To start the business, Sutton borrowed money from Nick Price. It is also critical to use the proper amount of sugar in each batch of moonshine to make it safe to drink. Pam has worked for NSW Police for 11 years as a General Administrative Support Officer. Stills are known to do that, despite Popcorns expert craftsmanship in making them. "And then he got into it in such a big way. The couple had been married for over 50 years and had three children together. He was well-known in the entertainment industry for his stage name and custom copper stills, and he made a name for himself. The Distilled Spirits Council of the United States has released a report ranking the top moonshine states. "All the rest of them that I know are dead," Sutton said in the profane, not-for-primetime clip. But this wasnt Santa Clausit was the towns most notorious outlaw, Popcorn Sutton, and he was passing out his annual present: a shiny silver dollar for each cop on the force. [36] The lawsuit said that the design "is likely to cause purchasers and prospective purchasers of the product to believe mistakenly that it is a new Tennessee white whiskey product in the Jack Daniel's line." But how well do you really know the legend of Popcorn Sutton? Paul Stanley - Wikipedia Since his passing, his fame has only become more widespread with a new whiskey company that bears his name and numerous mentions on Discovery Channels popular show Moonshiners. Who died on Moonshiners? - Biography Research My deputies wouldnt bother him, Moore, a clean-cut retiree in a pink polo shirt, tells me. "[3] His daughter said he had told her in advance that he would die by suicide rather than go to jail, adding that he had "the strength to die the way he lived: according to his own wishes and no one else's. His white lightning wasnt just potent and sweetit was illegal. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. (February 10, 1944 - December 22, 2010) We were fortunate to have a woman at Lions Dragstrip who was so dedicated that she wanted to preserve the performance of every car that raced down the strip. Angel Sutton is organizing this fundraiser on behalf of Glen Sutton. While Sutton made his career out of this illegal trade, his rise to massive fame didnt happen until he was about 60 years old. He was eating a piece of Blueberry pie. Throughout his life, Sutton proudly held on to his Scotch-Irish American ethnicity and boasted about the fact that he had moonshining in his blood. My mother-in-law Pam Sutton suffered a massive stroke on 9/15/22. But he was also the sweetest, kindest, most loving man I ever met in my life.". Maggie Valley lost a friend and an ambassador, said James Carver, a long-time friend of Popcorns and a Maggie Valley native. And his bib overalls he always wore bib overalls. While we do our best to bring you the most up-to-date information, TheSmokies.com LLC makes no warranties regarding the accuracy or completeness of any content contained within. Additionally, Sutton had had a mental breakdown after being diagnosed with cancer. Even though technically he wasn't a member of "Moonshiners," his life and work inspired the series, which later kept his memory alive throughout its run. [37] In July 2016, it was announced Allisa Henley, long time employee and Master Distiller at George Dickel, would join John Lunn at Popcorn Sutton Distilling. You can also show off your personality to your friends and family by tasting it in a different way than any other spirit. She uses several glassmaking techniques to create decorative, as well as functional . His estranged daughter Sky Sutton, 35, of Northampton, Mass., had just completed a book about him, titled "Daddy Moonshine," the day he died. "He couldn't go to prison. They had two daughters. It was Popcorns daddy, Vader, who taught him how to make and run the moonshine as deftly as the Suttons before him. [12][13]) At around the same time, Sutton produced a home video of the same title and released it on VHS tape. Famed Appalachian moonshiner Marvin "Popcorn" Sutton, whose incorrigible bootlegging ways were as out of step with modern times as his hillbilly beard and overalls, took his own life rather than go to prison for making white lightning, his widow says. She added that the prison sentence and a cancer diagnosis might have had influenced his decision. In 2007, Sutton was caught with over 650 gallons of moonshine by local Cocke County authorities. With all his knowledge about shine and his love for animals, especially cats, that makes him number one in my book. The lawsuit was settled in 2014 with undisclosed terms,[37] and as of May 2016, the Sutton brand's bottle design has been substantially changed. moonshine must be made from cracked corn, and the kernels must be large enough to break down into sugar during fermentation. The nickname "Popcorn" was given to him in the 1960s or the 1970s, after Sutton attacked a broken popcorn vending machine with a pool cue. We have found 168 people in the UK with the name Pamela Sutton. DE, Popcorn Suttons XXX Tennessee White Whiskey can also be purchased in a mason jar. He apparently got right back to work. As a popcorn treat, a pound of moonshine is served. In 1999, he launched his self-published autobiography, 'Me and My Likker,' which also chronicled the incredible journey of moonshine production. He received a five-year sentence. Sutton began his moonshining and bootlegging empire with just one barrel, that too, at a time when they were considered illicit businesses in the US. So he Wooped the hell out of it with a pool stick. [41], In December 2016, the Popcorn Sutton Distillery was sold to the Sazerac Company. Buyers came from miles around to sample his goods, and Popcorns celebrity grew. After meeting at a New Year's Eve party in 1994 . Pam Sutton sits down with Rick to discuss Popcorn Sutton [2023], Is the Laurel Falls Hike Easy? When I heard how Popcorn was treated and that he wanted me to be involved in carrying on his legacy, I was immediately in. Pamela Sutton - People Directory - 192.com But Popcorn, who seemed unusually sullen to Grosser, had other plans. There arent any more not in his form or fashion, thats for sure., Julia Merchant contributed to this article. Pamela and Tommy had a whirlwind romance. He seemed kind and good, not perfect but who is? He hated the persona, says his widow, Pam Sutton. Morgan is the founder Morgan Media LLC, a graphic design agency and the co-founder of TheSmokies.com LLC a media company that specializes in regional travel sites. by Loyola Martinez | Dec 28, 2022 | Popcorn. He also had a coffin ready in his living room. Although he passed away a few years before the show premiered, the series used previous documentary footage shot by director Neal Hutcheson for his own films, allowing fans to see the legendary moonshiner in his natural habitat. Sutton died by suicide by carbon monoxide poisoning in March 2009, aged 62, rather than report to federal prison[according to whom?] Sutton earned massive fame as a liquor king by the time he turned 60. This is the Last Dam Run of Likker Ill Ever Make, The Greenbrier Gatlinburg: The best and most haunted restaurant in town, Dign Zone construction theme park coming soon to Sevierville TN, Is Mountain Monsters Real? A small memorial was also held for close friends and family. The couple had three children together, but Popcorn Suttons moonshining operation often took him away from home for long periods of time. Authorities suspect carbon monoxide poisoning. If you want to find legendary moonshiners, you should look for Popcorn Sutton, also known as Marvin. Because of its high alcohol content, moonshine is not typically sold in stores, but instead is consumed at home or by bar patrons who want to imbibe in a spirit with a distinct flavor profile. Sutton said he considered moonshine production a legitimate part of his heritage, as he was a Scots-Irish American and descended from a long line of moonshiners. [23], A conventional grave marker was used at the head of Sutton's grave, reading "Marvin Popcorn Sutton / Ex-Moonshiner / October 5, 1946 / March 16, 2009". I wander up a grassy hill and read it there where hes now buried, the same spot where his still had gone up in flames. Sutton was found at the age of 62 in his parked green Ford Fairmont with the engine running. Made a still for a museumJohn Rice Irwin, founder of the Museum of Appalachia in Norris, Tenn., recalled that Sutton made a still for the museum in the 1990s. The fire tipped authorities off that Popcorn was still at it, and wasnt merely producing the occasionall jar here and there but cranking out hundreds of gallons. During a fire in one of Suttons properties in 2007, firefighters discovered a large cache of untaxed liquor hidden in the attic. Is Pam St. Clement Dead or Still Alive? They should have been focused on crimes that out weighed hi. by Loyola Martinez | Feb 25, 2023 | Popcorn. "She's stiff as a board. Famed Appalachian moonshiner Marvin "Popcorn" Sutton, whose incorrigible bootlegging ways were out of step with modern times, took his own life rather than go to prison, his widow says. Jim Tom, his moonshine, was estimated to be worth more than $20 million. She told the Associated Press (per NBC): "He couldn't go to prison. is pam sutton still alive - Nftcollectionlab.com Fans Want to Know Why 'Moonshiners' Star Tickle Was in Jail Again! "Those factors gave Marvin the strength to die the way he lived: according to his own wishes and no one else's," she stated. It will cost you between $30 and $40 in supplies, as well as time spent cooking and fermenting the corn. Shit that kills a whole other generation. Most of it happened in the last 20 years, if not longer. He was 62 years old. Autopsy results may be weeks away. The wife of Hall of Fame coach Eddie Sutton died Tuesday at a Tulsa hospital after suffering a stroke in December, according to officials at Ninde Brookside Chapel. He was convicted of moonshining and illegal firearm possession offenses and was scheduled to report to federal prison in March 2009, but he committed suicide by carbon monoxide poisoning. To make a 5 gallon batch of moonshine, 201 pounds of corn must be used. On March 16, 2009, Sutton, a resident of Northbridge, England, died as a result of carbon monoxide poisoning. Willie Nelson had him onstage at a local show, and Johnny Knoxville taped a visit to Popcorns cabin. [8][15] Sutton next appeared in another Hutcheson film that would become the cornerstone of his notoriety, called This is the Last Dam Run of Likker I'll Ever Make. Now known as one of Britain's finest detectives and police officers, Sutton actually comes from a long line of coppers. R.I.P Popcorn . Born In: Maggie Valley, North Carolina, United States, place of death: Parrottsville, Tennessee, United States, See the events in life of Popcorn Sutton in Chronological Order, (American Appalachian Moonshiner and Bootlegger), https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-tyS_HvhtyU&list=PLHk8dXrmYkn-hhIVi9dwmgJzD4v1sr35c&index=2, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=13PsE_rQ74k, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ohiSPSoG8tY, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=glQjCKAI4gA, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HfUDVqWMhWs&list=FL8CkDIqZ9eTNus6-gghDO_w&index=24. It was said he did this to avoid the federal prison term that was supposed to start a few days later. The pulley consists of two ropes attached to a pair of Timberland boots, so that Pams legs could be more easily hoisted in the air. Though Popcorn left no suicide note, his dramatic exit has transformed him into a martyr for his cause and solidified his legacy as the little guy whod rather die than let the Feds beat him. Pass the Mountain Dew! I enjoyed watching his video it was entertaining to watch this man a Legend from the past a way of life how he fed and took care of his family. Pamela Sutton We found 100+ records for Pamela Sutton in NY, MI and 41 other states. Some people have questioned whether or not Pam Sutton is worthy of the money she has been left. Later, in 1981, Sutton was convicted and sentenced in the Haywood County Superior Court in North Carolina for felony possession of a controlled substance. It took his money, but didnt produce popcorn, eliciting a few swift blows from Sutton to crack open the machine. According to filmmaker Neal Hutcheson, Sutton remains an intriguing figure. Making likker. His wife reported that he had once told her that he would do this, rather than go to jail. 1. is pam sutton still alive. Pam Sutton: The Wife Of A Moonshining Legend | Popcorn Carnival But so did the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, who launched a full-scale investigation, including undercover agents that struck deals to buy large quantities of moonshine from him. Pam Sutton - Lions Automobilia Foundation Pam Sutton was born in 1951 in the small town of Maggie Valley, North Carolina. He was a moonshine maker as well as Popcorn Sutton Moonshines creator, collaborating with his father. By deadorkicking.com Editorial Team. People had to make a living somehow back then I guess. The couple had been married for 25 years and had three children together. Sutton's memorial grew in spectacle as country music singer Hank Williams Jr. flew in to pay his respects. He wasn't just a poor old moonshiner trying to make a few dollars.". He said Nobody else could be that handsome We both laughed and he proceeded to tell me how he got his Name. Aside from being gluten-free, the whiskey is also popular among those who have dietary restrictions. Pam Sutton is a much loved and valued member with the Inner West Police Area Command. Sutton had a long career making moonshine and bootlegging. Popcorns remains are still buried in his side yard in Parrotsville, Tennessee, where his widow will ensure no one else tries to harm him in the future. One Christmas at the Cocke County police department, deputy Armando Fontes got a gift from a mysterious man with a long white beard. [33] Dubbed "Popcorn Sutton's Tennessee White Whiskey", it was marketed as having been produced on stills designed by Sutton using his secret family recipe and techniques Sutton entrusted to former Supercross professional Jamey Grosser of J&M Concepts. [3][4] Before his rise to fame at around 60 years of age, he had been in trouble with the law several times, but had avoided prison sentences. In addition to organizing the Mountain Music Festival and the Moonshiners Reunion, Bill plays the guitar and organizes gig events. What To Know About the Shows Creatures, Is the Great Smoky Mountains Railroad Worth It? He appeared in the Western film Ghost Town: The Movie, in addition to his roles in the films Ghost Town: The Movie and Ghost Town: The Movie. His archive footage was featured in a 2016 documentary series, Moonshiners. They were not invited. In 2009, an accidental carbon monoxide overdose claimed the life of the actor. The sale included only the distillery, not the brands, which are owned by Popcorn Sutton Distilling LLC, which is based in Ohio. after being convicted of offenses related to moonshining and illegal firearm possession. When Popcorn Sutton was sentenced to jail in 2009 for moonshining, Pam stood by her husband. Singer-songwriter Hank Williams III attended Sutton's funeral and later sang 'Moonshiner's Life,' a song about Sutton, which is part of the singers 2010 album 'Rebel Within.'. In fact, he came from a long line of bootleggers. he still left her $10 million in his will . [37], In March 2015, it was announced that John Lunn, who had until then been master distiller of George Dickel Tennessee whiskey since 2005, would be joining Popcorn Sutton Distilling as its new master distiller. Sutton's widow said he'd just gotten a letter to report Friday to a medium-security federal prison in south Georgia to begin an 18-month sentence for illegally producing distilled spirits and. He often bragged that he ran more whiskey than Jack Daniel. He detailed his brew-making exploits in the book Me and My Likker, and in a self-produced video The Last Run of Likker Ill Ever Make. Hes even been known to autograph Mason jars of moonshine. As Sutton's business continued to flourish, he got involved in several legal issues, such as selling untaxed liquor, possessing controlled substances, and assaulting with a deadly weapon (between 1981 and 1985). Where Is Pamela Anderson Now? Latest News On The 'Baywatch' Star When the federal government tried to tax the stuff in the late 1700s, the mountainside distillers violently fought back in what became known as the Whiskey Rebellion. She was one of six children born to a sharecropper and a housewife. If you are able, please support The Smoky Mountain News. and including a lot of other shit came in this country illegal. [40] The CEO of Popcorn Sutton Distilling is Megan Kvamme. Stanley was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2014 as a member of . Join Facebook to connect with Pamela Sutton and others you may know. These recipes were made with popcorn Sutton left behind, and they included a lot of instructions and instructions on how to make them. Unlike other news organizations, we made the decision to provide in-depth, regional reporting free to anyone who wanted access to it. Inspired by the story, Grosser suggested they partner on a distillery and sell Popcorns moonshine legally. On October 24, 2009, his body was moved to his Parrottsville estate. Distractify is a registered trademark. he seemed to be a kind old soul. Popcorn lives on but now in a rural mountain in northern Tennessee. After separating from his second wife Heather Locklear, Tommy met Pam and the two fell hard and fast. One year later, while still on probation from the previous charge, an undercover agent working for the Tennessee Alcoholic Beverage Commission discovered 500 gallons of moonshine being housed and produced by Sutton.