Singer-songwriter Kinky Friedman has died. He was 79.
A statement from Friedman’s X account confirmed his death on Thursday.
“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 quit wit,” the statement read on the social media platform, formerly Twitter.
“Kinky will live on as his books are read and his songs are sung,” the message concluded.
The cause of death has yet to be revealed.
His friend Kent Perkins confirmed that Friedman died at home in his sleep Thursday.
“He leaves a legacy of laughter, music, loyalty, mercy, tolerance, servitude, and wisdom,” said Perkins on Facebook. He was famous as a best-selling author, humorist, songwriter, and singer. But we, his close friends and family, knew him as a rescuer of unwanted dogs and cats, a compassionate, philanthropic, soft-spoken man who devoted much of his life to serving others less fortunate.”
Perkins added, “I learned a lot from Kinky. I never met a more honest, witty, selfless, generous, or sincere person than Richard Samet ‘Kinky’ Friedman.”
Friedman grew up in Texas and formed his first band, King Arthur & the Carrots, when he was a student at the University of Texas.
He formed his second band, Kinky Friedman and The Texas Jewboys, in 1973.
Friedman dropped his first album, “Sold American,” in 1973 and became a successful country and western singer.
He continued releasing music until 2018.
Some of his best-known songs included “Sold American,” “Honky Town Heroes,” “Ride ’em Jewboy,” “They Ain’t Makin’ Jews Like Jesus Anymore” and “The Ballad of Charles Whitman.”
He toured with Bob Dylan from 1975 to 1976.
Friedman claimed that he was the first Jewish person to take the stage at the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville.
In 2006, Friedman ran as an independent in the election for Governor of Texas.
He received 12% of the vote, losing to Rick Perry.
“I got my last will and testament worked out,” Friedman said about the election in 2014, according to Rolling Stone.
“When I die, I’m going to be cremated and the ashes are to be thrown in Rick Perry’s hair,” he added.