Nudie always love Indian (Native American) stuff, and when Ray Price formed the Cherokee Cowboys after Hank Williams died the two of them made history with their themed dress.
At first Ray took up where Hank left off, and mimicked his hero and friend's singing style.
Nudie knew, as Nudie always did, that the trick was to establish your individuality and to craft a unique gimmick that would set you apart from the pack.
The world had Hank Williams for too short a time, but Ray's devotion to his mentor was stifling his own artistry.
Nudie ran with the Cherokee Cowboy (Ray renamed Hank's band the Drifting Cowboys the Cherokee Cowboys when he continued to play with them after Hank's passing) theme and loved making Ray's ever more elaborate rhinestoned Indian motif embroidered suits. Hank's long lean frame looked great in Nudie's clothes, but with Ray Price Nudie could really go hog wild with a riotously colorful and meaningful palette.
Eventually Ray found his own voice, and made his own path in Country & Western music, pioneering the Ray Price shuffle, and even taking serious heat for "crossing over" to pop music with monster hits like "For the Good Times".
This video may seem politically incorrect today, but in 1956 it illustrated Ray Price and Nudie paying homage to Native American style and customs with a humorous bent. Oh yeah, it also includes Hank Snow and a little gal by the name of June Carter, who doesn't look half bad in her Nudie get-up.
Ray is still an awesome singer -- don't miss the chance to see him in concert if he is coming to a town near you. He might even smoke a peace pipe with you.
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