Grammy Award-winning music icon Marty Stuart makes his Wickenburg debut in his trademark Nudie suit; performing music inspired by his Mississippi Delta upbringing and deep country roots; moving deftly between honky tonk, rockabilly, country-rock, traditional country and bluegrass. Stuart has performed and recorded with numerous music legends including Merle Haggard, Johnny Cash and Doc Watson, and is destined to join their ranks as one of country musics most influential stars.

His story is that of a kid who showed up with a mandolin and a dream, became a guitar player in the Johnny Cash Band and then proved to be a successful songwriter, arranger and producer as well.

The journey began in Philadelphia, Mississippi, where Stuarts father worked long hours at a local factory. The only chance the young boy had for quality time with his dad was Saturday afternoon when they’d sit down together to watch the syndicated country music shows on TV.

Even then on the familys small black and white set, the stars’ costumes sparkled and dazzled. Little Marty finally saw one of those suits in person, when Ernest Tubb came to the County Fair; Marty remembers it being the most beautiful thing he had ever seen.

When Stuart joined Lester Flatt and the Nashville Grass at the age of 13, his first ambition was to play the Grand Ole Opry and his second was to buy a suite like Tubbs.

He played the Opry and on his first trip to California, the bus dropped him off at Nudies Rodeo Tailors on Lankershin Blvd “the street of bad-boy fashion;” where everyone from Tubb to Elvis Presley went “shopping for clothes,” and the teenager had $250 of savings in his pocket.

“I tried on a suit,” Stuart remembers, “and asked how much it was. When Nudie (Cohen) said, $2,500, my heart sank through the floor. That sounded like more money than I would ever have.”

“Just then I felt this presence come up behind me and it was Manuel Cuevas, the same guy the older musicians had told me was the best tailor of all. He said, some day, you’ll be able to buy every suit in here, but today you’re going to get a free shirt.’ He handed me a white shirt with red and blue flowers.” The rest, as they say, is history.

By Cathy Weiss