Who in the Heck Is Nuta Kutlyarenko and Why Is He a Country Music Legend?

Chances are you don't know Nuta Kotyarenko. Almost certainly you've never heard him sing, because he wasn't a singer. And you've never sang along with a great country song he wrote, because he wasn't a songwriter.

Yet, despite all that, Nuta Kotyarenko played a huge role in the history and evolution of the music we all love.

Safe to say that classic country music would have been a lot more bland (looking) with our friend Nuta.

If you've ever watched, either live or on video, legends like Lefty Frizzell, Porter Wagoner, Tex Williams, Roy Rogers and dozens of others (including Elvis and perhaps most notably Webb Pierce), well, you've seen the genius of Nuta Kotyarenko.

Because this Russian native became... Nudie. As in 'Nudie Suits'.

Some call the rhinestones, spangles, designs and sparkles garrish, outlandish, silly and worse. At the same time, many more called them beautiful, spectacular, amazing, stunning and star-making.

But Nudie was more than suits. Let's have a look at the life and times of Nuta Kotya...oops, I mean Nudei.