that both Marshall and John went through, and this book really stirred my soul. Marshall's stories are all so touching. I loved the ones about John pulling that little cannon through the hotel lobby; setting up and tearing down that makeshift bedroom in the elevator lobby just to confuse the bellboy; and one of the funniest stories I have ever heard in my life -- John's hijacking of an army tank for a midnight joyride on a military base in Korea (or was it Germany?), and poking its long gun barrel through barrack windows. The photos are great, and from Marshall's own scrapbook. Too bad he didn't include one of that little cannon, as I would love to see what it looked like. The darker stories were also well told: Glen Shirley, the hardened criminal that John worked diligently to have released from Folsom Prison. But Shirley was just that: a hardened criminal, and John eventually learned that the hard way. Very sad story. Marshall tells it like it was -- everything about Cash -- his countless givings of generosity to everybody he could help (even strangers, people he didn't know). And he also gives a grisly insight into John's dark side -- things that are disturbing to any Johnny Cash fan -- trashing of hotel rooms (and even Marshall's house), really for no apparent reason, and his addiction to barbituates throughout his entire adult life. His self-destructing ways and how that affected everyone around him. I am the same age as Cash, and have been a huge fan since the beginning. Actually, I lie awake nights worrying if there's a Johnny Cash DVD or CD "out there" that I don't have. However, I do find it difficult to comprehend John's physical brutality against June, as Marshall describes it, especially since everything I have ever read about them indicate they were totally devoted to each other and a very loving couple. I have also recently read a book by Peggy Knight (a must read), who was their cook and personal companion for 33 years. And she describes them as a loving couple who adored each other (which I do believe). Anyway, I absolutely loved the book. And after staying up till 4:30am reading it, I re-read it the following morning, since I couldn't sleep until I did. Bravo to you, Marshall. You have written a marvelous testament on the Man in Black. And thank you for not sugar-coating anything and being so honest. After all, you were there when it happened, and so I guess you ought to know.

I have been a fan of Johnny Cash and his groups since "Hey Porter" and "Cry, Cry, Cry". And, I've read many articles over the years in various magazines, newspaper columns and Mr. Cash's autobiography, "The Man In Black". Autobiographies are, by their very nature, usually, self-serving. I've had the privilege of having conversations with Bob Wootton, Marty Stuart and W.S. "Fluke" Holland while enjoying alcohol libations with them.
But, their conversations were, understandably, guarded, not wanting to talk out of school, concerning their boss and friend.
So, it was fascinating to read Mr. Grant's account of the career of
one of American Music's greatest and most influential singers and his unique band. It appears Mr. Cash's career and, possibly, his life would have been much shorter, if not for Mr. Grant's handling of his daily business affairs and the never-ending problem of keeping the star lucid enough to perform, show up and maintain a career. An intriguing book which fills in a lot of blanks between publicity and the truth.
One does not have to be a Country Music fan to enjoy this book. It would appeal to history buffs who are interested in a chronicle of world history. This book covers almost fifty years of the lives of people who made and witnessed the phenomenon of a music revolution, which affected many rock 'n' rollers, folkies and pop singers who followed in their paths.

The book by Marshall Grant is excellent. Marshall was a member of Johnny Cash's musical family from the early 1950's until the early 1980's, and then repaired his broken relationship with Johnny at the end of his life. The book is sad in may ways but I feel that it fills in a lot of blanks that were previously missing in the Johnny Cash story. As someone who has ready the previous Johnny Cash books, I was glad that someone who was actually a part of things finally wrote one. The title says it all.

Country music readers who can't get enough about Johnny Cash despite the many books and autobiographies on the market will relish I Was There When It Happened: My Life With Johnny Cash. Here's a focus that delves deeper than the usual Cash coverage, examining his life with a special focus on the evolution of and influences upon his musical style. Accompanying this focus is a survey of those who helped him attain success along the way, from fellow musicians to those who recorded his works. From Grant's initial introduction to Cash to his tenure as Cash's long-time bassist, this is insider writing at its best.

A fine book about a great performer who was lucky to live as long as he did. Marshall Grant was Johnny Cash's longtime bassist and founding member of the Tennessee Two (later Three).
Here he catalogues Cash's rise to fame, the drug horror he went through and which he forced band members and the long suffering June Carter to endure.
The book is a littly syrupy at times, but Grant's affection for Cash was able to survive some dreadful behavior by The Man in Black including theft, thrashing his (Grant's) home, apparently unfair firing and slanderous comments about the author.
Cash's drug taking was far greater than the public was aware of and based on this book, it definitely impacted his creative capabilities.
Cash and the author had a major falling-out in the 1980's followed by a long drawn out legal squabble. It is to the credit of both men that they reconciled and became fast friends before Cash passed away.
This book has numerous great anecdotes, including an interesting story about a self-doubting! Muhammad Ali before his second fight with Leon (Not Michael as referenced in the book) Spinks. But the most memorable message to come from this book is the horrors of drug abuse and the terrible self destructive tendencies it generated in Johnny Cash. I hope he has more peace in the afterworld than he had here on earth.
Buy this book for a good read, but also encourage your teenage kids to read it.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. The account of the Sun Records era and the origin of the Johnny Cash sound was well written and, despite what other reviewers have stated, consistent with other written accounts.

Johnny Cash's drug use during the 1960s was well documented. There is no question in my mind that Marshall Grant, June Carter, and Vivian Cash all loved Cash and wanted to free him from the drug demons that threatened to destroy him.

For most of the 1960s, the drug use transcended Cash's recording and performing career. Cash cleaned up his life (with, apparently, a few relapses), and his career underwent a resurgence. Sadly, in the early 1980's the drugs seemed to re-emerge as an issue and strain a lot of key relationships in his life. Marshall Grant was one of the casualties of that era.

To his credit, Grant chose not to write a tell-all book as retribution while Cash was alive. It was also good to hear that Cash and Grant were able to reconcile and resume their friendship in the end.

I did not consider the book self-serving, as other reviewers have stated. It seemed to me to be a series of anecdotes from a friend. It was an easy read and I would recommend it highly as a biography of Cash.

For all Cash fans. We forget that we all have human faults when someone dies. Grant has exposed Johnny's demons that exist in all of us. This, in no way, makes Cash less a great human being but shows the world and Johnny's fans that he had many of the same weaknesses we all do. You will not regreat reading. I attended a show in 1964 when Cash did not appear and Tex Ritter played for over an hour vs. his 20 minute set and then announced that Cash was "ill" and would not be appearing. Johnny came back a month later and our original tickets were honored for a second show that was terrific!

An honest appraisal of Johnny Cash's career from its inception from a man who shared the stage, the road and a friendship with him. As a dedicated fan, the intelligent insights from Marshall are really appreciated.