In 1953, while the younger Cash was stationed in Germany with the US Air Force, Luther Perkins joined the staff there, where he met co-workers Marshall Grant and A.W.

Grant, Kernodle and Perkins began bringing their guitars to work and would play together when repair business was slow.

[1][2] When Johnny Cash moved to Memphis after returning from Germany in 1954, Roy introduced him to Grant, Kernodle, and Perkins.

[3] Perkins' performance style on the Fender resulted in the band's famous steady, simple "boom-chicka-boom" or "freight train" rhythm.

Luther Perkins died from injuries sustained in a house fire in August 1968 after reportedly having fallen asleep with a lit cigarette.

He participated in their landmark February 1969 performance with Cash at San Quentin State Prison, when the singer's live album was recorded.

The next album released, Look at Them Beans, reinstated both the Tennessee Three as core session musicians and the accompanying Johnny Cash sound.

Holland (drums), Dave Roe (upright bass), the singer's son John Carter Cash (rhythm guitar), and Earl Poole Ball (piano).

(Marty Stuart joined the group on guitar for a one-off performance of Cash's version of "Rusty Cage" on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno in 1996.)

The band continued to tour throughout 2009, with the addition of upright bassist Lisa Horngren and drummer Derrick McCullough.

[10] Former rhythm guitarist and multi-instrumentalist Marty Stuart remains active as a solo artist and in collaboration with his wife, country singer Connie Smith.

Original Tennessee Three members, Bob Wootton and W. S. Holland were among those to perform as well as serve on a speaking panel after the film.