Kinky Friedman: A Legacy of Laughter and Lyrics

A unique voice has been lost to the country music and literature worlds. On June 26, 2024, at the age of 79½, the cigar-chomping, irreverent troubadour, and author Richard Samet “Kinky” Friedman passed away. To say that Kinky Friedman was a multi-life figure who was famous for his quick wit and bold Texas chutzpah is an understatement, but it is where we will begin.

The Friedman family relocated from Chicago to Houston not long after Friedman’s 1944 birth to run Echo Hill Ranch, a summer camp that Kinky would call home for the rest of his life. He had an innate curiosity for the unknown and a thirst for adventure throughout his youth. He went to University of Texas at Austin to study psychology, then joined the Peace Corps and went to Borneo, where he had an experience that would change his perspective on life and his art.

After forming Kinky Friedman and the Texas Jewboys in Nashville in the early 1970s, Friedman’s music career took off. Many have likened his band—a country group with a social conscience—to the twisted offspring of Bob Wills and Lenny Bruce. His fearless and innovative 1973 album “Sold American” cemented his reputation as an outlaw country artist.

He championed irreverence and lampooned Southern small-mindedness in his daring and sarcastic songs. Also, they mirrored the man’s complicated character; they were amazing. Fans and fellow musicians alike were won over by Kinky’s music for its combination of heart and comedy. Willie Nelson and Bob Dylan were among his closest companions, and he was a friend of presidents and icons as well as a composer par excellence.

“Musicians can run this state better than politicians. We won’t get a lot done in the mornings, but we’ll work late and be honest.”

Kinky was talented in more than just music, though. He contributed to Texas Monthly as a columnist and wrote detective novels in his spare time. His political career was just as eventful as his musical and literary ones. With his eccentric and funny campaign slogans, he captured the interest of many in 2006 when he conducted a longshot campaign for governor of Texas, with the campaign slogan “Why The Hell Not?”

For all the people whose lives Kinky Friedman impacted, his loss is a cause for contemplation. Not only will his music and writings live on, but so will the joy he spread via his infectious sense of humor. Despite experiencing immense suffering and grievance in recent years, his wit and determination persisted right up until the end.

We honour Kinky Friedman’s lasting impact on country music, literature, and the lives of his fans and acquaintances even as we grieve his passing. People will keep reading his books, singing his songs, and cherishing his memories. According to his close friend Kent Perkins, “in a peaceful corner of paradise there is a large, comfortable chair, a well-lit floor lamp, a collection of biographies, and a couple of elderly dogs tail-wagging to the subtle aroma of cigar smoke”.

The world lost some of its vibrancy when Kinky Friedman trod on a rainbow. His uniqueness and the joy he brought to others via his music will live on in the hearts of listeners for years to come.

The life of Kinky Friedman was a vibrant tapestry adorned with melodies, lyrics, and an unwavering zeal for living. While we say our goodbyes to the Kinkster, may his legacy continue on throughout country music and beyond via the songs and recollections that we cherish.