Curly Putman


Claude Putman Jr. professionally known as Curly Putman was an American songwriter.
Born in Princeton, Alabama, his greatest success was "Green, Green Grass of Home", which was covered by Roger Miller, Elvis Presley, Kenny Rogers, Don Williams, Johnny Paycheck, Burl Ives, Johnny Darrell, Gram Parsons, Joan Baez, Jerry Lee Lewis, The Grateful Dead, Johnny Cash, Roberto Leal, Dean Martin, George Jones, Merle Haggard, Bobby Bare, Joe Tex, Nana Mouskouri, Charley Pride and Tom Jones.

Biography

Putman was the son of a sawmill worker. He joined the Navy and spent four years on the aircraft carrier.
He married Bernice Soon in 1956. Putman worked several jobs in different places in the late 1950s and early 60s, inspiring his later hit My Elusive Dreams. He penned his first big hit, Green, Green Grass of Home, when working in Nashville plugging songs for Tree Records.

Death

Putman died of congestive heart failure and kidney failure at his home in Lebanon, Tennessee at age 85.

Legacy

through the Paint Rock Valley in North Alabama is named in his honor, as well as the community park in Princeton.

Miscellany

The Paul McCartney & Wings hit "Junior's Farm" was inspired by their short stay at Putman's farm in rural Wilson County, Tennessee in 1974.
Putman's name tends to be misspelled as "Putnam" in composer credits on commercially released LP and CD packages.

Awards

Albums