Sunday, November 4, 2012

In Memory of Popcorn

Bootlegging and moonshining career

Sutton's career in bootlegging—and getting caught for it—extended back to the 1970s.[2] In 1999, Sutton published Me and My Likker, an autobiography and guide to moonshine production.[4] Around the same time he produced a home video by the same name and released it on VHS tape. His first broadcast appearance was in Neal Hutcheson's documentary, "Mountain Talk," in 2002.[5] Sutton next appeared in the film that would become the cornerstone of his notoriety, "This is the Last Dam Run of Likker I'll Ever Make." Filmed and released in 2002, "The Last Run" quickly became a cult-classic and over time drew the attention of television producers in Boston and New York. The source footage from this project was re-worked into the award-winning documentary "The Last One," released in 2008. [6][7][8]Sutton was featured in a 2007 documentary Hillbilly: The Real Story, on The History Channel.[1] In November 2010, Hank Williams, Jr. announced a partnership (including Sutton's widow) to distill and distribute Sutton's whiskey legally for the first time.[9]
Sutton considered moonshine production a legitimate part of his heritage, being as he was Scots-Irish and descended from a long line of moonshiners.[2] In January 2009, after an ATF raid led by Jim Cavanaugh of Waco fame,[citation needed] Sutton was sentenced to eighteen months in a federal prison for illegally distilling spirits and possession of a firearm as a felon.[10] Sutton, 62 and recently diagnosed with cancer, pleaded with the U.S. District Judge Ronnie Greer to let him serve his sentence under house arrest. Several petitions were made in attempts to reduce or commute Sutton's sentence, to no avail.

Death

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. And his bib overalls—he always wore bib overalls. Even when he came to federal court, he was wearing bib overalls. 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.'
—Ray Snader on "Popcorn" Sutton, 2008.[11]
Sutton committed suicide by carbon monoxide poisoning on March 16, 2009, apparently to avoid a federal prison term due to begin a few days later. On October 24, 2009, Sutton's body was relocated from his original grave site in Mt. Sterling, North Carolina, to his home in Parrottsville, Tennessee, providing an opportunity for the first public memorial service to be held. He traveled to his final resting spot by horse and carriage. Sutton's memorial grew in spectacle as country music singer Hank Williams, Jr. flew in to pay his respects. It was a small memorial only for close friends and family.[12]

Nickname

In the 1960s or 70s, Sutton was given the nickname of "Popcorn" Sutton after damaging a bar's faulty popcorn vending machine with a pool cue.[1]

Popcorn Sutton's Tennessee White Whiskey

On Nov. 9, 2010, Hank Williams, Jr. announced his partnership with J&M Concepts LLC and widow Pam Sutton to distill and distribute Sutton's whiskey legally for the first time.[9] Dubbed "Popcorn Sutton's Tennessee White Whiskey," it is 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.[13] 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.[14] According to press reports, Popcorn Sutton's Tennessee White Whiskey will be initially distributed in Tennessee and throughout the southeast. The copper stills were handcrafted by Vendome Copper and Brass in Louisville, KY.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Popcorn_Sutton

More Popcorn:

popcorn loves his cats  http://youtu.be/8HcQV6_d09Y



four damn fights per pint!    http://youtu.be/h1EQdUvGCGY




hill-billy dish washer    http://youtu.be/UxBX1QLhP2w



Johnny Knoxville Interviews Popcorn Sutton 

pussy and gas education the guy from jackass did what he could but it was not enuf..    http://youtu.be/0b5mW2QF6H4

I wish more could have be done but the system Got him him..

 

 

From six years old...       http://youtu.be/5QAoSxj4yaY



P.S. Go out and buy the video! some of your money will go to the Sutton family.

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