Glenn Durwood Stilwell, Jr. was born in Woodville, Texas, and moved to Port Arthur with his family at the age of nine. He graduated from Thomas Jefferson High School and later attended the University of Texas at Austin.

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A naturally gifted musician, Glenn played both guitar and piano from an early age. During his junior and senior high school years, he performed under the stage name Glenn Wells. During this period he wrote, performed, and recorded a number of songs with The Blends, a band he formed with fellow Port Arthur musicians.

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His first record, “Write Me a Letter,” enjoyed significant regional success when it was released on Jin Records, one of Louisiana’s influential early rock, swamp pop, and R&B labels. The single was recorded in 1961 and produced by the noted studio figure Huey P. Meaux (later removed here if you prefer—just let me know). The record placed Wells among a wave of young Gulf Coast artists whose early releases helped shape the swamp-pop sound of the era.

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He later released “You’re Mine Tonight,” another of his original compositions, which received nationwide distribution through United Artists Records, giving him broader exposure beyond the Texas–Louisiana region. Other releases included “Lesson in Love” and “Written in the Stars,” which continued to build his reputation as a young singer-songwriter with crossover pop potential.

 

In addition to his recording career, Glenn briefly performed on regional radio and television programs promoting Gulf Coast musicians of the early 1960s. His early records, now collectible among swamp-pop and rockabilly enthusiasts, remain part of the musical legacy of Southeast Texas artists who contributed to the region’s distinct sound.