death_place death_date birth_date background article_title name occupation
gonzales , california 11 may 1978 9 march 1936 solo_singer glen sherley
 glen sherley singer , guitarist and songwriter
glen sherley

glen milborn sherley -lrb- march 9 , 1936 − may 11 , 1978 -rrb- was an american criminal who became a country singer-songwriter after his song `` greystone chapel '' was made famous by johnny cash in 1968 .
sherley wrote the song while in prison and it was performed by cash at his folsom prison performance , later released as the album `` at folsom prison '' .
sherley was on the front row , unaware that his song was to be played .
sherley subsequently wrote and performed a number of other songs .
however , despite help from cash , he was unable to adjust to life outside of prison , eventually committing suicide at the age of 42 .
