In the early 1950s, he formed a duo with guitarist Gary Lambert, called the Missouri Mountain Boys, and began playing country music in bars in Los Angeles.
They soon began performing on local television shows, and met singer and guitarist Eddie Cochran, who became a formative influence.
In late 1957, he signed with Era Records in Los Angeles, adopted the name Glen Glenn, and in January 1958 his first single was released, "Everybody's Movin'" backed with "I'm Glad My Baby's Gone".
After leaving the Army in 1960, he transferred to the Dore label and made some more pop-oriented recordings, which were unsuccessful.
He recorded a new album with Lambert in 1984, and continued to perform in clubs in California as well as making occasional tours in Britain and Europe.