• ABOUT
    • Contact
    • The Team
    • FAQ
    • Use & Privacy Policy
  • ADVERTISE
  • ROWFAX
  • JOB LISTINGS
MusicRow.com
  • CALENDARS
    • Album/EP Releases
    • Single/Track Releases
    • Industry Events
  • OBITS
  • CHARTS
    • Radio Chart (Current)
    • Radio Chart (Archives)
    • No. 1 Challenge Coin
    • Songwriter Chart (Current)
    • Songwriter Chart (Archives)
  • REVIEWS
  • MY STORY
  • NEWSLETTER
    • Newsletter (Current)
    • Newsletter (Archives)
    • SIGN UP (FREE!)
  • SUBSCRIBE
  • STORE
  • Click to open the search input field Click to open the search input field Search
  • Menu Menu

Flying Burrito Brothers’ Iconic Suits Reunited For First Time In Over 50 Years

July 21, 2023/by Lorie Hollabaugh

Photo: Courtesy of the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum

The Flying Burrito Brothers’ four iconic “Nudie suits” were reunited for the first time in more than half a century at a celebration Thursday (July 20) at the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum.

The late Chris Ethridge’s long-lost suit has been found and was unveiled alongside the three other suits currently on display in museum’s major exhibition, “Western Edge: The Roots and Reverberations of Los Angeles Country-Rock,” presented by City National Bank.

Ethridge’s suit was reported stolen from a car in 1969 shortly after it was featured on the cover of the band’s album The Gilded Palace of Sin. Recently, it was discovered that the suit was returned to Nudie’s Rodeo Tailors shop the same year, and rising pop star Elton John bought it off the shop’s rack the following year. John can be seen wearing the suit during his 1971 Top of the Pops TV performance and on the sleeve of his 1972 “Rocket Man” single in the U.K. Ethridge’s custom Nudie suit is embroidered with red and yellow roses and rhinestones. It was a nod to his southern roots and inspired by his love of the Hank Snow song “Yellow Roses,” written by Kenny Devine and Sam Nichols.

YouTube video

Necia Ethridge, Chris’ daughter, recently purchased the suit after it was spotted in an online auction. She has loaned it to the museum for its Western Edge exhibit, which opened last year and runs through May of 2025. Necia spoke at the suit unveiling event, which acknowledged her father’s musical legacy. Best known for his R&B-inspired bass playing in the Flying Burrito Brothers, he was also a songwriter and an in-demand studio musician, playing on records by Linda Ronstadt, Randy Newman, Jackson Browne and many others. Ethridge also spent nearly eight years in Willie Nelson’s touring band, and played on Nelson’s “Whiskey River.”

“His rhythmic bass lines added depth and richness to sessions and showcased his ability to effortlessly switch between different musical styles, helping to erase the cultural and musical divide between country and rock,” Necia said of her father at the event.

“This is an incredible moment for the Ethridge family and our museum,” shared Kyle Young, CEO of the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum. “To think that such an iconic piece of cosmic cowboy couture took a ride with the ‘Rocket Man’ and made it back home is almost unbelievable. But it happened, and we share that story in the exhibit. The Flying Burrito Brothers’ innovative country-rock sound and bold style continues to influence artists to this day. We’re ecstatic to be able to present all four suits together for the first time since they were seen onstage in 1969.”

During the event, Chris’ granddaughter Emma Atkinson sang “She,” a song Chris wrote with Gram Parsons from Parson’s acclaimed GP album. She was accompanied by longtime Ethridge family friends Adam Box, the drummer for Brothers Osborne, and Patrick Sansone, a multi-instrumentalist for Wilco, along with Box’s bandmates Jason Graumlich (guitar) and Pete Sternberg (bass). Following the unveiling, Sansone capped the event with a performance of “Hot Burrito #1,” a song Ethridge and Parsons wrote for The Gilded Palace of Sin.

Manuel Cuevas, who was head designer at Nudie’s Rodeo Tailors in L.A. and created the famous suits, and Phil Kaufman, who was road manager for the Flying Burrito Brothers and reported the suits stolen from his station wagon, were also in attendance at the event. The Museum’s Michael Gray provided remarks on the historical context around the suits and the Flying Burrito Brothers.

  • Author
  • Recent Posts
Lorie Hollabaugh
Lorie Hollabaugh
Hollabaugh, a staff writer at MusicRow magazine, has over 20 years of music business experience and has written for publications including American Profile, CMA Close Up, Nashville Arts And Entertainment, The Boot and Country Weekly. She has a Broadcast Journalism and Speech Communication degree from Texas Christian University, (go Horned Frogs), and welcomes your feedback or story ideas at lhollabaugh@musicrow.com.
Lorie Hollabaugh
Latest posts by Lorie Hollabaugh (see all)
  • Kip Moore Extends ‘Solitary Tracks World Tour’ Into Fall - July 8, 2025
  • Chris Young Kicks Off New Chapter With Latest LP ‘I Didn’t Come Here To Leave’ - July 8, 2025
  • Lily Rose Plots ‘I Know What I Want Tour’ For Fall - July 8, 2025
Share this entry
  • Share on Facebook
  • Share on X
  • Share on LinkedIn
  • Share by Mail
https://music-row-website-assets.s3.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/06185053/AS3_1673.jpg 1235 1920 Lorie Hollabaugh https://musicrow.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/MusicRow-header-logo-Mar19B.png Lorie Hollabaugh2023-07-21 11:28:522023-07-21 11:28:52Flying Burrito Brothers’ Iconic Suits Reunited For First Time In Over 50 Years

RECENT NEWS

  • TAIT Acquires Gallagher Staging and Productions July 8, 2025
  • Kip Moore Extends ‘Solitary Tracks World Tour’ Into Fall July 8, 2025
  • Chris Young Kicks Off New Chapter With Latest LP ‘I Didn’t Come Here To Leave’ July 8, 2025
  • Lily Rose Plots ‘I Know What I Want Tour’ For Fall July 8, 2025
  • CMHOFM To Host Interview With Chris Hillman & Dwight Yoakam July 8, 2025
  • The Store To Host Second Annual School Store July 8, 2025
  • ACM Honors Announces Industry & Studio Award Winners, Ceremony To Be Held In August July 8, 2025
  • Chris LeDoux Days Wraps With ‘The Last Go Round’ After 15-Year Run July 8, 2025
  • Jon Sherwood Inks With UMPG Nashville July 8, 2025
  • EMG & HAYLO Sign Seth Alley To Joint Publishing Deal July 8, 2025

Like Us on Facebook

Follow Us on Twitter

Tweets by MusicRow
© 2025 Music Row Enterprises, LLC - Enfold WordPress Theme by Kriesi
Website hosted by Nashville web design company, All My Web Needs.
  • Link to Facebook
  • Link to X
  • Link to Instagram
Scroll to top