Kinky Friedman, Renowned Texas Satirist and Music Icon Dies at 79

A statement posted on Friedman’s X account confirmed his death: “Kinky Friedman stepped on a rainbow at his beloved Echo Hill surrounded by family & friends. Kinkster endured tremendous pain & unthinkable loss in recent years but he never lost his fighting spirit and quick wit. Kinky will live on as his books are read and his songs are sung.”

Early Life and Musical Career

Friedman grew up in Texas and showed early signs of his unique personality and talent. As a student at the University of Texas, he formed his first band, King Arthur & the Carrots. In 1973, he formed Kinky Friedman and the Texas Jewboys, a band that combined country music with satirical and often controversial lyrics. That same year, he released his first solo album, “Sold American,” which established him as a successful country and western singer.

Some of his best-known songs include “Sold American,” “Honky Tonk Heroes,” “Ride ’em Jewboy,” “They Ain’t Makin’ Jews Like Jesus Anymore,” and “The Ballad of Charles Whitman.” Friedman toured with Bob Dylan from 1975 to 1976 and claimed to be the first Jewish person to perform on stage at the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville, Tennessee.

Struggles and Reinvention

Friedman’s music career peaked in the 1970s and 1980s. During this time, he struggled with cocaine addiction, which he candidly described in a 2018 interview with Rolling Stone as “not the highlight of my life.” Despite these challenges, Friedman continued to create and perform music until 2018.

Political Aspirations and Writing Career

In 2006, Friedman ran for governor of Texas as an independent candidate, using the slogan “My Governor Is a Jewish Cowboy.” Although he received 12% of the vote, he lost to Rick Perry. Known for his humor and wit, Friedman once quipped, “When I die, I’m going to be cremated and the ashes are to be thrown in Rick Perry’s hair.”

In addition to his music and political endeavors, Friedman was a prolific author. He wrote numerous detective novels, including “Elvis, Jesus and Coca-Cola” and “God Bless John Wayne,” and served as a columnist for Texas Monthly in the 2000s. His writing career was reportedly sparked by an encounter with a mugger, which was covered by the New York Post.

Family, and Personal Life

Friedman was born in Chicago to parents who were the children of Russian Jewish immigrants. At the age of one, his family moved to the Texas Hill Country, where they opened a summer camp in Kerrville. As a child, Friedman was a chess prodigy, famously playing simultaneous games against U.S. grandmaster Samuel Reshevsky at the age of seven.

Information about his siblings, wife, and children remains private, and it is not known if he had any.

Net Worth

His net worth at the time of his death was estimated to be $2 million, according to Celebrity Net Worth.