To the fans and celebs who came from around the world to buy his booze, Popcorn was the banjo-picking cracker with the long beard, grimy overalls, and bawdy stories. He had got the footstone made in advance and had kept for years by his front porch. This time, the local cops would be of no help. As one legislator put it, The law is not making legal someone who wants to open a distillery in their barn. Sutton was first interred at a family graveyard in Mount Sterling, North Carolina. He always lived a death-before-dishonor kind of life." Bill, who played guitar and harmonica on the show, died in early 2019 after a lengthy battle with cancer. 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. pic.twitter.com/V7dUdlJWQ8. "He was a true moonshiner," his widow added. On October 25, 2013, Tennessee whiskey brand Jack Daniel's Properties sued Popcorn Sutton's whiskey brand for copying their newly redesigned bottle. 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 you are going to produce moonshine, you must carefully follow his recipe and instructions. Pamela Anderson is alive and well. Sutton died by suicide by carbon monoxide poisoning in March 2009, aged 62, rather than report to federal prison[according to whom?] Shit while they were focused on him how much herion coke pills ? Pamela and Tommy had a whirlwind romance. Jack Daniels claimed they copied the label and design of their product in violation of its intellectual property. Popcorn Sutton and his moonshine: 6 surprising facts (with pictures) From back rooms to barrooms, locals tell me sordid tales of Popcorns violent temper. Though distilling moonshine is illegal, that doesn't stop the Discovery Channel from glorifying the concept in its docudrama series Moonshiners. People may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. Whatever he earned from trading the barrels to Nick would go back into the next batch of products, and he would leave with little to spend on his household. Popcorn Sutton Whiskey, Once Moonshine, Is Now Legal - The New York Times Soon after Sutton's demise, there were rumors that suggested his grave had been vandalized. JB, who was best known for his role as Shin Shinshiners in the reality show, died late last year from a long illness. "All the rest of them that I know are dead," Sutton said in the profane, not-for-primetime clip. ", 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. It was composed by photographer Don Dudenbostel. This led to yet another conviction on a number of charges. After Popcorn Suttons death in 2014, Pam was left with a large sum of money. He was a moonshiner and bootlegger from the United States Appalachian region. Did you know anything about Popcorn Sutton that we missed? The couple had been married for over 50 years and had three children together. He considered moonshining his birth rite. Probably because its still illegal to make shine. Popcorns wife used both original bottles and they are currently available for eBay purchase. Popcorn Sutton married Pam Sutton in 2007 just two years prior to his death. Pam Sutton Portfolio | northtahoearts Jim Tom, his moonshine, was estimated to be worth more than $20 million. On November 9, 2010, Hank Williams Jr. partnered with 'J&M Concepts LLC' and Pam Sutton to distill and distribute a whiskey brand titled 'Popcorn Sutton's Tennessee White Whiskey.'. He was just a skinny little farmer-looking guy who would come around and talk and cut up, he explains. 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. 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. After meeting at a New Year's Eve party in 1994 . My favorite place of hanging out, how not the kitchen! Since his death, he has been honored with a new company and whiskey brand named after him. 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 She underwent surgery and began her first round of chemotherapy. Then there was the alleged attack on Willie Ferguson, a local musician who reportedly made the mistake of crossing Popcorn. This left Pam to raise their children largely on her own. How Old - Age: 80. R.I.P Popcorn . Popcorn Sutton - Wikipedia Damian Sutton, 2-year-old Mich. boy, dies after alleged beating from Filmed in one week in June, 2002, less than seven years before infamous moonshiner Marvin, People have been making moonshine almost since the day water started running downhill,, Attendees of this years Hillbilly Winter Jam kicked off the annual fest with a special, On a frosty Appalachian mountain morning in 1962, 22-year-old Waynesville man Charles. As a popcorn treat, a pound of moonshine is served. DE, Popcorn Suttons XXX Tennessee White Whiskey can also be purchased in a mason jar. On the day of his death, a fan wrote on Twitter, "Toasting the passing of the famous moonshiner Popcorn Sutton. Sutton learned to make moonshine at an early age. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. The brand now uses a clear, round bottle with a smaller label. People had to make a living somehow back then I guess. Aside from being gluten-free, the whiskey is also popular among those who have dietary restrictions. On March 16, 2009, Sutton committed suicide by carbon monoxide poisoning. [2023], Is the Laurel Falls Hike Easy? Irwin told Sutton to run nothing but water through it. "Nobody was going to tell him what to do," Sky told Knox News in 2009. 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. Pam SUTTON | Australian Police As Fontes learned, Popcorn had a long history of cozying up to the police and avoiding prosecution for making untaxed whiskey. He was quite a Character. Both his father and grandfather were police officers and his career has . He was a whole lot smarter than people gave him credit for. Grosser returned on March 16, 2009 to finalize the deal with Popcorn, who was scheduled to go to prison four days later. 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. Since his death, a new company and associated whiskey brand have been named after him. Per NBC News, the famed moonshiner and bootlegger Popcorn Sutton died by suicide, possibly to avoid serving time in federal prison. Popcorn Sutton is an American legend! When he was sentenced to federal prison for possession of illegal firearms and moonshining, he chose to commit suicide rather than report to prison, at the age of 62. In 2007, 'The History Channel' featured Sutton's next documentary, 'Hillbilly: The Real Story.' He ran a PVC pipe from the exhaust of his Ford Fairlane into his window and sealed it up with duct tape. Pam was diagnosed with Stage 3 Bowel Cancer in January 2014. That man went out in a blaze of glory, and flipping his finger as we went," she said. These states are all part of the southern United States. [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. She told the Associated Press (per NBC): "He couldn't go to prison. In this article, we take a closer look at some of the most interesting monsters mentioned on Travel Channel's Mountain Monsters (media photo from Travel Channel, werewolf rendering from Adobe stock), The Great Smoky Mountains Railroad is one of the main attractions in Bryson City, North Carolina (photo by Alaina O'Neal/TheSmokies.com), I would love to have drank some of his moonshine ll0, I wud love to have met Popcorn. According to the Internal Revenue Service, the estate of Kate Sutton is valued at around $500 thousand. His white lightning wasnt just potent and sweetit was illegal. In this article we'll look back at her success and reveal what comes next for the hard-working Black actress. Popcorn Sutton, an American moonshiner and bootlegger, lived in the United States from 1946 to 2009. Is Pam St. Clement Dead or Still Alive? 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. Pam Sutton was born in 1951 in the small town of Maggie Valley, North Carolina. Some speculated that Pam might have secretly moved the body. They should have been focused on crimes that out weighed hi. Neal Hutcheson, another filmmaker who worked with Sutton, is worth $30 million. Pamela Sutton - Address & Phone Number | Whitepages The Feds killed him. Its easy to spot Popcorn Sutton, also known as Marvin, if youre looking for legendary moonshiners. 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. Pass the Mountain Dew! As Hank Williams Jr. says of Popcorn, This guy was real Appalachian Americana. Popcorn ran an antique shop in Maggie Valley as recently as a few years ago, where one could supposedly buy a jar of moonshine it they asked the right way. However, in what has become a Sutton civil war, Regina and her supporters, including Popcorns former girlfriend Ernestine Upchurch, are fighting to get his remains back to his empty grave at the Bend of the River and reclaim his brand name. From that moment on, the locals called him Popcorna reminder that this was one moonshiner you didnt want to cross. And his bib overalls he always wore bib overalls. My mother-in-law Pam Sutton suffered a massive stroke on 9/15/22. Pam Sutton married Popcorn Sutton just two years before his death in 2007. 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. [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 also known for being convicted of crimes related to moonshining and illegal firearm possession. To start the business, Sutton borrowed money from Nick Price. 'Moonshiner' Josh Owens Is Seemingly Prone to Injury, Here's Exactly How the 'Moonshiners' Avoid Getting Arrested. 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 the story goes, Fergusons body was found on the side of the road, left for dead after having his throat slit. However, Popcorn's estranged daughter Sky Sutton believed her father died by his terms. If you have a question about contributing to SMN, please contact us. 1929 wheat penny. We dont plan to change that model. The two made a deal to open Popcorn Sutton Distilling and sell his whiskey on the open market, taxes and all. Crime, whiskey & homemade sex machines: The life, death and legacy of Popcorn Sutton, Americas greatest moonshiner. Pam St. Clement Birthday and Age. When he took it back home what happen to it?? Popcorn was one of a kind, a man who told it like it was! says Williams. The lawsuit was settled in 2014. Sutton's memorial grew in spectacle as country music singer Hank Williams Jr. flew in to pay his respects. Pam Sutton - Lions Automobilia Foundation [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. Pam Grier is the undisputed queen of the 1970s Blaxploitation films. Still, Popcorn has retained close ties to Maggie Valley, and the town is often viewed as the main stomping ground of the mountains most infamous shiner. His most recent conviction for selling over 650 gallons of moonshine resulted in him being placed on probation. 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. https://www.thefamouspeople.com/profiles/popcorn-sutton-46282.php. Autopsy results may be weeks away. According to the Distilled Spirits Council of the United States, the states with the most illegal stills are Georgia, North Carolina, Tennessee, and Alabama. View the web story version of this article here. Moonshine is romanticized in folklore and in the movies, Cavanaugh declared. 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. She will be greatly missed by all who knew her. His gravesite footstone reads "Popcorn Said Fuck You.'' As of 2022, she has not appeared in the media for a long time. After her death, Suttons business continued to operate, and he continued to produce moonshine until his own death in 2009. They aint no damn body that can beat me making likker. And, in the end, he chose to die rather than get beat. According to the Knoxville News Sentinel, she and her father spoke on the phone occasionally. Following this, he featured in another of Neal's documentaries, titled 'This Is the Last Dam Run of Likker I'll Ever Make,' which was a cult classic of the time and eventually caught the attention of many TV producers in Boston and New York. USA Distributor of MCM Equipment is pam sutton still alive He is buried in the. It took his money, but didnt produce popcorn, eliciting a few swift blows from Sutton to crack open the machine. Though he looked like Snuffy Smith, he had the mind of a mountain Edison and evolved his family still into an ingenious underground moonshine machine. Popcorn began making whiskey in his youth near what he called the Bend of the River, a leafy spot where, decades later, his empty grave would sit. 'It was beyond surreal'When he pleaded guilty, it was his fifth conviction. Paul Stanley (born Stanley Bert Eisen; January 20, 1952) is an American musician who is the co-founder, frontman, rhythm guitarist and co-lead vocalist of the hard rock band Kiss.He is the writer or co-writer of many of the band's most popular songs. Read on for all the details about her life now. [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. He was a friendly fellow, and of course every time you would talk to him, he would say, "Ray, I've run my last run of moonshine, I'm not gonna do it anymore, I'm just getting too old to be doing this stuff.". The life and persona of Marvin Popcorn Sutton, a world-famous moonshiner and North Carolina native, are known to all. I remember the blood gushing everywhere, she says. Pam brings more than 25 years of healthcare industry experience and currently serves as Senior Vice President and Regional Chief Operating Officer of New York Presbyterian. Copyright 2023 Distractify. This led the firefighters to discover 650 gallons of untaxed alcohol. While Sutton made his career out of this illegal trade, his rise to massive fame didnt happen until he was about 60 years old. However, most believe it was either due to vandalism of the original site or a family dispute with his widow. He was placed on probation. Box 629, Waynesville, NC 28786 828.452.4251. [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." We have a lot of people come to Maggie Valley that want to meet Popcorn.. The couple had been married for 25 years and had three children together. Shit that kills a whole other generation. His parents lived in a wooden house in a mountain perched beside a tumbling stream. For an optimal experience visit our site on another browser. As part of his undercover investigation, an undercover federal officer discovered that Sutton had 500 gallons of moonshine in his possession. Born in Maggie Valley, North Carolina,[1][2] he grew up, lived and died in the rural areas around Maggie Valley and nearby Cocke County, Tennessee. Does the TV show make real moonshine? The exact amount is unknown, but it is thought to be in the millions. Each piece is handmade in Pam's studio in Reno, Nevada. 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. Did Popcorn ever have a wife? So he Wooped the hell out of it with a pool stick. 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. For now, let's learn about Popcorn Sutton and his cause of death. Pam St. Clement was born on May 21, 1942 and is 80 years old now. Born in Maggie Valley, North Carolina, [1] [2] he grew up, lived and died in the rural areas around Maggie Valley and nearby Cocke County, Tennessee. Pam was a loving wife and mother who was always there for her family. The best way to make Popcorn Suttons recipe was discovered in a large quantity of instructions and tips. [24] He had also prepared a footstone in advance for his gravesite, and for years he had kept it by his front porch and had kept his casket ready in his living room. Fermented corn mash is used to make moonshine. While his standard moonshine tasted like sweet, buttery corn, his infusionspears, peaches, figs, black cherriescemented his greatness. To elude the cops, he switched up the cars oftenit was a 46 Willis Jeep one trip, a 53 Ford convertible the next. Yale New Haven Health names Pamela Sutton-Wallace as COO - YNHHS 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? moonshine must be made from cracked corn, and the kernels must be large enough to break down into sugar during fermentation. Marvin "Popcorn" Sutton (October 5, 1946 March 16, 2009) was an American Appalachian moonshiner and bootlegger. I sounded like absinthe. [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. If you are able, please support The Smoky Mountain News. What To Know About the Shows Creatures, Is the Great Smoky Mountains Railroad Worth It? When Popcorn Sutton was sentenced to jail in 2009 for moonshining, Pam stood by her husband. Facebook gives people the power to. In addition to serving probation after being caught with over 650 gallons of moonshine, he was also convicted of selling alcohol without a license. Cutie Pie survived a snake bite in 2017. They were not invited. 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. Suttons money has been used to fund the production of moonshine and to support the people who make it.