Provocative musician, author and former politician Kinky Friedman passes away at age 79

Provocative musician, author and former politician Kinky Friedman passes away at age 79
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The 79-year-old novelist, musician, and former politician Kinky Friedman was known for his sarcastic and frequently provocative works.

A statement on his social media said, “At his cherished Echo Hill, Kinky Friedman walked on a rainbow while surrounded by loved ones.” “Kinkster never lost his quick wit or fighting spirit despite going through unimaginable loss and excruciating anguish in recent years. As long as people read and sing his works, Kinky will continue to exist.

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Richard Samet “Kinky” Friedman amassed a cult following throughout the course of his career thanks to his distinctive, eccentric take on Western and country music. The self-described “governor of the heart of Texas” put out a number of albums, the first being 1973’s “Sold American,” which is widely regarded as his foundational record. He also made history by being the “first full-blooded Jew” to perform at the Grand Ole Opry and by touring with Bob Dylan on his “Rolling Thunder Revue.”

In addition to his work in music, Friedman wrote a lot of detective novels and contributed columns to Texas Monthly. He experimented with politics, putting out the catchphrase “My Governor is a Jewish Cowboy” during his 2006 race for governor of Texas. Out of six contenders, he ended up with 12.6 percent of the vote.

Friedman was born in Chicago, raised in Texas, and pursued his psychology degree at the University of Texas at Austin. His passion for music lead him to form King Arthur & the Carrots and then Kinky Friedman and the Texas Jewboys, a band he called a “demented love child of Lenny Bruce and Bob Wills” with a social conscience. Songs like “They Ain’t Makin’ Jews Like Jesus Anymore” and “Ride ‘Em Jewboy” caused problems for the group.

Friedman transitioned from being a musician to a novelist and free-lance writer in the 1980s, writing two books: “Elvis, Jesus and Coca-Cola: A Novel” in 1994 and “Kinky Friedman’s Handbook of Texas Etiquette: Or How to Avoid Dallas-Fort Worth on Your Way to Heaven or Hell” in 2004.

He assisted in managing the children’s Echo Hill Gold Star Camp alongside his sister Marcie. Friedman’s longtime friend Kent Perkins paid tribute to him in a social media post.

“Somewhere in heaven, there must be a peaceful spot with a large easy chair, a glowing floor lamp, a large stack of biographies, and a few elderly dogs wagging their tails to the subtle scent of cigar smoke,” the author said.

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