Singer-songwriter and satirist Kinky Friedman has died at the age of 79. His death was confirmed in a post on his X account. The cause of death has not yet been revealed.
“Kinky Friedman stepped over the rainbow at his beloved Echo Hill, surrounded by his family and friends. The Kinkster has endured tremendous pain and unimaginable loss in recent years, but he never lost his fighting spirit and quick wit. Kinky will live on as long as his books are read and his songs are sung,” the post reads.
‘He leaves a legacy of laughter, music, loyalty, kindness’
In a Facebook post, Friedman’s friend Kent Perkins said the singer died in his sleep. “He leaves a legacy of laughter, music, loyalty, kindness, tolerance, service and wisdom,” Perkins wrote.
Perkins added, “He was friends with presidents, homeless vagrants, and every kind of human being; all people were of equal importance to him. His heroes included Moses, Jesus, Mahatma Gandhi, Nelson Mandela, and Winston Churchill.”
Perkins added, “His books have appeared in many languages and have a worldwide appeal. Many of his novels included a character described simply as “Kent Perkins, Private Investigator.” He involved several of us, his best friends, in a successful series of humorous murder mysteries centered around the amateur sleuthing of Kinky Friedman, a destitute singer-songwriter living at 199B Vandam Street in New York’s Greenwich Village.”
Career of Kinky Friedman
Friedman’s real name was Richard Friedman. He grew up in Texas. He formed his first band – King Arthur and the Carrots – while he was a student at the University of Texas. His second band – Kinky Friedman and the Texas Jewboys – was formed in 1973.
Friedman released his first solo album, Sold American, that same year. Some of Friedman’s most popular songs include Sold American, Honky Town Heroes, Ride ‘Em Jewboy, They Ain’t Making Jews Like Jesus Anymore, and The Ballad of Charles Whitman.
From 1975 to 1976, Friedman toured with Bob Dylan. He claimed to be the first Jewish man to appear on stage at the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville, Tennessee.
Friedman became heavily addicted to cocaine in the 1980s. “It wasn’t the greatest moment of my life,” he told Rolling Stone in 2018.
Friedman ran for governor of Texas on an independent ticket in 2006. He lost to Rick Perry, receiving 12% of the vote.
“I have prepared my last will and testament,” Friedman said in 2014. “When I die, I will be cremated and my ashes will be thrown into Rick Perry’s hair.”
Friedman was also an author and wrote detective novels. He was also a columnist for Texas Monthly.
