If you are able, please support The Smoky Mountain News. The grave of the last American outlaw sits off a dirt road in the backwoods of Maggie Valley, North Carolina, the hillbilly haven where Marvin "Popcorn" Sutton, the most notorious moonshiner. But Popcorn had fallen on hard times and ended up drinking and talking with Grosser for days. Per NBC News, the famed moonshiner and bootlegger Popcorn Sutton died by suicide, possibly to avoid serving time in federal prison. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. It was Popcorns daddy, Vader, who taught him how to make and run the moonshine as deftly as the Suttons before him. He always stayed true to his craft, Upchurch tells me, which was making liquor. He was handed down light charges at the time, netting nothing more than probation. ", Popcorn's death remains a topic of discussion this year, as another supporter said, "Remember the Feds killed Popcorn Sutton just because he made his own whiskey on his own land. He was a folk hero. Even in death his battles wage on: Popcorns whiskey recently became available legally for the first time, but a family feud over his legacy shows no signs of resolution. Popcorn Suttons legal fight to legalize moonshine resulted in his suicide and subsequent criminal prosecution, but it was his legal fight to legalize the spirit that led to his death. Her family includes her husband Dean Sutton of 39 years, son Ian Sutton, daughter Bess Wimer, brother LaRue Breasette, Sister Brenda Oswald, and son Rick Oswald. Image Credit Birthday: October 5, 1946 ( Libra) Born In: Maggie Valley, North Carolina, United States 56 22 Writers #2968 Criminals #316 Quick Facts Also Known As: Marvin Sutton Died At Age: 62 Family: As industrious about marketing his booze as he was about making it, Popcorn spent decades traveling the South, stealthily pawning jars from the back of his vintage rides. Bill, who played guitar and harmonica on the show, died in early 2019 after a lengthy battle with cancer. Pam Sutton, the wife of the late moonshiner Popcorn Sutton, has been left with a large sum of money following her husbands death. Several seasons ago, Cutie Pie almost died after getting bit by a snake while exploring a possible still site with Josh, who had to rush her to the nearest veterinarian office. Stanley was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2014 as a member of . Read Also: Legend or lawbreaker: The real story of Popcorn Sutton. On October 24, 2009, his body was moved to his Parrottsville estate. So he Wooped the hell out of it with a pool stick. Disclosure: As an Amazon Associate and a partner of other affiliate programs including Booking.com, CJ and Tripster, we may earn commissions from qualifying purchases via links found in this article. Sutton conceded he was part of a dying breed in an interview last year with actor Johnny Knoxville for a video posted on Knoxville's "Jackass" Web site. Buyers came from miles around to sample his goods, and Popcorns celebrity grew. Sutton was convicted of tax evasion after his property was damaged by fire in 2007. Either way, months later, his wife Pam held a large public memorial service, which Hank Williams Jr. famously attended. [18][19] In January 2009, Sutton, who had used a public defender as his attorney in the case and had pleaded guilty, was sentenced to 18 months in a federal prison for illegally distilling spirits and possession of a firearm (a .38-caliber handgun) as a felon. "It was beyond surreal," she said Wednesday. Click here to find personal data about Pamela Sutton including phone numbers, addresses, directorships, electoral roll information, related property prices and other useful information. Popcorns nickname dates to a barroom brawl between himself and a popcorn machine. Neal used footages from 'Mountain Talk' in his next documentary, 'The Last One.' Popcorn Suttons moonshine was renowned for its high quality, and he was known for his careful and traditional methods of production. Pam Sutton had that steadfast determination and through her incredible penmanship, we can still see just how fast and who won and who . Someone of means like Hank Williams Jr., an equity partner with Grosser and Pam Sutton in the Popcorn Sutton Tennessee White Whiskey distillery, which recently celebrated an opening with stars including Kid Rock, Zac Brown, and Travis Tritt. In 2017, Sutton's Parrottsville estate caught fire. Fontes arrived to find Popcorn Sutton fanning the flames of a still, which had exploded from a gas leak. [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. Pam Sutton sits down with Rick to discuss Popcorn Sutton The Rick Dollar Show 836 subscribers Subscribe 913 Share 124K views 7 years ago Pam Sutton discusses Popcorn Sutton and her. It was composed by photographer Don Dudenbostel. [2][10][11] The New York Times later called it "a rambling, obscene, and often hilarious account of his life in the trade". 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. Told to report to prisonSutton'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 being a felon in possession of a gun. Its a phrase he cut into his headstone when he was still alive. She uses several glassmaking techniques to create decorative, as well as functional . When Popcorn Sutton died in 2009, he left behind a large sum of money. Heres What You Should Know, 29 Best Restaurants in Pigeon Forge, Ranked [2023], Great Smoky Mountains National Park Entrance Fees, What You Should Know, Smoky Mountains in March: Events in Gatlinburg, Pigeon Forge [2023], A Simple Guide to Smoky Mountain Parking Passes, Park it Forward. Marvin " Popcorn " Sutton (October 5, 1946 - March 16, 2009) was an American Appalachian moonshiner and bootlegger. But he was also the sweetest, kindest, most loving man I ever met in my life.". They aint no damn body that can beat me making likker. And, in the end, he chose to die rather than get beat. 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. In a move to perhaps cement his legendary status for all of eternity, Popcorn Sutton committed suicide by carbon monoxide poisoning just days before his federal prison term was scheduled to begin in 2009. Unfortunately, Sutton was not making enough money back then. Whiskey is a great beverage to try if youre looking for something different. [39] Copper stills for the facility were made by Vendome Copper and Brass in Louisville, Kentucky. Now 62 and fighting kidney failure, Popcorn faced 15 yearslikely his last onesbehind bars. His thick shaggy beard and slight frame completed the prototypical image of a backwoods mountaineer. Inspired by the story, Grosser suggested they partner on a distillery and sell Popcorns moonshine legally. Sky Moonshine, the estranged daughter of Sutton, published Daddy: The Story of Marvin Popcorn Sutton. He was walking down the driveway coming toward me and told me, Hey, hey, hey, dont tell nobody what you seen here, Fontes recalls. Is Pam Sutton Still Alive Photo by - wp On December 1, 2021, a long illness claimed the life of a dear friend. Long hailed for her beauty and gutsy film roles, Grier is a Hollywood icon. Additionally, Sutton had had a mental breakdown after being diagnosed with cancer. Sutton was sentenced to 18 months in prison in January 2009 for tax evasion. In 1999, he launched his self-published autobiography, 'Me and My Likker,' which also chronicled the incredible journey of moonshine production. Did Popcorn ever have a wife? A scrawny teen with big ears and droopy eyes, he had just watched the machine eat his quarters without dispensing his popcorn, so he whacked it repeatedly with his pool stick and broke the dang thing. To collect Popcorns original bottles, you can purchase them from eBay. [12][13]) At around the same time, Sutton produced a home video of the same title and released it on VHS tape. In 1985, he was convicted again for a felony assault with a weapon with intent, for which he received another three-year sentence. Cutie Pie survived a snake bite in 2017. . Its empty. Pamela Sutton's passing has been publicly announced by Good Sipler Funeral & Cremation Centre, Inc. in Reamstown, PA.Legacy invites you to offer condolences and share memories of Pamela in the Gue Clearly, the actress is still alive and well today, and she's been in remission for the . He was quite a Character. Bills organizing of the Moonshiners Reunion and Mountain Music Festival will continue, and he will perform at R.J. Rockers Brewery in honor of his music and life. "He tried every way in the world to get them (federal authorities) to leave him on house arrest," she said. Most of it happened in the last 20 years, if not longer. While some revile the folkloric status Popcorn has achieved, denouncing him as a common criminal, few can argue that Popcorn was a bridge to the past, a window on a vanishing part of Appalachian culture. When Popcorn Sutton was sentenced to jail in 2009 for moonshining, Pam stood by her husband. If you have a question about contributing to SMN, please contact us. Sutton's last arrest followed a raid in which authorities found nearly 1,700 gallons of moonshine in Parrottsville and a storage unit in Maggie Valley, N.C., three stills, supplies, firearms and ammunition. In fact, he came from a long line of bootleggers. Fermented corn mash is used to make moonshine. P.O. We can conclude from this that moonshine culture is still thriving in the southern United States. And Fontes, despite angering some locals for busting Popcorn, eventually became sheriff, a post he maintains today. 'It was beyond surreal'When he pleaded guilty, it was his fifth conviction. His mind would just not accept it. He honed the perfection of the craft, much like his father and grandfather had before him. The charges also included tax evasion and transportation of an illegal substance. But the real question isnt what he did in 1983 its about the many bouts with the law throughout the 1970s, 1980s and early 2000s. 33 Years old foodie & cookie lover. Sutton learned to make moonshine at an early age. Later, in 1981, Sutton was convicted and sentenced in the Haywood County Superior Court in North Carolina for felony possession of a controlled substance. Im here to follow the path of Suttons exhumed bones and unravel the mystery behind this modern-day legend. He seemed kind and good, not perfect but who is? He was a short, skinny fella, who always wore his hat that was kind of his claim to fame, his hat that he always wore. I dont believe it or not, but the vast majority of it happened in the last few decades. Crime, whiskey & homemade sex machines: The life, death and legacy of Popcorn Sutton, Americas greatest moonshiner. He also had a coffin ready in his living room. Pamela Anderson is alive and well. On November 9, 2010, Hank Williams Jr. announced his partnership with J&M Concepts LLC and widow Pam Sutton to distill and distribute a brand of whiskey named after Sutton that was asserted to follow his legacy. Beside his grave is a marker that reads, Popcorn said [f] you.. We have a lot of people come to Maggie Valley that want to meet Popcorn.. Here are six interesting facts about his life that might just surprise you. In this article we'll look back at her success and reveal what comes next for the hard-working Black actress. He'd gotten probation before, but U.S. District Judge Ronnie Greer said he couldn't do that again, despite Sutton's age and physical infirmities. I dont care if he come in drunk or anything. But Moore kept their friendship on the DL so as not to anger the more conservative locals. After Popcorn Suttons death in 2014, Pam was left with a large sum of money. 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. In 2010, Hank Williams, Jr. announced a partnership with J.M. Soon after Sutton's demise, there were rumors that suggested his grave had been vandalized. His recipe, on the other hand, still lives on and is produced at Ole Smoky Moonshine Distillery in Kentucky. Jack Daniels claimed they copied the label and design of their product in violation of its intellectual property. However, he always received only probation sentences. Is Popcorn Sutton still alive? Let us know in the comments. 1929 wheat penny. That year, his conviction led to a sentence by federal authorities of 18 months in federal prison which leads us to our next Sutton factoid . JB, who was best known for his role as Shin Shinshiners in the reality show, died late last year from a long illness. He hated the persona, says his widow, Pam Sutton. His body was carried to its new resting spot by horse and carriage. moonshine must be made from cracked corn, and the kernels must be large enough to break down into sugar during fermentation. He comes from the old era, said Maggie Valley Police Chief Scott Sutton, describing Popcorn Sutton as the last of his breed. He was convicted in 1974 of selling untaxed liquor[3][7] and in 1981 and 1985 on charges of possessing controlled substances and assault with a deadly weapon, but received only probation sentences until the 1985 arrest, after which he served time in the Craggy Correctional Center in Asheville. The most notable thing about the grave? To make a 5 gallon batch of moonshine, 201 pounds of corn must be used. But the truth is, moonshine is a dangerous health issue and breeds other crime. 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. If the strangers seemed trustworthy, Popcorn would take their cash, about $40 per gallon at his peak, and tell them to pick up their moonshine from one of his secret drop boxes hidden in the woods: a baby casket or an old toilet. We were deeply saddened to learn of JB Raders and Bill Owens deaths. 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). He made his first film appearance in 2002, with Neal Hutcheson's documentary 'Mountain Talk.' On the day of his death, a fan wrote on Twitter, "Toasting the passing of the famous moonshiner Popcorn Sutton. Pam creates handmade art glass and jewelry. The History Channel featured him in a 2007 documentary called "Hillbilly: The Real Story.". An incident report filed by the Cocke County Sheriff's Department says that Sutton was discovered dead in his 1982 Ford Fairmont when his wife, Pam Sutton, returned from running errands. Pam Grier is the undisputed queen of the 1970s Blaxploitation films. pic.twitter.com/V7dUdlJWQ8. Originally, he was buried in an isolated plot in western North Carolina near the graves of his parents. According to the Internal Revenue Service, the estate of Kate Sutton is valued at around $500 thousand. 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. View the web story version of this article here. She hadn't seen him since she was 2, though they had talked on the phone. As the story goes, Fergusons body was found on the side of the road, left for dead after having his throat slit. [40] The CEO of Popcorn Sutton Distilling is Megan Kvamme. In 2009, an accidental carbon monoxide overdose claimed the life of the actor. DE, Popcorn Suttons XXX Tennessee White Whiskey can also be purchased in a mason jar. Popcorn Sutton married Pam Sutton in 2007 just two years prior to his death. After meeting at a New Year's Eve party in 1994 . He was 62 years old. I walked over and asked if he was the man on the Postcard. He made his home in Cocke County, where cockfighting and moonshining are legend. He considered moonshining his birth rite. In December 2016, Popcorn Sutton Distillery was sold to the alcoholic beverage company 'Sazerac Company.'. From that moment on, the locals called him Popcorna reminder that this was one moonshiner you didnt want to cross. Later he and Sutton even built stills together, and during my visit Moore shows me one of many he recently made. A moonshine is a spirit created by fermenting cane juice. "[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. I can brag about one thing, Popcorn once said in his thick Southern drawl. Haywood mans presidential pardon reveals systemic inequities, Town of Waynesville will pursue staggered terms for aldermen, SCC grad inspires latest New Century Scholars. An incident report filed by the Cocke County Sheriffs Department says that Sutton was discovered dead in his 1982 Ford Fairmont when his wife, Pam Sutton, returned from running errands. This charge would eventually cause him to fall. American moonshiner and bootlegger (19462009), "New Movie Focuses on WNC Moonshiner Popcorn Sutton", "Yesterday's Moonshiner, Today's Microdistiller", "Legendary Tennessee Moonshiner Plied His Trade to the End", "Widow: Moonshiner took his life to avoid prison", "Family of legendary moonshiner hoped his sentence would be reduced", "The Moonshiner Popcorn Sutton | IndieBound.org", "Golden Moment: Bulletin: NC State University", "Cane In Hand, 'Popcorn' Sutton Is Sentenced To 18 Months", United States District Court for the Eastern District of Tennessee, "Waco 20 Years Later: The ATF Raid - Dallas News | myFOXdfw.com", "Daughter says independence likely led to moonshiner's suicide", "Estranged daughter remembers 'Popcorn' Sutton", "Hundreds honor memory of legendary moonshiner", "6 surprising facts about Popcorn Sutton and his moonshine", "16th Annual Winners | National Indie Excellence Awards | California", "Hank Williams, Jr. Suttons will stated that the money was to be used to support the continuance of my lifes work. This work includes the production of moonshine, which is illegal in the United States. Whiskey production became ingrained in early Appalachian culture, thanks in part to the regions perfect climate for growing sweet corn. Does the TV show make real moonshine? Aint nobody make it better than this, she cackles over a sip. Why not just leave it up in a shrine like ritual for all to see?? The company and whiskey brand associated with him have been renamed after him since he died. Months before his conviction, Sutton reportedly had a mental breakdown after being diagnosed with cancer. after being convicted of offenses related to moonshining and illegal firearm possession. The grave of the last American outlaw sits off a dirt road in the backwoods of Maggie Valley, North Carolina, the hillbilly haven where Marvin Popcorn Sutton, the most notorious moonshiner ever, lived and died in the wildest of ways. In addition to serving probation after being caught with over 650 gallons of moonshine, he was also convicted of selling alcohol without a license. All Rights Reserved. But how well do you really know the legend of Popcorn Sutton? Despite being on probation, Popcorn defiantly refused to give up his trade. . His wife reported that he had once told her that he would do this, rather than go to jail. Don Sundquist, visiting for an annual homecoming event, Sutton decided to cook up some real sour mash and dispense it to the crowd in little paper cups. Damian Sutton, 2, has died at a Detroit hospital after being taken off life support. View Pam Sutton results including current phone number, address, relatives, background check report, and property record with Whitepages. She underwent surgery and began her first round of chemotherapy. In March 2008, they raided his home and seized 800 gallons of the illegal liquor, three stills with 1,000-gallon capacities, hundreds of gallons of moonshine-making ingredients such as mash and many guns. It took his money, but didnt produce popcorn, eliciting a few swift blows from Sutton to crack open the machine. Sutton earned massive fame as a liquor king by the time he turned 60. On March 16, 2009, the 48-year-old Sutton committed suicide by carbon monoxide poisoning. Assuming you have all of the necessary items and your climate is favorable for moonshine making, this is how much corn it will take to produce 5 gallons of liquor: 201 ounces of cracked corn 7 pounds of granulated sugar. He was a part of the 2002 Neal Hutcheson film Moon moonshine, which focused on the illegal moonshine trade. She has shown her strength and resilience in the face of adversity, and she is a deserving recipient of the money her husband left behind. His widow, Pam, told the outlet that he'd just received a letter to report to prison for an 18-month sentence for illegally distilling spirits, as well as felony possession of a firearm. [7] He said he had considered a harsher sentence of 24 months, but had decided on 18 months after considering Sutton's age and medical condition. Did you know anything about Popcorn Sutton that we missed? In 1982, Memphis Popcorn Sutton helped to found the industrys first terminal. It is critical to follow his instructions and recipe in order to produce a moonshine that has the same flavor and characteristics as him. He committed suicide in 2009 as a result of cancer treatment. Popcorn Sutton was married to Pam Sutton. He was well-known in the entertainment industry for his stage name and custom copper stills, and he made a name for himself. If you are going to produce moonshine, you must carefully follow his recipe and instructions. To start the business, Sutton borrowed money from Nick Price. But even for this seasoned veteran of the force, Popcorn stood out. Pam has worked for NSW Police for 11 years as a General Administrative Support Officer. A long illness claimed the life of a beloved son on December 1, 2021. Unlike other news organizations, we made the decision to provide in-depth, regional reporting free to anyone who wanted access to it. He was selling some stuff. [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". After Popcorn Suttons death in 2009, Pam Sutton took over the family business and has continued to produce moonshine using her husbands recipes and methods. 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. Popcorn may no longer be around to weigh in, but his final words appear by his new resting place near his cabin in the woods. Dean Sutton of 39 years and his wife, Christine Sutton; their son, Ian; mother, Bessie Wimer; and sister,Brenda Oswald, all of whom preceded her in death, are among those who have passed away. I couldnt understand what he said. Popcorn Sutton grew up in the South-Eastern Appalachian region of the United States, and he was born in Scotland. Popcorn told him he sold that much all the time and, after bragging about his whiskey and his guns, sent the man away with 80 gallons of his own. Each piece is handmade in Pam's studio in Reno, Nevada. Thus, it took him forever to clear his debts. I sounded like absinthe. She was taken to upstate where she remained there for a a week and worked so hard to come home. Popcorn Suttons real name is Marvin Sutton. 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. The two made a deal to open Popcorn Sutton Distilling and sell his whiskey on the open market, taxes and all. 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. JB and South Mountain Distilling Co. began making moonshine in late 2018. "And then he got into it in such a big way. Hutchesons coffee table book style biography, The Moonshiner Popcorn Sutton is a glimpse into Popcorns wit, jokes and hillbilly way of life. To elude the cops, he switched up the cars oftenit was a 46 Willis Jeep one trip, a 53 Ford convertible the next. Pam Suttons moonshine is still highly sought-after, and she has won multiple awards for her products. "All the rest of them that I know are dead," Sutton said in the profane, not-for-primetime clip. Per NBC News, the famed moonshiner and bootlegger Popcorn Sutton died by suicide, possibly to avoid serving time in federal prison. I picked one up and realized the man sitting in the corner bye himself was the Legend ! Popcorns wife used both original bottles and they are currently available for eBay purchase. His money was running out, and many of his friends, he lamented, had stopped coming around. Popcorn Sutton, a moonshiner and bootlegger from 1946 to 2009, is regarded as an American legend. Released in 2008 and broadcast on 'CBS,' the documentary received a 'Southeast Emmy Award' in 2009. Popcorn Sutton is an American legend! At a time when moonshining and bootlegging were considered illicit in the United States, Sutton established his empire with just one barrel. , Designed by Elegant Themes | Powered by WordPress, The Dangers Of Popcorn Lung: E-Cigarette Use Linked To Fatal Respiratory Illness, How To Prepare Your Airless Sprayer For Spraying Popcorn Ceilings, Adding Subtitles To A Movie On Popcorn Time, Popcorners: A Healthier Alternative To Traditional Snacks, Hoyts Offers Delicious Gluten-Free Popcorn For Movie-Goers With Dietary Restrictions, Sorghum Popcorn: A Delicious And Healthy Snack, The Shulmans Skinny Popcorn Is A Healthier Alternative To Traditional Popcorn, How Much Salt In Orville Redenbacker Popcorn. According to the report, Georgia, North Carolina, Tennessee, and Alabama have the most moonshiners, with a combined total of 1,634 stills seized by law enforcement.

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