Kinky Friedman, satirical musician and writer, dies at 79

Kinky Friedman, the singular Texas-based musician, author, and humorist, died Thursday at his ranch near Austin. He was 79.

A statement from his team posted on social media said, "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 quick wit. Kinky will live on as his books are read and his songs are sung."

A friend of Friedman's, the writer Larry Sloman, told the New York Times that Friedman died of complications from Parkinson's disease.

The man born Richard Samet Friedman was an outrageous celebrity known for the satirical country band Kinky Friedman and the Texas Jewboys, which he formed in the '70s, and for his subversive, often novelty country music albums, such as 1976's Lasso from El Paso and 2005's They Ain't Making Jews Like Jesus Anymore.

He performed everywhere from the Grand Ole Opry to Austin City Limits (although the TV episode went unaired because of what his official bio calls "pre-cancel culture sensibilities") to a 1976 episode of Saturday Night Live, where he was told he couldn't sing a certain song, so he performed "Dear Abbie," for his "fugitive friend" Abbie Hoffman.

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Friedman's family moved to Texas just after he was born, and he went on to produce a body of work that included songs such as "A--hole from El Paso" and "We Reserve the Right to Refuse Service to You." His track "Get Your Biscuits in the Oven and Your Buns in the Bed" angered the feminist movement.

Along the way, he toured with Bob Dylan, and a 2007 album paying tribute to Friedman's songs included the voices of Willie Nelson, Dwight Yoakam, and other country greats. Friedman also wrote 18 books, including novels and essays.