Gina Heslop
With heavy hearts, we announce the passing of musician and writer Richard “Kinky” Friedman, who died at the age of 79. The news was shared on Thursday through the platform X, where it was stated, “Kinky Friedman stepped on a rainbow at his beloved Echo Hill surrounded by family & friends.”
The message also mentioned that Kinky had endured significant pain and loss in recent years but maintained his fighting spirit and quick wit. “Kinky will live on as his books are read and his songs are sung,” the post concluded.
Kinky Friedman completed his education at the University of Texas at Austin, where he began his journey as a musician. His first band, King Arthur & the Carrots, was formed during his time at university and was known for parodying surf music.
The band recorded one song, “Schwinn 24/Beach Party Boo Boo,” in 1966. In 1973, Kinky started a new band, Kinky Friedman and The Texas Jewboys, and released his debut album titled “Kinky” in 1974.
Kinky’s musical career included touring with Bob Dylan for two years and appearing as a musical guest on Season 2 of Saturday Night Live. He continued to perform and even headlined a world tour in 2011. Over the years, Kinky released 18 albums, with his most recent one, “Circus of Life,” coming out in 2018.
After his music career slowed down in the 1980s, Kinky turned to writing, focusing on detective novels. These novels often featured a fictionalized version of himself as a modern-day Sherlock Holmes, solving crimes in New York City with wit and charm. Some of his notable works that did not include the Kinky Friedman character were “Kill Two Birds and Get Stoned” and “The Christmas Pig.”
Kinky wrote a regular column for Texas Monthly from 2001 to 2005. Although he paused the column when he ran for governor of Texas in 2006, he resumed writing for the magazine two years later with a column every two months.
Kinky also made attempts in politics. In 2006, he ran as an independent candidate for governor of Texas, securing twelve percent of the votes and finishing fourth out of six candidates. Earlier, in 1986, he lost the Republican primary for Justice of the Peace in Kerrville, Texas.
Despite the challenges and losses he faced, Kinky Friedman is remembered for his resilience, humor, and diverse contributions to music, literature, and public life.
