Manuel Cuevas: Nashville's Celebrity Clothing Icon
Clip: Season 27 | 5m 22sVideo has Closed Captions
Manuel Cuevas: Nashville's Celebrity Clothing Icon
Anyone in the rock 'n' roll and country world knows of Manuel Cuevas, a fashion designer known for his rhinestone-studded suits. The Michoacán, Mexico native learned much of his craft from the legendary tailor Nudie Cohen, and he's created looks for countless celebrities including Johnny Cash and Elvis Presley. ROADSHOW sat down with Manuel in his studio and store while visiting Nashville in 2022.
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Manuel Cuevas: Nashville's Celebrity Clothing Icon
Clip: Season 27 | 5m 22sVideo has Closed Captions
Anyone in the rock 'n' roll and country world knows of Manuel Cuevas, a fashion designer known for his rhinestone-studded suits. The Michoacán, Mexico native learned much of his craft from the legendary tailor Nudie Cohen, and he's created looks for countless celebrities including Johnny Cash and Elvis Presley. ROADSHOW sat down with Manuel in his studio and store while visiting Nashville in 2022.
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Learn Moreabout PBS online sponsorshipMANUEL CUEVAS: I've never been poor, I'’’ve never been rich.
I, I just LAURA WOOLLEY: But you'’’ve always been well-dressed.
CUEVAS: Well!
CORAL PEÑA: Who did classic country crooners and music legends such as Elvis Presley, John Lennon, and Frank Sinatra turn to for one-of-a-kind costumes?
Manuel Cuevas, a celebrity fashion designer from Michoacán, Mexico, who may just be one of the most famous clothing icons that you'’’ve never heard of.
Manuel is credited for countless iconic celebrity looks, including helping Johnny Cash become The Man in Black.
CUEVAS: He'’’s the famous [one], I am not.
PEÑA: And today, his show-stopping rhinestone suits line the Country Music Hall of Fame.
During ROADSHOW'’’s 2022 stop in Nashville, our cameras made a special visit to Manuel'’’s studio and storefront in the neighborhood of Berry Hill, where we spoke to him about his 80-plus-year career.
CUEVAS: I was seven years old.
It was in front of my brother that he told me, Why don'’’t you help me sit down at the sewing machine and make these hats?
I said, Why don'’’t I?
So I sat down at the sewing machine and I haven't gotten up yet.
I started making my shirts and my pants and one year later, my coats, and I said, I'’’m never gonna dress like the rest of the people.
It's just amazing, the friendships that I acquired.
I mean, I never met a musician I didn'’’t like, honestly.
They'’’re good people.
I knew about the Beatles before they came to the United States, and I love the Beatles.
I love John Lennon, one of my best friends [is] John.
Frank Sinatra gave me a $1,000 tip.
I fitted the first outfit for him in his life.
And he gave me a tip, I put it inside my coat.
I never touched it until I got home.
And Frank Sinatra, Frank Sinatra everybody [was] making a big [deal about] Frank Sinatra.
I said, Who'’’s this guy?
I met Elvis Presley two days after I met his manager, but I didn't know who Elvis Presley was.
All I knew is that this guy with a stinking cigar told me he was worth $1 million, I said, So was the kid last week, I said.
Linda Dyer was, in fact, a very likable person from the beginning when we met and she wanted to get some clothing from me.
LINDA DYER: Being there in the studio in the shop, I'd watch the door open and I'’’d watch either a new artist come in or an old artist come in all looking for him.
One of my favorite adventures of being in Manuel'’’s store is I walked in, and the place was alive with people speaking Spanish.
So I'’’m thinking, Oh, his family'’’s in town.
It turned out to be a very important Tejano band called Los Tigres Del Norte, The Northern Tigers.
And Manuel was given permission by the country of Mexico to make jackets for them with the rampant eagle on it, holding the snake, which is verboten to reproduce.
And he'’’s been honored in his home country numerous times.
Manuel created a collection of state jackets, one for each state in the union.
It'’’s his thank you for what this country has given to him.
CUEVAS: How in the world can you thank a country?
I'’’m not Joan of Arc, I'’’m not you know.
DYER: His vision for them is to be housed in one major location but he created two of each.
So one was to go to each state and be in their state house.
Manuel: I said [from] what I know, I'm going to write the history of each state in one and a half yards of fabric.
and I'’’m going to call that jacket the State Jacket for the 50 States of America.
And I'’’m just going to give them to the country.
DYER: I would go in when I heard we were doing the ROADSHOW in Texas And I'’’d pray Texas was a good color on me because he would just let me take them and they'’’re valued at, like, $40,000 apiece.
People have so much love for him because he's always been present but never his dreams are not big.
They're not about financial gain, his dream is about creating.
CUEVAS: I've never had any time in my short life as a young man [not] wanting to do something like what I'm doing now.
I want to die with the scissors in my hand.
What I do I love.
So I really have not worked an hour in my life.
Appraisal: 'The Cowboy and the Lady' Painted Sculpture
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Clip: S27 | 3m 27s | Appraisal: 'The Cowboy and the Lady' Painted Sculpture (3m 27s)
Appraisal: Santa Fe Fiesta Outfit by Elita Wilson, ca. 1950
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Clip: S27 | 2m 29s | Appraisal: Santa Fe Fiesta Outfit by Elita Wilson, ca. 1950 (2m 29s)
Appraisal: Rolex Moonphase Calendar Watch, ca. 1953
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Clip: S27 | 3m 25s | Appraisal: Rolex Moonphase Calendar Watch, ca. 1953 (3m 25s)
Appraisal: Rémy Martin Cognac Decanter by Baccarat, ca. 1938
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Clip: S27 | 3m 31s | Appraisal: Rémy Martin Cognac Decanter by Baccarat, ca. 1938 (3m 31s)
Appraisal: Larry Bird-signed Shoes, ca. 1978
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Clip: S27 | 2m 25s | Appraisal: Larry Bird-signed Shoes, ca. 1978 (2m 25s)
Appraisal: Hovsep Pushman "The Persian Book" Painting
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Clip: S27 | 3m 36s | Appraisal: Hovsep Pushman "The Persian Book" Painting (3m 36s)
Appraisal: Gorham Silver Beer Pitcher, ca. 1900
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Clip: S27 | 2m 9s | Appraisal: Gorham Silver Beer Pitcher, ca. 1900 (2m 9s)
Appraisal: Baltimore Orioles Game-used Bats & Signed Cards
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Clip: S27 | 3m 13s | Appraisal: Baltimore Orioles Game-used Bats & Signed Cards (3m 13s)
Appraisal: 1931 Albert Einstein-signed Speech
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Clip: S27 | 3m 3s | Appraisal: 1931 Albert Einstein-signed Speech (3m 3s)
Appraisal: 1899 Edition of 'The Sonnets of Shakespeare'
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Clip: S27 | 3m 48s | Appraisal: 1899 "The Sonnets of Shakespeare" Roycroft Press Edition (3m 48s)
ROADSHOW as a horror movie | Thrills & Chills Trailer
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Clip: S27 | 1m 12s | ANTIQUES ROADSHOW as a horror movie | "Thrills & Chills" trailer (1m 12s)
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Clip: S27 | 2m | Who Knew?! How to Spot a No. 1 Barbie (2m)
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Clip: S27 | 5m 22s | Manuel Cuevas: Nashville's Celebrity Clothing Icon (5m 22s)
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Clip: S27 | 5m 50s | ROADSHOW appraiser and artist Tony Abeyta discusses how climate change influences his work (5m 50s)
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Preview: S27 | 30s | Get a sneak peak of Season 27! (30s)
Appraisal: Texas Fall-front Desk, ca. 1860
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Clip: S27 Ep21 | 3m 32s | Appraisal: Texas Fall-front Desk, ca. 1860 (3m 32s)
Appraisal: Makuzu Kozan Porcelain Teapot, ca. 1890
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Clip: S27 Ep21 | 3m 31s | Appraisal: Makuzu Kozan Porcelain Teapot, ca. 1890 (3m 31s)
Appraisal: Guy Wiggins 'Old Trinity, New York Winter' Oil
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Clip: S27 Ep21 | 3m 40s | Appraisal: 1930 Guy Wiggins 'Old Trinity, New York Winter' Oil (3m 40s)
Appraisal: George Ohr Pottery, ca. 1900
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Clip: S27 Ep21 | 3m 42s | Appraisal: George Ohr Pottery, ca. 1900 (3m 42s)
Appraisal: English Victorian Wall Clock, ca. 1870
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Clip: S27 Ep21 | 2m 42s | Appraisal: English Victorian Wall Clock, ca. 1870 (2m 42s)
Appraisal: English Mocha Ware Jug, ca. 1800
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Clip: S27 Ep21 | 2m 34s | Appraisal: English Mocha Ware Jug, ca. 1800 (2m 34s)
Appraisal: Egyptian Revival Folk Art Table, ca. 1925
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Clip: S27 Ep21 | 2m 51s | Appraisal: Egyptian Revival Folk Art Table, ca. 1925 (2m 51s)
Appraisal: Early 20th C. Nippon Coralene Vase
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Clip: S27 Ep21 | 1m 35s | Appraisal: Early 20th C. Nippon Coralene Vase (1m 35s)
Appraisal: Dutch Miniature Cutlery Box, ca. 1800
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Clip: S27 Ep21 | 2m 24s | Appraisal: Dutch Miniature Cutlery Box, ca. 1800 (2m 24s)
Appraisal: Dallas Memorabilia & Tennessee Sampler
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Clip: S27 Ep21 | 3m 7s | Appraisal: Dallas Memorabilia & Tennessee Sampler (3m 7s)
Appraisal: American Folk Art Rag Doll, ca. 1895
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Clip: S27 Ep21 | 2m 12s | Appraisal: American Folk Art Rag Doll, ca. 1895 (2m 12s)
Appraisal: Alexander Calder Brooch, ca. 1958
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Clip: S27 Ep21 | 1m 38s | Appraisal: Alexander Calder Brooch, ca. 1958 (1m 38s)
Appraisal: 1925 Paolo Troubetzkoy Bronze Figure
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Clip: S27 Ep21 | 2m 23s | Appraisal: 1925 Paolo Troubetzkoy Bronze Figure (2m 23s)
Appraisal: 1906 Louis Akin Chromolithograph
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Clip: S27 Ep21 | 1m 2s | Appraisal: 1906 Louis Akin Chromolithograph (1m 2s)
Appraisal: 1867 Wilhelm Velten Landscape Oil
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Clip: S27 Ep21 | 1m 23s | Appraisal: 1867 Wilhelm Velten Landscape Oil (1m 23s)
Appraisal: 1830 "The Book of Mormon" First Printing
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Clip: S27 Ep21 | 2m 15s | Appraisal: 1830 "The Book of Mormon" First Printing (2m 15s)
Appraisal: 17th C. Brussels Tapestry
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Clip: S27 Ep21 | 2m 24s | Appraisal: 17th C. Brussels Tapestry (2m 24s)
Appraisal: William H. D. Koerner Oil Illustration, ca. 1935
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Clip: S27 Ep20 | 3m 8s | Appraisal: William H. D. Koerner Oil Illustration, ca. 1935 (3m 8s)
Appraisal: Turned Ash Burl Bowl, ca. 1820
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Clip: S27 Ep20 | 3m 1s | Appraisal: Turned Ash Burl Bowl, ca. 1820 (3m 1s)
Appraisal: Tiffany Cypriote Glass Vase, ca. 1926
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Clip: S27 Ep20 | 3m 1s | Appraisal: Tiffany Cypriote Glass Vase, ca. 1926 (3m 1s)
Appraisal: Shoami Katsuyoshi Mixed-metal Group, ca. 1890
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Clip: S27 Ep20 | 2m 47s | Appraisal: Shoami Katsuyoshi Mixed-metal Group, ca. 1890 (2m 47s)
Appraisal: Miniature Hebrew Bible, ca. 1850
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Clip: S27 Ep20 | 2m 9s | Appraisal: Miniature Hebrew Bible, ca. 1850 (2m 9s)
Appraisal: Knoll Platner Chair, ca. 1980
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Clip: S27 Ep20 | 1m 31s | Appraisal: Knoll Platner Chair, ca. 1980 (1m 31s)
Appraisal: Frances H. Burnett Archive, ca. 1888
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Clip: S27 Ep20 | 3m 42s | Appraisal: Frances H. Burnett Archive, ca. 1888 (3m 42s)
Appraisal: E. Howard & Co. No. 1 Regulator, ca. 1870
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Clip: S27 Ep20 | 1m 21s | Appraisal: E. Howard & Co. No. 1 Regulator, ca. 1870 (1m 21s)
Appraisal: Clyde Milan Book & Cleveland Baseball Petition
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Clip: S27 Ep20 | 2m 59s | Appraisal: Clyde Milan Scrapbook & Cleveland Baseball Petition (2m 59s)
Appraisal: Cleveland Cycles Poster, ca. 1895
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Clip: S27 Ep20 | 3m 6s | Appraisal: Cleveland Cycles Poster, ca. 1895 (3m 6s)
Appraisal: Billy Haines Dining Table, ca. 1953
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Clip: S27 Ep20 | 2m 49s | Appraisal: Billy Haines Dining Table, ca. 1953 (2m 49s)
Appraisal: Beggs Steam Train Set, ca. 1885
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Clip: S27 Ep20 | 3m 43s | Appraisal: Beggs Steam Train Set, ca. 1885 (3m 43s)
Appraisal: 1944 Signed Winston Churchill Photograph
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Clip: S27 Ep20 | 1m 11s | Appraisal: 1944 Signed Winston Churchill Photograph (1m 11s)
Appraisal: 1910 Samuel Halpert "The Studio Interior" Oil
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Clip: S27 Ep20 | 2m 58s | Appraisal: Samuel Halpert "The Studio Interior" Oil, ca. 1910 (2m 58s)
Appraisal: 1897 Presentation LeCoultre Chronograph & Box
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Clip: S27 Ep20 | 3m 6s | Appraisal: 1897 Presentation LeCoultre Chronograph & Box (3m 6s)
Appraisal: 1884 Salvatore Pagano Rocking Chair
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Clip: S27 Ep20 | 1m 41s | Appraisal: 1884 Salvatore Pagano Rocking Chair (1m 41s)
Appraisal: 1877 Japanese Imari Charger
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Clip: S27 Ep20 | 2m 22s | Appraisal: 1877 Japanese Imari Charger (2m 22s)
Appraisal: 1862 Sharps & Hankins Rifle Serial No. 1
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Clip: S27 Ep20 | 3m 15s | Appraisal: 1862 Sharps & Hankins Rifle (3m 15s)
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Funding for ANTIQUES ROADSHOW is provided by Ancestry and American Cruise Lines. Additional funding is provided by public television viewers.