Singer Kinky Friedman dead at 79: ‘Endured tremendous pain and unthinkable loss’

Singer-songwriter Kinky Friedman has died. He was 79.

A assertion from Friedman’s X account verified his death on Thursday.

“Kinky Friedman stepped on a rainbow at his beloved Echo Hill surrounded by relatives & good friends. Kinkster endured great ache & unthinkable decline in current a long time but he never missing his combating spirit and give up wit,” the assertion study on the social media platform, formerly Twitter.

“Kinky will live on as his guides are read through and his songs are sung,” the message concluded.

The cause of loss of life has nevertheless to be uncovered.

His close friend Kent Perkins verified that Friedman died at property in his snooze Thursday.

“He leaves a legacy of laughter, new music, loyalty, mercy, tolerance, servitude, and knowledge,” claimed Perkins on Facebook. He was famous as a greatest-selling creator, humorist, songwriter, and singer. But we, his near friends and loved ones, knew him as a rescuer of unwanted dogs and cats, a compassionate, philanthropic, gentle-spoken guy who devoted a great deal of his everyday living to serving others significantly less privileged.”

Perkins added, “I learned a great deal from Kinky. I in no way achieved a additional genuine, witty, selfless, generous, or honest man or woman than Richard Samet ‘Kinky’ Friedman.”

Friedman grew up in Texas and formed his first band, King Arthur & the Carrots, when he was a college student at the College of Texas.

He formed his next band, Kinky Friedman and The Texas Jewboys, in 1973.

Friedman dropped his initial album, “Sold American,” in 1973 and grew to become a effective country and western singer.

He continued releasing songs until 2018.

Some of his most effective-recognized songs involved “Sold American,” “Honky City 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 very first Jewish particular person to take the phase at the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville.

In 2006, Friedman ran as an independent in the election for Governor of Texas.

He obtained 12% of the vote, dropping to Rick Perry.

“I obtained my previous will and testomony labored out,” Friedman stated 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 included.