Kinky Friedman, the self-proclaimed Texas ‘Jewish cowboy,’ died on Wednesday June 26, 2024 at the age of 79. Friedman, who had Parkinson’s disease, died at his longtime family home at Echo Hill Ranch in Medina, Texas. The provocative Texas satirist who ran for governor of Texas in 2006 and got 13% of the vote was also a successful writer of crime novels and other works. A friend of both Bob Dylan and Willie Nelson, his 1973 album Sold American featured songs like ‘High on Jesus’ and ‘Ride ’Em Jewboy’ as well as the political title track. The tribute album Pearls In The Snow: The Songs of Kinky Friedman was was released in 1999.
Friedman toured Australia with another music legend, Van Dyke Parks, in June 2011 and they dropped into the studios of Triple R FM to talk to me in what was probably the program’s most hilarious interview ever.
Warning: This interview contains some strong language.
In Tribute To Kinky Friedman R.I.P