Country Iconoclast Kinky Friedman Dies
Kinky Friedman, noted for his satirical, comedy country songs, has died at age 79.
The flamboyant entertainer sang “They Ain’t Making Jews Like Jesus Anymore,” “Get Your Biscuits in the Oven and Your Buns in the Bed,” “Homo Erectus” and similarly outrageous, humorous fare. Although never an outstanding commercial success, he was widely known and critically acclaimed.
He was born Richard Friedman in Chicago, but was raised in Texas. After serving in the Peace Corps in Borneo, he devoted himself to a music career. In 1971, he formed his band The Texas Jewboys and attempted to crack the recording industry in Los Angeles. After failing there, he relocated to Nashville and was embraced by the city’s “outlaw” country crowd.
Chuck Glaser of The Glaser Brothers produced his debut LP, Sold American. Commander Cody took it to Vanguard Records, who issued it in 1973. The following year, Friedman signed with ABC Records to release his Kinky Friedman LP. Like its predecessor, it was a critical success but a commercial failure.
Friedman toured with Bob Dylan’s Rolling Thunder Revue in 1975-76. Dubbing himself “The Kinkster,” he became a prominent fixture of the alt-country scene in Austin, Texas.
His third album was Lasso From El Paso, issued by Epic Records in 1976. Ringo Starr, Dr. John, Bob Dylan, Eric Clapton and Roger McGuinn made guest appearances. The record underscored the fact that he was adept with heartfelt, melodic songs as well as the ribald comedy that made him famous. This was also borne out via “Marilyn and Joe,” “People Who Read People Magazine” and other tunes on his 1983 collection, Under the Double Ego. It was recorded in Austin and released on the city’s independent label, Sunrise Records.
He continued to make witty, newsworthy music, notably at his weekly residency at New York Lone Star Cafe in the 1980s. But beginning in 1986, he became an author, publishing a string of 18 successful mystery novels. He also had a long-running column in Texas Monthly.
Then he turned to politics, running unsuccessfully for Justice of the Peace as a Republican in Kerr County, Texas in 1986. Undeterred, he ran as an independent for Governor of Texas in 2006, calling for the legalization of gambling, marijuana and same-sex marriage. He also ran for State Agricultural Commissioner in 2010 and 2014.
Despite or because of being politically incorrect and wildly irreverent, Friedman became regarded as a cultural treasure in the Lone Star State. He toured with Billy Joe Shaver and issued more than a dozen albums over the next 30 years.
He and Nashville singer-songwriter Kacey Jones formed the Kinkajou Records label. She produced a 1998 tribute record on Kinkajou titled Pearls In the Snow: The Songs of Kinky Friedman. It featured Dwight Yoakam, Guy Clark, Delbert McClinton, Marty Stuart, Asleep at the Wheel, Willie Nelson, Lyle Lovett, Lee Roy Parnell, Billy Swan and others singing his best-known songs.
A second tribute record appeared in 2006. Titled Why the Hell Not: The Songs of Kinky Friedman, it was recorded by Austin music stars. Charlie Robison issued a single from the collection, “Wild Man From Borneo.”
In recent years, Friedman and his sister ran an animal shelter at their family’s Texas ranch, Echo Hill. They also turned the property into a summer camp for the children of parents who died serving in the military or as first responders.
Kinky Friedman passed away on June 27 at Echo Hill, which is outside Medina, Texas. He died of Parkinson’s Disease. He is survived by his sister Marcie Friedman and his brother Roger Friedman.
A memorial service is scheduled for 2 p.m. on Thursday, July 11, 2024, at Grimes Funeral Chapels of Kerrville, Texas, which is also handling funeral arrangements (728 Jefferson Street, Kerrville, TX 78028). In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Echo Hill Gold Star Camp.
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