Kinky Friedman was a singer, humorist, columnist, and all-around provocateur who led the band The Texas Jewboys and once ran for governor of Texas.
- Died: June 2024
- Details of death: Died in Medina, Texas of complications from Parkinson’s disease at the age of 79.
- We invite you to share condolences for Kinky Friedman in our Guest Book.
Kinky Friedman’s legacy
Born in Chicago, Richard “Kinky” Friedman moved to Texas with his family when he was young, growing up in a ranching community near Kerrville. He majored in psychology at the University of Texas at Austin, where his curly hair earned him his nickname, and spent time in the Peace Corps. It was during his college years that he began to immerse himself in the burgeoning folk music scene. Taking inspiration from country, blues, and Jewish cultural themes, he formed his band, Kinky Friedman and The Texas Jewboys, in the early 1970s.
The band was known for its satirical and often controversial approach to humor, something that came to define Friedman’s entire career. Songs like “They Ain’t Makin’ Jews Like Jesus Anymore” and “Asshole from El Paso” blended biting satire, social commentary, and Friedman’s willingness to tackle taboo subjects with salty language, making him a cult figure in the music world.
In the 1980s, Friedman transitioned into writing, becoming a successful crime author. His detective series, the Kinky Friedman Mysteries, featured a fictionalized version of himself, combining crime-solving with his trademark humor. Books like “Greenwich Killing Time” and “When the Cat’s Away” earned him enough acclaim and audience that the series stretched on to 18 books in all.
Friedman was also a regular columnist for Texas Monthly and authored a number of nonfiction books, including “Texas Hold ‘Em: How I Was Born In A Manger, Died In The Saddle, And Came Back As A Horny Toad,” “You Can Lead A Politician To Water, But You Can’t Make Him Think: Ten Commandments For Texas Politics,” and others.
In 2006, Friedman ran for governor of Texas as an independent candidate, and among his many campaign slogans was “My Governor is a Jewish Cowboy.” Seeking office in a six-person race, he received 12.6 percent of the vote. Friedman was also founder of Utopia Animal Rescue Ranch, a non-profit organization that provides sanctuary for stray, abused and aging animals.
Notable quote
“I think the first step for me is to be miserable. You’ve got to be miserable. If you’re vastly successful, you’re just not going to write a great song. You’ve got to be bitter or resentful. I fight happiness at every turn.” — Interview with American Songwriter, 2019
Tributes to Kinky Friedman
Full obituary: The Texas Tribune
