Vivian Liberto

In Memphis, Cash became a door-to-door home appliance salesman working on commission, which he hated, while studying to be a radio DJ. Most of his potential customers could not afford to buy a new refrigerator, washing machine, etc., and a lot of times when he sold something and the buyer's credit was rejected he had to repay the commission he received. The young couple scrimped and lived on Kraft Macaroni & Cheese; she made her own maternity clothes; and they borrowed money from her father and Cash's employer to get by. She wrote in her book:

About that time, Roy introduced Cash to two mechanics who worked with him at Chrysler named Marshall Grant and Luther Perkins. As the three men loved country music and wanted to perform, they quickly became friends and formed a band together. They practiced in Grant's garage while their wives played cards in the kitchen. According to Vivian, they began to sound really good after a while and Cash's ambition to become a DJ faded. They both knew that pounding on doors attempting to sell appliances was not his life. He had to give music a try. Cash and the Tennessee Two, Grant and Perkins, were eventually signed to a recording contract with Sun Records, where he quickly achieved stardom and wealth. Read Less