Kinky Friedman (1944 – 2024) – Americana UK

Mark Twain for the baby boomers and leaders of the Texas Jewboys.

Singer-songwriter, author, columnist, former politician, friend of American presidents and cigar connoisseur Richard Samet “Kinky” Friedman died on June 27^th2024, on his family ranch near San Antonio, Texas, after a long battle with Parkinson’s disease. Although he certainly had a varied career, the common thread that ran through all his activities was satire and a willingness to challenge the failings of society. He was born to Jewish parents in Chicago, Illinois on November 1.^st and moved to Texas with his family at a young age, which laid the foundation for him to become a Jewish cowboy.

Friedman formed his first band while studying psychology at the University of Texas before spending two years in the Peace Corps. In the early ’70s, he formed his band The Texas Jewboys, which fit into the then-new genre of country-rock and, with the help of Ray Benson of Asleep At The Wheel, landed a deal with Vanguard and released “Solid American” in 1973. It is probably his best album and shows him attacking indiscriminately which aspects of society, including Jews, women, Jesus freaks and mass murderers, setting a standard for political incorrectness. His fans at the time included Bob Dylan, Wille Nelson, Waylon Jennings and Kris Kristofferson, among others.

There are also poignant moments, particularly in the title track, which looks back to a more idealized America and examines the dark side of the American dream in the 1970s. His second major label album was 1974’s “Dirty Friedman” which, despite questions about the production values, maintained the quality of the songs and the iconic “They no longer make Jews like Jesus”. He was part of Bob Dylan’s Rolling Thunder Review and in 1976 “Lasso from El Paso” This was reflected in the fact that members of the review, along with members of the band, Lowell George, a Beatle, accompanied Kinky Friedman and although Dylan was not present, there was a cover of ‘Catfish’ which was unreleased at the time. Even though the humor may be dated now, it is still a valuable document that shows where American roots music stood in the mid-70s.

Although he continued to tour and release live albums on local independent labels, he did not release a new studio album for nearly forty years, preferring to devote his creative energies to writing twenty crime novels starring a version of himself. He was also a columnist for Texas monthly and although he was never elected, he ran for Governor of Texas as an Independent in 2006 and attempted to become the Democratic nominee for Texas Secretary of Agriculture in 2010 and 2014. Politically, he was his own man, using his personality and humor to become a recognized political force in Texas politics, as evidenced by the funding he received in 2006 and his ability to count Bill Clinton and George W. Bush among his friends. Whatever his views on particular policies, he made sure to keep his Jewishness front and center, with slogans like “My Governor is a Jewish Cowboy.”

He was certainly provocative and had a sense of absurdity, but Kinky Friedman was a gifted wordsmith who could write poignant songs and gripping novels like his hero Mark Twain. Although he always had politicians and record company bosses in his sights, he managed to make a political difference in Texas by enriching the political debate, even if he never won political office. While it may not be politically correct or even advisable from a health perspective, every fan should light a fat cigar in his memory and simply smile at the thought of the heavenly conversation Kinky is now having with his friend Mojo Nixon.

Related