Country singer dies aged 79
Country singer Kinky Friedman has passed away aged 79.
A post shared on his social media account confirmed the news that he was surrounded by family and friends before his death.
“Kinky Friedman stepped on a rainbow at his beloved Echo Hill surrounded by family and friends,” the post read.
“Kinkster endured tremendous pain and 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.”
The musician, whose real name is Richard Samet Friedman, developed a cult following for his unique and quirky approach to country and Western music.
His first album Sold American was released in 1973, and he also toured with Bob Dylan on his Rolling Thunder Revue.
Outside of his music career, Friedman was also a writer, penning detective novels and a working as a columnist for Texas Monthly.
He published his first book Elvis, Jesus and Coca-Cola: A Novel in 1994 and ten years later published his second one, Kinky Friedman’s Guide to Texas Etiquette: Or How to Get to Heaven or Hell Without Going Through Dallas-Fort Worth.
In 2006 he dabbled in politics, running for the Governor of Texas and received 12.6 per cent of the votes among six candidates.
He also helped run the Echo Hill Gold Star Camp for children, with his sister Marcie.
Kent Perkins, a longtime friend of Friedman, paid tribute to the musician on social media.
“Somewhere in heaven,” he wrote, “I’m sure there’s a quiet corner with a big easy chair, a bright floor lamp, a big stack of biographical books, and a few old dogs wagging their tails to the faint smell of cigar smoke.”
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