But while the cops may not have pursued his bootlegging aggressively, Popcorn got himself in hot water nonetheless. Making moonshine is relatively simple and inexpensive if you have a pot that can hold at least 5 gallons of liquid and enough space to store the finished product. Popcorn Sutton was married to Pam Sutton. Fans Want to Know Why 'Moonshiners' Star Tickle Was in Jail Again! She told the Associated Press (per NBC): "He couldn't go to prison. 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. 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. The life and persona of Marvin Popcorn Sutton, a world-famous moonshiner and North Carolina native, are known to all. She suspected even then that her daddy might be responsible. Yes, I do, Grosser replied.Then come on in. (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. Pam Suttons moonshine is still highly sought-after, and she has won multiple awards for her products. In January 2009, Sutton was charged with illegal distillation of spirits and firearm possession. To elude the cops, he switched up the cars oftenit was a 46 Willis Jeep one trip, a 53 Ford convertible the next. That man went out in a blaze of glory, and flipping his finger as we went," she said. Read Also: Legend or lawbreaker: The real story of Popcorn Sutton. Over the course of his infamous career, Sutton faced a number of criminal complaints and convictions for moonshine-related crimes. Popcorns nickname dates to a barroom brawl between himself and a popcorn machine. His self-published autobiography, Me and My Likker, described the amazing journey of moonshine production. According to the Knoxville News Sentinel, she and her father spoke on the phone occasionally. The company that sold Popcorn Sutton branded products, on the other hand, continues to sell them directly to consumers. Join Facebook to connect with Pamela Sutton and others you may know. "Nobody was going to tell him what to do," Sky told Knox News in 2009. Authorities suspect carbon monoxide poisoning. While the series typically follows current moonshiners, part of the show features the late Marvin "Popcorn" Sutton. Did Popcorn ever have a wife? Children. Her husbands whiskey was produced and sold by Hank Williams Jr. and she began selling it as a stand-alone product in 2010. That's a big problem because now look where we're at. Sutton was sentenced to 18 months in prison in January 2009 for tax evasion. Popcorn Sutton was a well-known moonshiner in the Appalachian region of the United States, and his wife was often involved in his business. As part of his undercover investigation, an undercover federal officer discovered that Sutton had 500 gallons of moonshine in his possession. Inspired by the story, Grosser suggested they partner on a distillery and sell Popcorns moonshine legally. ", 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. Click here to find personal data about Pamela Sutton including phone numbers, addresses, directorships, electoral roll information, related property prices and other useful information. 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. All rights reserved. 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. Cutie Pie survived a snake bite in 2017. How Old - Age: 80. [2][7] Sutton, 62 and suffering from a long illness that his doctors had failed to diagnose, asked the U.S. District Judge Ronnie Greer to allow him to serve his sentence under house arrest, and several petitions were made by others requesting that his sentence be reduced or commuted, but this time to no avail. Pams early years were spent working on her familys tobacco farm. [3][4][5] He wrote a self-published autobiographical guide to moonshining production, self-produced a home video depicting his moonshining activities, was the subject of several documentaries, including one that received a Regional Emmy Award, and is the subject of the award-winning biography and photobook The Moonshiner Popcorn Sutton.[6]. Fontes hadnt anticipated adding to Popcorns criminal record until April 24, 2007, when he spotted smoke billowing up from the woods. In 2010, she began distilling and distributing Hank Williams Jr.s whiskey with him. 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. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. Back then, he lived on Snowbird Mountain. Seussian contraptions of barrels and metal tubing, Popcorns stills could be set up and dismantled quickly at the riverside, just in case the cops screeched up. A long illness claimed the life of a beloved son on December 1, 2021. Glass and Silversmithing Arts. The History Channel featured him in a 2007 documentary called "Hillbilly: The Real Story.". 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. They were not invited. Sutton Popcorn Company retains their original use of this name. 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. There is no doubt that JB and Bill will be fondly remembered as two exceptional individuals. As he once said, I dont bother nobody and nobody better damn sure not mess with me. Here are six interesting facts about his life that might just surprise you. Sutton also produced a home video of the same name, which he released on VHS tape. Originally, he was buried in an isolated plot in western North Carolina near the graves of his parents. He apparently got right back to work. He seemed interesting and came out with some funny one liners. Your support of SMN does not constitute a charitable donation. He was a moonshine maker as well as Popcorn Sutton Moonshines creator, collaborating with his father. Bill, who played guitar and harmonica on the show, died in early 2019 after a lengthy battle with cancer. 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. The suit asked that all current existing bottles be taken off the market and that all profits from the sales of those bottles be handed over to Jack Daniel's. On October 25, 2013, Tennessee whiskey brand Jack Daniel's Properties sued Popcorn Sutton's whiskey brand for copying their newly redesigned bottle. Marvin Popcorn Sutton, 62, was found dead of suspected carbon monoxide poisoning in a car near his Parrotsville, Tenn., residence, days before he was to begin serving an 18-month prison sentence for large-scale moonshine operation. A small memorial was also held for close friends and family. Almost everyone who grew up in and around Cocke County, Tennessee is familiar with the legend of Popcorn Sutton. I can relate to that, as I am the same way. His zodiac sign was Libra, which is distinguished by assertiveness and submissiveness on both sides. In 1999, he launched his self-published autobiography, 'Me and My Likker,' which also chronicled the incredible journey of moonshine production. The family descended from the wave of immigrants who brought their whiskey recipes to the area when they arrived in the 1700s. Wud love to get me some of his mountain juice . She hadn't seen him since she was 2, though they had talked on the phone. He received a five-year sentence. Still, his name is synonymous with one of the countys greatest claims to fame: Real mountain moonshine. She even went so far as to testify on his behalf at his sentencing hearing. Copyright 2023 Distractify. 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. But to those who knew him, he was something more: a brilliant self-promoter and chemist who ultimately despised the persona he had crafted as expertly as his booze. [4] The source footage from the 2002 documentary was also re-worked into another Hutcheson documentary, The Last One, which was released in 2008 and was broadcast on PBS. 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. He was quite a Character. Lawlessness around here still persists, with poverty, crystal meth, and alcoholism rampant. He wasn't just a poor old moonshiner trying to make a few dollars.". 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. Pam said that a few days later, after coming home from running errands, she found her husband dead in his Ford. But the young cop, whod seen the ravaging effects of drugs and alcohol on the locals, didnt comply. He was really just a back hill shiner. [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. It is also critical to use the proper amount of sugar in each batch of moonshine to make it safe to drink. Unlike other news organizations, we made the decision to provide in-depth, regional reporting free to anyone who wanted access to it. He made his home in Cocke County, where cockfighting and moonshining are legend. Is Popcorn Sutton still alive? The new law wasnt enacted to honor Popcorns legend, though. Shit while they were focused on him how much herion coke pills ? People may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. [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. She uses several glassmaking techniques to create decorative, as well as functional . He seemed kind and good, not perfect but who is? His estranged daughter Sky Sutton, 35, of Northampton, Mass., had just completed a book about him, titled "Daddy Moonshine," the day he died. "Popcorn is getting everybody drunk," the governor's Highway Patrol escorts complained and when Irwin told him to stop, Sutton packed up and left, Irwin recalled. How do you explain Bill and JB from Moonshiners? He used the freshest white corn for his mash and the coldest, cleanest stream water. Later he and Sutton even built stills together, and during my visit Moore shows me one of many he recently made. Soon after Sutton's demise, there were rumors that suggested his grave had been vandalized. They should have been focused on crimes that out weighed hi. The sale included only the distillery, not the brands, which are owned by Popcorn Sutton Distilling LLC, which is based in Ohio. He had got the footstone made in advance and had kept for years by his front porch. What finally brought him down, however, was a fire at his own home in April 2007 when a still exploded. Distractify is a registered trademark. The exact amount is unknown, but it is thought to be in the millions. Box 629, Waynesville, NC 28786 828.452.4251. The federal govt. A third-generation moonshiner, born in 1946, Popcorn spent his life distilling the secret recipe for corn whiskey that his Scotch-Irish forefathers brought over centuries ago. But how well do you really know the legend of Popcorn Sutton? Its a phrase he cut into his headstone when he was still alive. Does the TV show make real moonshine? A popcorn net worth of between one and seven million dollars is estimated for Sutton Popcorn. After her death, Suttons business continued to operate, and he continued to produce moonshine until his own death in 2009. 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. 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? He also had a coffin ready in his living room. Birthday: May 21, 1942. 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. R.I.P Popcorn . We have found 168 people in the UK with the name Pamela Sutton. moonshine was legal in the United States for the first time in a year shortly before Popcorn Sutton died of cancer. Damian Sutton, 2, has died at a Detroit hospital after being taken off life support. An hour after Grosser left the cabin with his paperwork, Popcorn built his final contraption. 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. He became well-known as a liquor king well into his 60s. Drinks for urban drinkers If you want a mason jar to store Popcorn Suttons XXX Tennessee White Whiskey, you can also get it. Whiskey is a great beverage to try if youre looking for something different. Unfortunately, Sutton was not making enough money back then. He also appeared in the Western 'Ghost Town: The Movie.' His archive footages were featured in the 2016 docuseries 'Moonshiners.'. So he Wooped the hell out of it with a pool stick. $50. 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. In 2009, an accidental carbon monoxide overdose claimed the life of the actor. Regina has plans to release her own moonshine based on her dads secret recipe with a local microdistillery near her home in Anchorage, where she now works as a trauma surgeon (a job that was inspired by the day she saw the guy at her daddys house with a knife in his neck). Joe and Pam were not present for Kobe's final NBA game, nor were they in attendance for his jersey retirement ceremony in 2017. The best way to make Popcorn Suttons recipe was discovered in a large quantity of instructions and tips. Pam was a loving wife and mother who was always there for her family. But even for this seasoned veteran of the force, Popcorn stood out. He said a Vending machine in a bar took his money and didnt give him his popcorn! Some Popcorn Sutton branded products can still be purchased directly from the original company. In 1985, he was convicted again for a felony assault with a weapon with intent, for which he received another three-year sentence. To start the business, Sutton borrowed money from Nick Price. He ran a PVC pipe from the exhaust of his Ford Fairlane into his window and sealed it up with duct tape. He came from a long line of moonshiners, so bootlegging and moonshining have been his calling since he arrived on Earth. 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. 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.

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