In addition to organizing the Mountain Music Festival and the Moonshiners Reunion, Bill plays the guitar and organizes gig events. His self-published autobiography, Me and My Likker, described the amazing journey of moonshine production. However, most believe it was either due to vandalism of the original site or a family dispute with his widow. Willie Nelson had him onstage at a local show, and Johnny Knoxville taped a visit to Popcorns cabin. She believes in elegance through simplicity, with designs that reflect harmony with nature and the occasional sly sense of humor. In 2012, Hillbilly Hero and Tom Wilson Jester teamed up to release a photographic book about Sutton, 'The Making and Marketing.' Pam Sutton is a much loved and valued member with the Inner West Police Area Command. Its empty. My favorite place of hanging out, how not the kitchen! Popcorn Sutton, a moonshiner and bootlegger from 1946 to 2009, is regarded as an American legend. Buyers came from miles around to sample his goods, and Popcorns celebrity grew. He published the book at his junk shop in Maggie Valley. Some speculated that Pam might have secretly moved the body. Pam Sutton was born in 1951 in the small town of Maggie Valley, North Carolina. The sale included only the distillery, not the brands, which are owned by Popcorn Sutton Distilling LLC, which is based in Ohio. What finally brought him down, however, was a fire at his own home in April 2007 when a still exploded. Sutton was found at the age of 62 in his parked green Ford Fairmont with the engine running. Others view him as a criminal. Sky Sutton, Suttons daughter, is the daughter of Sky and Betty. Popcorn Suttons moonshine was renowned for its high quality, and he was known for his careful and traditional methods of production. [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." "He tried every way in the world to get them (federal authorities) to leave him on house arrest," she said. Sutton was convicted multiple times for selling moonshine without a license. 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. These recipes were made with popcorn Sutton left behind, and they included a lot of instructions and instructions on how to make them. However, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) raided the spots. I met him once at his little shack in Cherokee. Popcorn was unique. Unfortunately, Sutton was not making enough money back then. Originally, he was buried in an isolated plot in western North Carolina near the graves of his parents. he seemed to be a kind old soul. [34] Country music stars attending the launch event included Martina McBride, Jamey Johnson, Randy Houser, Travis Tritt, Tanya Tucker, Zac Brown, Josh Thompson, Kentucky Headhunters, Little Big Town, Colt Ford, Montgomery Gentry, Jaron and the Long Road to Love, and Lee Brice. Helps Continue Popcorn Sutton's Moonshine Legacy", "Popcorn Sutton's whiskey goes legit with Hank Williams Jr.'s stamp of approval", "Hank Williams, Jr. Gets into the Moonshine Business", "Jack Daniel's in legal fight with small distiller", Dickel master distiller leaving to head Popcorn Sutton, "Sazerac Expanding into Tennessee Whiskey with Distillery Purchase", "Hank Tips a Hat and a Glass To Popcorn Sutton's Tennessee White Whiskey", "Another Dickel Distiller, Alisa Henley, Leaves for Popcorn Sutton", Obituary Of Marvin "Popcorn" Sutton, A Tennessee Moonshiner, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Popcorn_Sutton&oldid=1131948838, People from Maggie Valley, North Carolina, Articles with dead external links from October 2010, Articles with dead external links from May 2013, Short description is different from Wikidata, All articles with specifically marked weasel-worded phrases, Articles with specifically marked weasel-worded phrases from September 2021, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, Sutton's long-estranged daughter Sky Sutton wrote a self-published book in 2009 entitled, Some of the prior Hutcheson documentary footage of Sutton was used in the 201112 season of the, A brief photographic book about Sutton was released in 2012 , Another Hutcheson documentary about Sutton was released in 2014 called, This page was last edited on 6 January 2023, at 15:01. On October 25, 2013, Jack Daniel's Properties, Inc. filed suit against the distiller of Popcorn Sutton's whiskey, claiming that the newly redesigned bottle, with its square shape, beveled shoulders, and white-on-black label, too closely resembled their own. Authorities suspected carbon monoxide poisoning. after being convicted of offenses related to moonshining and illegal firearm possession. I dont believe it or not, but the vast majority of it happened in the last few decades. 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. You can also show off your personality to your friends and family by tasting it in a different way than any other spirit. Its easy to spot Popcorn Sutton, also known as Marvin, if youre looking for legendary moonshiners. 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. Sutton, an infamous moonshiner, had been trying to outrun revenuers for more than three decades now. But the truth is, moonshine is a dangerous health issue and breeds other crime. Moonshining was legal in the United States for the first time a year after his death. But while the cops may not have pursued his bootlegging aggressively, Popcorn got himself in hot water nonetheless. He ran a PVC pipe from the exhaust of his Ford Fairlane into his window and sealed it up with duct tape. [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. Personally I think they should have left him alone and focus on what there real job is he didn't hurt nobody. Furthermore, many of these moonshine stills are hidden in rural areas, allowing visitors to experience the moonshine culture in these states. Interestingly, just a year after Sutton died, moonshining was legalized in the US. To Grosser it seemed less like a sellout than the last swift move of a sharp entrepreneur. Unlike other news organizations, we made the decision to provide in-depth, regional reporting free to anyone who wanted access to it. [41], In December 2016, the Popcorn Sutton Distillery was sold to the Sazerac Company. Popcorns attire rarely varied: overalls, a flannel shirt and gray brimmed hat, occasionally adorned with a squirrel tail. The federal govt. Popcorn Suttons real name is Marvin Sutton. 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. 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. Whiskey is a great beverage to try if youre looking for something different. He was convicted of moonshining and illegal firearms possession as a result of his moonshining conviction. Popcorn lives on but now in a rural mountain in northern Tennessee. It took his money, but didnt produce popcorn, eliciting a few swift blows from Sutton to crack open the machine. According to the Distilled Spirits Council of the United States, the states with the most illegal stills are Georgia, North Carolina, Tennessee, and Alabama. His zodiac sign was Libra, which is distinguished by assertiveness and submissiveness on both sides. It is impossible to overstate the importance of the life and persona of Marvin Popcorn Sutton, a legendary moonshiner and North Carolina native who died in an automobile accident. Showed how to make moonshineHe wrote a paperback called "Me and My Likker" and recorded videos on how to make moonshine. [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. The four-word epitaph sums up how he felt about his life, his death, and his legacy:Popcorn said fuck you.Show me more booze.Head over to the girl galleries. They were not invited. Son, he asked, do you eat pussy? 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. In January 2009, Sutton was charged with illegal distillation of spirits and firearm possession. Facebook gives people the power to. 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. Sutton learned to make moonshine at an early age. She will be greatly missed by all who knew her. 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. 'It was beyond surreal'When he pleaded guilty, it was his fifth conviction. Best Match Powered by Whitepages Premium AGE 50s Pamela L Sutton Brooklyn, NY (Central Brooklyn) View Full Report Addresses Avenue J, Brooklyn, NY E 9th St, Brooklyn, NY One of Popcorns closest and oldest friends was the countys most legendary sheriff, Tooney Moore, who shared his conviction that moonshine was an important part of the local heritage. "I just hope and pray they don't send me off (to prison).". 4 mos. 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. Read Also: Is Moonshiners real? On October 25, 2013, Tennessee whiskey brand Jack Daniel's Properties sued Popcorn Sutton's whiskey brand for copying their newly redesigned bottle. Pam Sutton, the wife of the late moonshiner Popcorn Sutton, has been left with a large sum of money following her husbands death. I met Popcorn in a restaurant in Maggie Valley around 1997. Angel Sutton is organizing this fundraiser on behalf of Glen Sutton. "All the rest of them that I know are dead," Sutton said in the profane, not-for-primetime clip. Kobe Bryant and his family (Getty) He later paid him back with liquor. In 2010, she began distilling and distributing Hank Williams Jr.s whiskey with him. Popcorns nickname dates to a barroom brawl between himself and a popcorn machine. And Popcorn, who refused to pay taxes and considered moonshine part of his dont tread on me heritage, wore his rebel badge with pride. This is one of the internets most popular searches about Sutton. At our inception 20 years ago, we chose to be different. Pam Sutton. Sutton was sentenced to 18 months in prison in January 2009 for tax evasion. [7] This led to a raid of his property by the ATF, led by Jim Cavanaugh of Waco siege infamy. Authorities suspect carbon monoxide poisoning. It was composed by photographer Don Dudenbostel. [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. "You might say he embodied a kind of Appalachian archetype, a character trait of fearlessness and fierce loyalty to regional identity even in the face of personal persecution and stereotyping," said Ted Olson, a regional writer and faculty member in East Tennessee State University's Department of Appalachian Studies. 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. Both his father and grandfather were police officers and his career has . His mind would just not accept it. Since his death, a new company, as well as an associated whiskey brand, has been launched in his memory. Wud love to get me some of his mountain juice . Jim Tom, his moonshine, was estimated to be worth more than $20 million. This is likely the event that spurred the internets 1983 search. After meeting at a New Year's Eve party in 1994 . Pam has worked for NSW Police for 11 years as a General Administrative Support Officer. Marvin " Popcorn " Sutton (October 5, 1946 - March 16, 2009) was an American Appalachian moonshiner and bootlegger. Monday, April 25, 2022 New Haven, CT (April 25, 2022) - After an extensive search, Yale New Haven Health (YNHHS) today announced that Pamela M. Sutton-Wallace, MPH, has been selected as its chief operating officer (COO), effective July 11, 2022. 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. https://www.thefamouspeople.com/profiles/popcorn-sutton-46282.php. Each piece is handmade in Pam's studio in Reno, Nevada. Pam Sutton, who became Sutton's fourth wife in 2007, said carbon monoxide may be the method but that's not what killed him. What did his Mom put in the moonshine to make medicine, that Popcorn got addicted to? ", Maggie Valley, NC Mark, Digger and JB are close to completing the first run of liquor anyones made here since Popcorn Sutton did his last run 20 years ago #Moonshiners on @Discovery and @discoveryplus https://t.co/mJGWJuEHZO pic.twitter.com/RohfOaMOKq. Sutton was born Marvin Sutton, on October 5, 1946, in the tiny town of Maggie Valley, North Carolina, to Bonnie and Vader. JB and South Mountain Distilling Co. began making moonshine in late 2018. [8][16][17], In March 2008, Sutton told an undercover federal officer that he had 500 gallons of moonshine in Tennessee and another 400 gallons in Maggie Valley that he was ready to sell. [40] The CEO of Popcorn Sutton Distilling is Megan Kvamme. 4 mos. Some Popcorn Sutton branded products can still be purchased directly from the original company. If you have a question about contributing to SMN, please contact us. 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. After her death, Suttons business continued to operate, and he continued to produce moonshine until his own death in 2009. moonshine was legal in the United States for the first time in a year shortly before Popcorn Sutton died of cancer. Fontes hadnt anticipated adding to Popcorns criminal record until April 24, 2007, when he spotted smoke billowing up from the woods. But he was also the sweetest, kindest, most loving man I ever met in my life.". [12][13]) At around the same time, Sutton produced a home video of the same title and released it on VHS tape. That's a big problem because now look where we're at. Is Pam St. Clement Dead or Still Alive? As part of his undercover investigation, an undercover federal officer discovered that Sutton had 500 gallons of moonshine in his possession. Over the course of his infamous career, Sutton faced a number of criminal complaints and convictions for moonshine-related crimes. And his bib overalls he always wore bib overalls. 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. Sutton also produced a home video of the same name, which he released on VHS tape. By deadorkicking.com Editorial Team. They should of left him alone he was part of our great history, 2021 The Smoky Mountain News. Pam was a loving wife and mother who was always there for her family. In 2007, 'The History Channel' featured Sutton's next documentary, 'Hillbilly: The Real Story.' Does the TV show make real moonshine? All rights reserved. But as Popcorn discovered, the buyers were federal agents from the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and Americas most notorious moonshiner was under arrest. He hated the persona, says his widow, Pam Sutton. Reader contributions support the journalistic mission of SMN to remain independent. In 1982, Memphis Popcorn Sutton helped to found the industrys first terminal. And Fontes, despite angering some locals for busting Popcorn, eventually became sheriff, a post he maintains today. Still, his name is synonymous with one of the countys greatest claims to fame: Real mountain moonshine. Aint nobody make it better than this, she cackles over a sip. . Sky Moonshine, the estranged daughter of Sutton, published Daddy: The Story of Marvin Popcorn Sutton. Some view him as a folk hero. "He was a true moonshiner," his widow added. On the day of his death, a fan wrote on Twitter, "Toasting the passing of the famous moonshiner Popcorn Sutton. 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. 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). As Popcorn once bragged, Im the only man I know of around here thats got a two-inch dick and a six-inch tongue and knows how to use both of em.[pagebreak] Is Pam Sutton Still Alive 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. Grosser was just like any other fanboy whod come to meet the living legend and buy some hooch. While his standard moonshine tasted like sweet, buttery corn, his infusionspears, peaches, figs, black cherriescemented his greatness. i too would have enjoyed meeting old popcorn,he was and will always be the man the myth the legend that is popcorn marvin sutton, Our site produces editorial content for the purpose of entertainment. Many moonshiners associate Popcorn Sutton with moonshine. The Feds killed him. Sutton, an infamous moonshiner, had been trying to outrun revenuers for more than three decades now. He is buried in the. 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. If he liked you he liked you, and if he didnt, you better stay away, recalled Carver. But the young cop, whod seen the ravaging effects of drugs and alcohol on the locals, didnt comply. [3] [4] [5] He wrote a self-published . 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. 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. His parents lived in a wooden house in a mountain perched beside a tumbling stream. There is no doubt that JB and Bill will be fondly remembered as two exceptional individuals. In 2007, Sutton was caught with over 650 gallons of moonshine by local Cocke County authorities. All Rights Reserved. [8][9] In 1998 his roadside store in Maggie Valley, NC was searched by state agents, who seized a moonshine still and sixty gallons of moonshine, and Sutton was again placed on probation with a suspended sentence. Suttons money has been used to fund the production of moonshine and to support the people who make it. [35] According to press reports, Popcorn Sutton's Tennessee White Whiskey would be initially distributed in Tennessee and throughout the southeast. "And then he got into it in such a big way. According to the Knoxville News Sentinel, she and her father spoke on the phone occasionally. So there my personal opinion. He was 62 years old. 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? Where Is Jungle Pam Hardy Now? The brand now uses a clear, round bottle with a smaller label. [3] In the 1960s or 1970s, Sutton was given the nickname of "Popcorn" after his frustrated attack on a bar's faulty popcorn vending machine with a pool cue. However, Sutton continued producing liquor barrels, and the business eventually grew more prominent. I walked over and asked if he was the man on the Postcard. To distinguish himself from the competition, he took pride in quality. Pam St. Clement was born on May 21, 1942 and is 80 years old now. One Christmas at the Cocke County police department, deputy Armando Fontes got a gift from a mysterious man with a long white beard. The life and persona of Marvin Popcorn Sutton, a world-famous moonshiner and North Carolina native, are known to all. 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. 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. , 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. Popcorn Sutton, an American moonshiner and bootlegger, lived in the United States from 1946 to 2009. 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 deputies wouldnt bother him, Moore, a clean-cut retiree in a pink polo shirt, tells me. At a time when moonshining and bootlegging were considered illicit in the United States, Sutton established his empire with just one barrel. While unscrupulous moonshiners distilled their booze through antifreeze-caked radiator pipes (capable of killing a drinker), Popcorn used only new copper tubing. His body was carried to its new resting spot by horse and carriage. Marvin "Popcorn" Sutton killed himself in 2009 after being sentenced to 18 months in federal prison for selling nearly a thousand gallons of moonshine to an undercover agent. Sutton was found at the age of 62 in his parked green Ford Fairmont with the engine running. He was handed down light charges at the time, netting nothing more than probation. The two made a deal to open Popcorn Sutton Distilling and sell his whiskey on the open market, taxes and all. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. For now, let's learn about Popcorn Sutton and his cause of death. Sutton died by suicide by carbon monoxide poisoning in March 2009, aged 62, rather than report to federal prison[according to whom?] In December 2016, Popcorn Sutton Distillery was sold to the alcoholic beverage company 'Sazerac Company.'. However, since he was diagnosed with cancer, Sutton requested US District Judge Ronnie Greer to grant him house arrest instead of sending him to prison. And the skirmishes continue: After his daughter Regina fulfilled his lifelong wish by burying him next to his parents at the Bend of the River, Pam Sutton exhumed his remains and buried him back in her own front yard at an elaborate ceremony attended by many, including Hank Williams Jr. Over a jar of moonshine at Popcorns cabin, Pam tells me with tearful eyes that his grave site had been getting desecrated, and she wanted him close to home. He was walking down the driveway coming toward me and told me, Hey, hey, hey, dont tell nobody what you seen here, Fontes recalls. [2023], Is the Laurel Falls Hike Easy? From that moment on, the locals called him Popcorna reminder that this was one moonshiner you didnt want to cross. My mother-in-law Pam Sutton suffered a massive stroke on 9/15/22. Sutton followed her husband to coaching stops at College of Southern Idaho, Creighton, Arkansas, Kentucky and . Haywood mans presidential pardon reveals systemic inequities, Town of Waynesville will pursue staggered terms for aldermen, SCC grad inspires latest New Century Scholars. She uses several glassmaking techniques to create decorative, as well as functional . My favorite place of hanging out, how not the kitchen! Stanley was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2014 as a member of . View the profiles of people named Pam Sutton. 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. Neal used footages from 'Mountain Talk' in his next documentary, 'The Last One.' But Popcorn had fallen on hard times and ended up drinking and talking with Grosser for days. June 5, 2022 Posted by: Category: Uncategorized; No Comments . But how well do you really know the legend of Popcorn Sutton? Children. Read Also: Legend or lawbreaker: The real story of Popcorn Sutton. The net worth of Andy Sutton is unknown, but some sources claim that he was worth as much as $13 million when he died in 1993. Hi my Name is Angel. In 2007, a fire on Sutton's property in Parrottsville led to firefighters discovering 650 gallons of untaxed alcohol there, for which he was convicted and put on probation again by Cocke County authorities.