Claude "Curly" Putman Jr. (November 20, 1930 – October 30, 2016) was an American songwriter. Born in Princeton, Alabama, his greatest success was "Green, Green Grass of Home" (1964, sung by Porter Wagoner), 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. Among other songs he wrote were "D-I-V-O-R-C-E" and "He Stopped Loving Her Today".

Biography

Putman was the son of a sawmill worker. He joined the Navy and spent four years on the aircraft carrier USS Valley Forge (CV-45). He married Bernice Soon in 1956. Putman penned his first 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

Alabama State Route 65 through the Paint Rock Valley in North Alabama is named in Putman's honor, as well as a community park in Princeton.

Pop influence

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.

Awards

Selected list of Curly Putman recorded songs

Discography

Albums

Singles