Curly Putman

Curly Putman was one of country music's greatest songwriters. The son of a sawmill worker, he completed his education and spent four years in the U.S. Navy, before he himself worked in a sawmill. After completing a commercial course, he became a shoe salesman. He wrote songs and played steel guitar with various bands and in 1960, recording for the small Cherokee label, scored a number 23 country chart hit with his recording of "The Prison Song." In 1963, he relocated to Nashville, where, initially, he became a staff writer with Tree Publishing. In 1965, Porter Wagoner's record...