Country music star Kinky Friedman dead at 79
Singer-songwriter Kinky Friedman died on Wednesday at the age of 79.
The singer, humorist and former gubernatorial candidate died at his ranch near Austin, Texas.
A statement on his social media pages read: “Kinky Friedman stepped out on a rainbow on his beloved Echo Hill, surrounded by family and friends.
“Kinkster has endured tremendous pain and unthinkable loss over the years, but he has never lost his fighting spirit and quick wit. Kinky will live on as his books are read and his songs are sung.”
Friedman ran for governor of Texas in 2006 against incumbent Governor Rick Perry, and despite a colorful campaign, he finished fourth in the race.
He was known for his enormous presence and his trademark curly hair that emerged from under a cowboy hat and a cigar in his hand.
The singer, humorist and former gubernatorial candidate died at his ranch near Austin, Texas
Friedman ran for governor of Texas in 2006 against incumbent Rick Perry, and despite a colorful campaign, he finished fourth in the race. Here he is during the race.
Friedman poses with four unidentified members of the Dallas Cowboy Cheerleaders backstage during the Farm Aid benefit concert at Texas Stadium, Dallas, Texas, March 14, 1992
Close friend Kent Perkins shared a photo of Friedman on the phone and with a cigar in his hand on his social media account, paying tribute to the star.
Perkins wrote: ‘My great friend of half a century, Kinky Friedman, slipped away from home early this morning in his sleep.
‘He leaves behind a legacy of laughter, music, loyalty, compassion, tolerance, service and wisdom.
‘He was famous as a bestselling author, humorist, songwriter and singer. But we, his close friends and family, knew him as a rescuer of unwanted dogs and cats, a compassionate, philanthropic, gentle man who devoted much of his life to helping others who were less fortunate.
“I learned a lot from Kinky. I have never met a more honest, witty, selfless, generous or sincere person than Richard Samet ‘Kinky’ Friedman.
‘Somewhere in heaven there must be a quiet corner with a big armchair, a bright standing lamp, a big stack of biographical books and a couple of old dogs wagging their tails at the faint smell of cigar smoke. Rest in peace my friend.’
Friedman, real name Richard Samet Friedman, was born in Chicago and raised in Texas, where he formed his first band, King Arthur & the Carrots, during his college years.
He then formed his second band Kinky Friedman and The Texas Jewboys in 1973, which produced his first album, ‘Solid American’.
Friedman, real name Richard Samet Friedman, was born in Chicago and raised in Texas
Friedman attends the premiere of ‘The Mojo Manifesto: The Life and Times of Mojo Nixon’ during the 2022 SXSW Conference and Festivals at the Stateside Theater on March 16, 2022 in Austin, Texas
Friedman wipes away sweat during a speech on the UT campus on Wednesday, September 28, 2005
He released music until 2018, with his best-known hits being ‘They Aint’ Makin’ Jews Like Jesus Anymore’ and ‘Ride ’em Jewboy’.
In early 1976, he also accompanied Bob Dylan on the second leg of the legendary Rolling Thunder Revue tour.
In the 1980s, he spent much of his time in New York City and developed a severe cocaine addiction, he said Rolling stone.
After he stopped writing songs altogether after this period, he reinvented himself as an author of mystery novels.
No cause of death has yet been released for the star, but Little Jewford, a member of his band and longtime friend, told the Times that he had been ill in recent months.
Friend Cleve Hattersley said in an interview with the Texas Tribune Friedman had Parkinson’s disease.
He told the outlet, “He was a communicator. An unusual, but very focused and moving communicator.
‘He could move you to tears on stage. He could make you roll on the floor laughing.”
In politics, he ran for state office in Texas and advocated for policies such as the legalization of marijuana and casino gambling.
During his campaign he also came out in favor of gay marriage. He said: ‘I support gay marriage because I believe they have the right to be as unhappy as the rest of us.’