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Glenn is probably known to many country music fans for his songwriting. But he's been active as a performer as well. In the late 1950s, he was working with Slim Mims and the Dream Ranch Boys while he was in the Air Force then. After finishing school, Glenn began to sell insurance during the day and used his multi-instrumental talents playing at various clubs around Jackson, Mississippi with Murray Kellum. During that time, around 1963, Glenn had a single on the flip-side of Murray's hit, "Long Tall Texan". In 1964, Glenn made the move to Nashville. Almost from the start, he found an audience for his songwriting talents. Hank Williams, Jr. cut his tune, "Guess What, That's Right, She's Gone". He also began a long association with Billy Sherrill that led to many hit tunes over the decades.
Glenn was nice enough to send along some information about the stories behind some of the country music classics he had a hand in writing.
Almost Persuaded We were at his house one night working on a song and we had a couple of verses but still no chorus or real hook - we sat for hours trying to think of one with no luck. We were just about to call it a night when Billy was sittin' at the piano, thumbin' through an old hymn book. He came across a title that caught his eye and thus "Almost Persuaded" was born. We finished it in about an hour. Charlie Walker was on tour at the time, but Billy had David Houston recording the next week, so he cut it with him. We really didn't think too much of it at the time, so a song called "We Got Love" came out as the "A" side. (We owe) thanks to a D.J. in Atlanta named Mack Curtis who played the "B" side on his morning drive time show. (Mack) got over 100 phone calls; our lives were changed forever. To this day when I see Charlie Walker, he still reminds me that "Almost Persuaded" was written for him. But like they tell that tuna in that commercial, 'Sorry, Charlie'".
The truth is, I really had nothing. But, I couldn't tell him that. Finally, the day before Jerry Lee was to cut, Al called me and was in the old Studio A at Columbia, doing a mix on something when I took the call. Al asked, "Have you got the song for Jerry Lee or not?" I said, "Yes, I've got it; I'll take it to Jerry in the morning." Well, Al being the publisher, asked me, "What's the title of it so I can call Jerry and tell him?" Well, as fate would have it, I looked down on the floor and someone had left a newspaper lying there and it was open to a full page ad on Schlitz Beer. So I said, "What's Made Milwaukee Famous". Al said, "Kid, I Love it". That night, I went home and wrote the song and took it to Jerry the next day and they cut it. I'm glad Al was so persistent; other than "Almost Persuaded", it's been my biggest money maker.""
Fans will enjoy taking a walk down memory lane when they read the titles of some of the other tunes that Glenn had a hand in writing: Co-written with Billy Sherrill:
By Glenn Sutton
Co-written with George Richey
Glenn is known for his sense of humor as can be seen in some of the tunes he's recorded himself. He had a hit tune in 1979, called "The Football Card" about betting on Football that was on the country charts as well as the Pop Charts. He is said to be an avid toy collector as well. Someone wrote he is a bit of an off-the-wall character in Nashville, said to have started the pie-throwing craze. Then when Webb Pierce finished his guitar-shaped swimming pool, Glenn proceeded to swim the entire length of the pool in an Esther Williams swimsuit and cap (one can only wish someone took a picture of that occasion!) He later did another humorous recording, "Red Neck Disco", a story about a country band manager who refuses to play disco. In his recording career, he has recorded for Ace Records, M.O.C., MGM, Epic, Mercury and Studio 16 so far.
Lynn Anderson is the daughter of Casey and Liz Anderson. The 1968 article contained a lot of details about the ceremony. Kathy Sherrill (we presume to be the daughter of Billy Sherrill) was the flower girl. The ring bearer was Maser Royce Ponder. Billy Sherrill was the best man; Al Gallico, Norris Wilson Bob Morgan and Jerry Crutchfield served as groomsmen. Miss Nancy Ely then of Sacramento, California served as maid of honor and bridesmaids included Arlana Arnold, Lois Jenson, Sandra Austin. Glenn went to later produce Lynn's biggest hit, (I Never Promised You A) Rose Garden, that was released on November 7, 1970, a tune that stayed on the charts for twenty weeks and led to her winning a Grammy award as best Female Country Vocal Performance in 1971. The couple divorced in 1977. Credits & Sources
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Glenn Sutton was the son of Mr. and Mrs. (Winfred W.) Sutton who lived in Jackson,
Mississippi at the time of her son's marriage in 1968. Glenn was
born in Hodge, Louisiana, a town due east of Bossier City. Glenn grew up in Henderson,
Texas and actually began honing his songwriting skills when he was just ten years
old.
In 1966, Merle Kilgore signed Glenn to the Al Gallico Music publishing company.
And just about that time, he wrote his all-time classic tune which we'll let
him tell the story of how that one came about and a couple others.
What's Made Milwaukee Famous (Has Made A Loser Out of Me)
On the personal side, Glenn married singer, Lynn Anderson on May 4, 1968
at the First Baptist Church of Hendersonville, Tennessee with the Reverend
Courtney Wilson officiating according to a 1968 article.
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