"Greystone Chapel" -- Glen Sherley

[@garycostello3989]

I was in Greystone Chapel this week . I volunteer to carry the message of Jesus and recovery . It was my first time back since covid locked the volunteers out over a year ago. There were 30 men singing with their own praise band . The Holy Spirit was in the house. It was 95 degrees on the yard out side and the music and men singing carried outside to the men in the yard. There are men free and at peace as a result of a personal walk with Jesus. Although they may never leave these walls. It’s a privilege to carry the message of 12 steps and Jesus to men in Greystone Chapel . 8/12/21

[@Pepsiguy]

There are countless men in prison who are free and countless free people who are in bondage. Thanks for sharing the good news.

[@ChoctawNawtic4]

Amen & God Bless you n every one of those brothers!!

[@prycerobertson4695]

Glen Sherley was destined for stardom at the time of this performance, but as we all know, old habits are tough to let go.

[@donnabauerofbrilliancebyde1178]

What happened?

[@prycerobertson4695]

@@donnabauerofbrilliancebyde1178 A few years into his stint with Johnny Cash, Glen's addictions kicked in and his behavior became unpredictable and dangerous. The last straw came when he reportedly threatened Marshall Grant (Cash's longtime bassist and road manager) with a butcher knife. Cash was forced to fire Sherley, who became estranged from his family (including his second wife) and drifted from town to town, at one point feeding cattle in a local stockyard. His only hope was to not return to prison. On May 11, 1978, he took his own life at the age of 42.

[@genebeley]

I was there with John at Hotel El Rancho in West Sacramento when Rev. Floyd Gressett asked John to listen to Glenn Shirley's demo tape. Sherley sounded so great that I kidded John, "If they let this guy out of prison, he'll put you out of business." Then I wondered why I would say that, as a 28 year-old greenhorn reporter, to Johnny Cash, even in jest! That's when John asked me to bring my old Sony reel-to-reel tape recorder to his room so he could copy copy down the lyrics because he was going to record it the next day at the now historic concert. As the world knows now, John later got Glenn a pardon from Governor Reagan and hired him on his show. I saw Glenn Sherley perform in Anaheim March 1, 1969 and thought he looked out of place alongside the seasoned veterans that also included Carl Perkins, the Statler Brothers, and guest star Marty Robbins that night. I'm surprised some movie or TV producer hasn't made a show out of Glenn's life, but it was a bad ending that was a huge life disappointment to John.

[@garry1214]

Thanks for sharing, it is very interesting. I had forgot that Johnny Cash had recorded Greystone Chapel until I was listening to the Live album from Folsom. I came here to KZbin and to Spotify to learn more about Glen Sherley.

[@IfThatAintCountry12]

I heard a part of your story on "Here And Now" on NPR the other day. Great, if not tragic, story. Thanks for documenting it!

[@taxisteve929]

Prison doesn't get you ready for life on the outside. It's not a finishing school, and the tragedy is that when someone spends extended time behind bars, life on the outside is not normal for them. Like growing up in a dysfunctional home.....that becomes your normal. They have made some improvements in that area, but in those days, and earlier, it was intended for one purpose. Punishment. Still a mess though. I guess it's just too expensive to do it the right way, so like tuning a guitar, you have to deal with compensation. As for your comment about him putting Johnny Cash out of business, I hadn't heard that, and it made me laugh. One of those things we've all done, as the last word leaves the mouth, the head is asking "Why the hell did I just say that....what an idiot I am"......and I've done it more than most. Thanks for the info!!!

[@bonito613]

that's nuts, class to hear those storys

[@John-p9m2c]

Gene Beley oh wow,I’m pretty sure that’s a memory that you could never forget

[@ForeverYoung58]

This performance by Sherley proved that the fact that Cash liked and performed his song at Folsom was not a fluke. This guy really did have talent. It's a shame that he didn't have what it took to handle life and notoriety on the outside. A sad, tragic story.

[@sheatiller2465]

Cash’s performance of it on the Folsom Prison album is really just the perfect album closer.

[@ChoctawNawtic4]

What happened to him?

[@shawnhall2412]

@@ChoctawNawtic4 en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Glen_Sherley

[@warrenlanglois168]

Didn't he die awhile ago?

[@shawnhall2412]

@@warrenlanglois168 His life came unraveled after Cash let him go. Much alcohol and drugs. He became estranged from his wife and kids. In 1978, while under the influence of something, he shot a man. Days later, he took his own life, shooting himself in the head.

[@markmarkofkane8167]

First time I heard Glen sing this. He's a good singer as well as songwriter.

[@leanajo754]

A great singer and guitar player. But unfortunately, old habits are hard to break and old behaviors are hard to change...RIP, Mr. Sherley 😔🙏💗🌹

[@ryeradio80]

I just visited his grave here in California. He is buried at the Shafter CA cemetery

[@haroldwilliams1535]

This is a excellent song..This guy would have been great if he lived...With Johnny's help he got recognition for this song...

[@friendlier]

I don't claim to understand the prison experience, but videos like this on youtube hit home in a way that's hard to deny. Thanks for posting.

[@NeilsonGaudin-ht6cj]

Your a legend behind the walls brother Neilson Gaudin Ontario canada

[@janellgenoud9678]

He was my Dad's friend. I have an awesome pic of them together.

[@rowefamily8672]

You know I have Mercy and Compassion for those in Prison and some of them just made a mistake and some grew up in homes that were not good. Jesus said for us to go into the Prisons and preach the Gospel so all of you who want to Judge them need to think about how you never walked in there shoes. I feel so bad for them to be in prison and have to live in a small room, can you Imagine how hard that is. have some compassion and pray for them tonight before you go to sleep that Jesus will save them from the sins that have them in prison. i am going to pray and my son in law is getting out of prison by Christmas he has been in there 7 years for stealing some metal on the road. he needs prayer that he never steals again. I pray he will get his life together for my 2 grand children who are 8 and 9.

[@ChoctawNawtic4]

Update?

[@dennisarnold2250]

Everyone out there include him in your prayers. Please

[@MSASteelerPSG]

I think down deep, he was a really good person who'd just gone down the wrong road in life. Merle Haggard comes to mind here. What might have been or could have been. Maybe even what should have been. Who's to say? Really like Glen's songs.

[@ryeradio80]

I visited his gravesite in Shafter CA. Blown away by his story

[@dhaeze]

what a sad story. He was given a immense opportunity but he couldn't cope with it.

[@eamonnobrien1410]

you are not forgotten ❤️

[@JenniferJohnson-p8h]

That’s MY Grandfather !

[@DYSW]

He was a great man, natural born songwriter and law free cowboy. 6 likes, it deserves more, hit it - you can do it.

[@tonybianco7897]

Its taken me years to find this, by fluke I got hold of a rare master video of the concert at tennessee prison, Rest in peace Glen, just another flower out of place.

[@wolfedavid3700]

yes...……….thank you god for caring for me...……..

[@tonykillen9159]

Class 🔥🇮🇪

[@leonolanofficial4581]

Up the irish

[@martinamairitsch2467]

I agree to your statement. Working very long as a social worker I know about the poblems of ex-prisoners. Language in prison is different from outside - much more violent and threats are a normal form of communication there - has something to do with the picking order and does not mean the same as outside. Very sad that this brilliant musician could not take the chance - maybe it was to late and he had done too much time and just could not find the way back to normal life again.

[@alanwebb5422]

Brilliant song, amazing lyrics

[@ChoctawNawtic4]

Amen, I love it!!

[@Danielemattioli55]

Super sound

[@lostindiancamp]

He was a violent criminal who had a funny way of showing his appreciation to the people who pulled a lot of strings to get him out of prison, and then go out of their way to help him have a good life once he was free. Maybe he wasn't ready for all the pressure of a singing career, but that is no excuse whatsoever for making deadly threats toward a man, especially a man who tried so hard to help him.

[@johnmcclintock8004]

He did not threaten Cash !!!

[@budderkupp1282]

@@johnmcclintock8004 You're right. He threatened other members of the band & the tour, but not Johnny. Sadly, Johnny had to fire him though. Glen just could not cope with the outside world.

[@John-gn7cl]

Why judge him ? None have walked his walk ,he was put in johnny cash's road for a reason ,who are we to mingle in what the creator has laid out for us ,how many have ever had to fight demons in there life ,his walk was to to further Johnny's walk ,he has family here have respect

[@mikes7070]

Knew Rev Gressett well and he was awesome. He was Pastor of the Avenue Community Church in Ventura CA.

[@LeeH.Abraham_]

how wondeful!

[@glennMcarson]

great

[@MrGoogelaar]

Glen wrote this song but the man who really made this song was Johnny Cash, there is no comparison between their voices and the way they sang. The Man in black was a true legend.

[@levivandermolen7223]

Philip Koen You gotta admit though, Glen performed it pretty darn well in this clip too.

[@RM-eo3uu]

Gene Beley you have been blessed with and incredible opportunity to be a part of History with Johnny Cash and the Folsom Prison recording. The one thing I'm a little confused about, is the date you mentioned when you saw Glenn Shirley was 1969. I saw the Johnny Cash show in 1971, after Johnny had completed his ABC television series. Glenn was a part of the show as he had just been paroled in 1971. The show you saw, was there a special circumstance that Glenn Shirley was able to perform, on a special release due to Johnny Cash's involvement. Or is it just a mistake on the date.

[@susanjones212]

Yes, very sad. And it's sad that too often you parole or reprieve a man from prison but you can't take the prison outta the man. Too bad Norman Mailer didn't consider this when he got involved with the release and exploitation of Jack Abbott. In short Abbott was living in a dump on the Bowery and killed a waiter for no good reason 6 weeks after his release. Glen Sherley it appears fared well for a good while but in the end....the only body on him was his own.Glen's life would be one helluva ballad.

[@taxisteve929]

Can someone answer this with certainty, not just something they heard. Did Glen Sherley ever commit murder? I see several commenting that he did, and serval on the web say it, but I had always thought he didn't. He had the monkey on his back and had to feed it, and committed armed robberies....the days before access to things that made withdrawal bearable. I remember when a close friend got out, and the first week, everything was a confrontation. Not hard to tell when someone just got out from doing a stint. They're still in prison mode, where daily life is a confrontation. I told him, "Hey Man!! You're not in prison anymore. We're back in the civilized world where we don't have to fight our way through every conversation or be marked as a punk.", and he would shake his head, mad at himself, apologize and say "It's so hard to get that out of you once it's in you". But he did. And life got normal. But it was a grind. I think Glen Sherley got too much too fast and no preparation for live out of the jungle....on the good side, if he couldn't face life's pain anymore, he's in peace and a paradise he had never known here. Thanks for any information!!

[@juicygiraffe743]

hes my grandfather

[@ConstantineCaviris]

Do you have the rest of Glen Sherly's performance from that show? I have the reissue, but they took all of his performances out and it's hard to find the original...if you have the rest and it's not too much trouble could you please upload it? Many thanks, CGC

[@barbarapatterson1848]

When he committed suicide he had killed a man and he knew everything he had accomplished while he was out had gone out the door no going back from that he knew he was done

[@john6218att]

he sounded great could have made it big

[@michaelx7161]

It was sad that Glen Sherley had gone back to Prison. JR gave him a chance but I guess when u mix life on the road and an ex-con they don't mix...

[@chrissyc9652]

+Michael Olbrish Yeah, eventually when he got he killed himself due to being unable to adjust to life outside. That`s tragic stuff.

[@Larm2112]

awesome!

[@slayertheprayer1]

I'm not saying it's an excuse but life is very different in prison than it is on the outside. Any man who has been institutionalized in a penitentiary will tell you that he will never be the same again. Normal rules don't apply in there, I wouldn't hesitate to say that it is literally fucking gladiator rules in prison. I'm not saying what he said to the guy was just, but threats are far from actually slitting another man's throat.

[@dennisarnold2250]

It's hard to understand someone like shirley...he has talent but somehow he went down the wrong road then he gets out of prison and ends up killing himself.......that's so sad....

[@marlenesullivan3113]

Very sad.it was tough in here those days, today they have all modern entertainment

[@usserydavid4822]

He must have led a rough life. There is no way he is over 42 in this video (killed himself at the age of 42). He looks like 60+ here.

[@slayertheprayer1]

Have you ever done time in prison?

[@marlenesullivan3113]

A BIG LOSS TO COUNTRY MUSIC🚶🎸🧡

[@cielant7319]

1.21min…shit, they got Kurt Russell at Tennessee State Prison.

[@stevestockner]

Whats he doing there?

[@enriquerosario8587]

wao...

[@lostindiancamp]

No, I am proud to say, I have not. Him being in prison is no excuse for making threatening comments to that man.

[@MrNenai]

🕋⛪🎶🎸

[@brucemcaleney5241]

In my opinion only, glen shirley did his song no justice after johnny sang it.

[@TomDuff-c3i]

Tell me that song wasnt inpired by Christ lol Thats why we shouldnt judge anyone, God gives us all talents .The poor man was really hurting I pray for people in prisons we should pray for everyone 😊

[@TylerJohnson-wp2qf]

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[@kirkstanford]

Then he shot himself.

[@Affra1]

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