The Great Eighties Eight

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.

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 W. S. Holland, Bob Wooten, 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 Survivors Live album, which was recorded in April 1981. Sometime in mid spring 1981, a bassist named Bodie Powell played bass, but later that summer left the road and continued working for the House of Cash Pub. and in the studio. By late May 1981, Marty Stuart had moved to playing bass in the band. No longer eight member, the name 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 renamed, 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 and Jim Elliott on lead guitar. 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 bassist. In September 1989 he hired Kerry Marx and Steve Logan as new bassist, respectively.

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