This particular post is very near and dear to my heart as a lifelong Austinite and Central Texan…..for my association with another one of those boys from down around Austin town…..whose own life and career overlaps and intersects my own career, from our college days at the University of Texas during the mid-1960’s…..as part of, you know, the “Sex, Drugs and Rock N Roll Generation”…..with lives that continued to intersect throughout the remainder of his days…..after having passed on June 27, 2024. The truth be told, our paths crossed on more than a handful of occasions over the 60 years we spent in and around ATX, simply because we shared so many similarities in what we liked and what we did throughout our lives as independent thinkers not likely to follow the maddening crowd. So, it gives me a great deal of pleasure to bring to you the life and legend of Kinky Friedman …..who simply was a “One-Of-A-Kind” diamond on this Earth…..as you will find out yourself, if you immerse yourself into this special video version of The Life And Legend Of Kinky Friedman…..Austin’s Own Minstrel Word Merchant Politician” …..and we hope you enjoy viewing his story as much as we have enjoyed bringing it to you. Richard Samet “Kinky” Friedman (November 1, 1944 – June 27, 2024) was an American singer, songwriter, novelist, humorist, politician, and columnist for Texas Monthly…..who styled himself in the mold of popular American satirists Will Rogers and Mark Twain…..
Music & Humor – Documentary Special – “Kinky Friedman: Proud To Be An Asshole from El Paso” – 2001 – A S de V Production Special – “54 Minute Documentary On Texas Icon Kinky Friedman For Dutch TV Starring Kinky Friedman, Tom Friedman, Marcie Friedman, Willie Nelson, Lyle Lovett, Bill Clinton, Washington Ratso, New York Ratso And Many More”
Richard Samet Friedman was born in Chicago on November 1, 1944, to Jewish parents, Dr. S. Thomas Friedman and his wife Minnie (Samet) Friedman……as both of his parents were the children of Russian Jewish immigrants. When Friedman was a young boy, his family moved to the Texas hill country…..where they opened a summer camp called Echo Hill.
Music & Podcast – Special – “My Night With Kinky Friedman… A Documentary by Zach Selwyn” – 2021 – A Zack Zelwin Production Special – ” – “I Had The Honor Of Spending A Night At Legendary Texas Musician/Novelist Kinky Friedman’s Ranch In Medina, Texas While Recording Him For The ‘Uncle Drank’ Podcast For Audio Up Media”
Friedman had an early interest in both pop music and chess…..when he was chosen at age seven as one of 50 local players to challenge U.S. grandmaster Samuel Reshevsky to play in a simultaneous games tournament in Houston …..as Reshevsky won all 50 games…..and Friedman was by far the youngest competitor. Friedman graduated from Austin High School in Austin, Texas in 1962…..then he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Texas at Austin in 1966…..while majoring in psychology. He was also in the Plan II Honors program and a member of the Tau Delta Phi fraternity. While myself being a member of Delta Tau Delta fraternity during the same time frame, our fraternities put on social events with the Tau Delts…..so, we were like “brothers of different mothers” During his first year at Texas, Chinga Chavin gave Friedman the nickname “Kinky” because of his curly hair. After graduating, Friedman served for two years in the United States Peace Corps, teaching in Borneo, Indonesia with John Gross…..when during his service , he met future road manager Dylan Ferrero…..with whom he worked for the remainder of his life. Friedman lived at Echo Hill Ranch, his family’s summer camp near Kerrville, Texas. He founded Utopia Animal Rescue Ranch, also located near Kerrville. The ranch’s mission is to care for stray, abused and aging animals; more than 1,000 dogs have been saved from animal euthanasia. Friedman formed his 1st band, King Arthur & the Carrots, while he was a student at the University of Texas at Austin…..which poked fun at surf music…..and recorded only one single in 1966, “Schwinn 24/Beach Party Boo Boo”.
Music & Humor – Biography Special – “Rockburn Presents – Kinky Friedman” – 2013 – A cpac Production Special – ” He’s One Of The Most Colorful Figures Ever To Have Run For Public Office, Campaigning With The Slogan ‘My Governor Is A Jewish Cowboy’ and ‘He Ain’t Kinky, He’s My Governor’…..As The Black-Hatted, Cigar-Chomping, Country And Western Singer Advocated In Favor Of Gay Marriage And Abortion And The Teaching Of Prayer In Schools”
By 1973, Friedman had formed his 2nd band, Kinky Friedman and The Texas Jewboys…..which many took to be a play on the name of the famous band Bob Wills and His Texas Playboys. In keeping with the band’s satirical nature, each member had a comical name ie: in addition to Kinky there were Little Jewford, Big Nig, Panama Red, Wichita Culpepper, Sky Cap Adams, Rainbow Colours, and Snakebite Jacobs…..along with a more conventionally named roadie, Jack Slaughter…..and road manager Dylan Ferrero…..who rounded out the crew and provided most of the driving of the “tour bus”…..which was a Cadillac with 10-year-old expired license plates…..and a propensity to break down…..but according to Friedman, her talent laid in her ability to stop on a dime and pick up the change. Friedman’s father objected to the name of the band…..while calling it a “negative, hostile, peculiar thing”…..which gave Kinky even more reason to choose the name. Arriving on the wave of country rock after Gram Parsons, The Band, and the Eagles…..that’s when Friedman originally found cult fame as a country and western singer. His break came in 1973 thanks to Commander Cody of Commander Cody and His Lost Planet Airmen…..who contacted Vanguard Music on his behalf….. whereby Friedman released Kinky Friedman in 1974 for ABC Records…..then he toured with Bob Dylan in 1975–1976. His repertoire of music mixed social commentary like “We Reserve the Right to Refuse Service to You”…..along with maudlin ballads like “Western Union Wire”…..plus with raucous humor such as “Get Your Biscuits in the Oven and Your Buns in the Bed”. His “Ride ‘Em Jewboy” was an extended tribute to the victims of the Holocaust. One of his most famous songs is “They Ain’t Makin’ Jews Like Jesus Anymore”…..as a song in which Kinky verbally and physically beats up a drunken white racist who berates blacks, Jews, Italians, Greeks, and Sigma Nus in a bar…..with lyrics like, “Oh, they ain’t makin’ Jews like Jesus anymore, They ain’t makin’ carpenters that know what nails are for”
Music – Live At Cafe 9 In New Haven, Connecticut – Kinky Friedman Sings“We Reserve The Right To Refuse Service To Anyone” – 2012 – A crocostimpy Production Special – “Kinky Live at Cafe 9, New Haven, Connecticut On June 19, 2012 During The North-Eastern Leg Of His Bi-Polar Tour”
Music – From The ABC Records Album “Sold American” – Kinky Friedman Sings “Western Union Wire” – 1974 – A Mark Coburn Production Special – “An Outstanding Songs That Reminds Of A Time About 50 Years Ago When Things Were Very Different”
Music & Comedy – Official Music Video – Starring Kinky Friedman And Ruth Buzzi – 2022 – A Kinky Friedman Production Special – Kinky Friedman Performs “Get Your Biscuits in the Oven And Your Buns In Bed” On The Video
Music – Live At Austin City Limits – Kinky Friedman And The Texas Jewboys – 1975 – A Live From Austin, TX Production Special – “Kinky Friedman and The Texas Jewboys Perform ‘Arsehole From El Paso'”
Other Friedman tunes include “The Ballad of Charles Whitman,”…..in which Friedman lampooned Charles Whitman’s sniper attack from the University of Texas at Austin’s Main Building tower on August 1, 1966. He also covered Chinga Chavin’s “Asshole from El Paso”…..which was a parody of Merle Haggard’s “Okie from Muskogee”. One of Friedman’s most infamous concerts was a 1973 performance in Buffalo, New York…..when after performing “Get Your Biscuits in the Oven and Your Buns in the Bed” (a song which lampoons feminism), a group of what Friedman described as “cranked-up lesbians” got into a fight with the band forcing the concert to end early…..while Friedman and the band were escorted off stage…..after which, the National Organization for Women awarded Friedman the “Male Chauvinist Pig Award” later in the year…..of which Friedman took with great pride…..and he didn’t return to Buffalo until 2012. Another of them type of episodes was in early March 1975 at The Boarding House in San Francisco….. when an offended Buffy Sainte-Marie rushed on stage…..and snatched the war bonnet which Friedman was wearing while he and his band were performing “Miss Nickelodeon”….. which is a composition which spoofs the indigenous peoples of the Americas.
Music & Documentary – Special – “Kinky Friedman Tells The Story About Charles Whitman’s Shooting” – 2009 – A JefFrietkot Production Special – “Charles Whitman As A Student At The University of Texas At Austin Killed 14 People And Wounded 32 During A Shooting Rampage On And Around The Campus Of Texas University From His Perch Above On The Texas Tower…..As Kinky Friedman, Texas Student At The Time, Wrote A Song About It, “The Ballad of Charles Whitman”
Music – From the Kinky Friedman Album Live in Austin, TX” – 1975 – A Live From Austin, Texas Production Special – Kinky Friedman and The Texas Jewboys Perform “Miss Nickelodian”
Friedman and his band taped an Austin City Limits show on November 11, 1975…..but it was never aired…..while according to the show’s executive producer, Terry Lickona, it is the 1st and only time in the show’s long history that an episode went unaired…..as Lickona told the Austin Chronicle “I’ve seen it many times–it’s a very popular party tape among friends. I think it was a great show, and it might be as offensive today as it was back then.” In early 1976, Friedman joined Bob Dylan on the 2nd leg of the Rolling Thunder Revue tour. Friedman was the musical guest on the Season 2 fifth episode of Saturday Night Live which aired on October 23, 1976…..when he performed his own composition “Dear Abbie”.
Music – From the Kinky Friedman Album Live in Austin, TX” – 1975 – A Live From Austin, Texas Production Special – Kinky Friedman and The Texas Jewboys Perform “Amelia Earhart’s Last Flight”
Music – From the Kinky Friedman Album Live in Austin, TX – 1975 – A Live From Austin, Texas Production Special – Kinky Friedman and The Texas Jewboys Sing “Lover Please”
Music – Live at Austin Municipal Auditorium – Duet Special Of Three Kinky Friedman Songs With Bob Dylan’s Rolling Thunder Revue Band Performed – 1976 – A neverending Bobfan Production Special – “As Kinky Friedman Joined Bob Dylan On The 2nd Leg Of The Legendary Rolling Thunder Revue Tour While Performing A Set Of Three Songs, “Rock & Roll Across the USA” + “Dear Abbie” + “Sold American”
Although hard to verify, given the number of entertainers of Jewish origin in country/hillbilly-tour circles…..such as Gilbert Maxwell “Broncho Billy” Anderson…..but Friedman claims to have been the 1st full-blooded Jew to take the stage at the Grand Ole Opry. In February 2007, Sustain Records released a compilation of the songs of Kinky Friedman sung by other artists called Why the Hell Not…The Songs of Kinky Friedman. The compilation includes contributions by Dwight Yoakam, Willie Nelson, Lyle Lovett and Kelly Willis. On July 20, 2007, Friedman hosted the Concert to Save Town Lake to honor the memory of Lady Bird Johnson…..and her efforts to protect and preserve the shores of Town Lake in Austin. On April 27, 2011, Friedman launched his Springtime for Kinky Tour (cf. “Springtime for Hitler”) in Kansas City, Missouri at Knuckleheads Saloon…..which also included dates in Arkansas, Oklahoma and Kentucky, before playing the East Coast…..and then came a tour of Australia with Van Dyke Parks.
Music & Humor – Kinky Friedman Live At Knuckleheads In Kansas City, MO – 2011 – A Vann Nicholson Production Special – “Rare Footage Of The Always Funny Singer Songwriting Genius of Kinky Friedman”
Music – Live At The Historic 100 Year Old Sons Of Hermann Hall In The Funky Deep Elum Area of Dallas, Texas – Kinky Friedman Sings “Before All Hell Breaks Loose” – 2011 – A Allen Hare Production Special – “Kinky Friedman Playing Live At The Historic, Internationally Famous, And Now 100 year Old Sons Of Hermann Hall Celebrating The 28th Anniversary of KNON Community Radio 89.3 FM in Dallas, Texas.”
Music – Live At Austin City Limits – Kinky Friedman and The Texas Jewboys Sing “Homo Erectus” – 1975 – A Live from Austin, TX Production Special – “Kinky Friedman Playing Live At Austin City Limits, While Showing Why This Concert Never Was Aired”
Music – Live At Austin City Limits – Kinky Friedman and The Texas Jewboys Sing “Men’s Room L.A.” – 1975 – A Live from Austin, TX Production Special – “Kinky Friedman Playing Live At Austin City Limits, While Showing Why This Concert Never Was Aired Cuz It Was Just A Little Ahead Of Its Time”
After his music career stalled in the 1980’s, Friedman shifted his creative focus to writing detective novels……as his books have similarities to his song lyrics…..while featuring a fictionalized version of himself solving crimes in New York City…..and dispensing jokes, wisdom, recipes, charm, and Jameson’s whiskey in equal measure…..as they are written in a straight forward style…..which owes a debt to Raymond Chandler…..while Kinky’s character views himself as a latter-day Sherlock Holmes…..who is aided in his investigations by his close friend Larry Sloman aka Ratso…..who assumes the role of Dr. Watson. Friedman wrote two novels that do not star the Kinky Friedman character…..which were, Kill Two Birds and Get Stoned…..along with The Christmas Pig. He also wrote a regular column for the magazine Texas Monthly from April 2001 to March 2005…..which was suspended during his run for governor of Texas…..but in 2008, Texas Monthly brought his column back on a bimonthly basis. To date, 2 books have been published collecting some of the writings which are nonfiction…..as well as previously ones that haven’t been published with ‘Scuse Me While I Whip This Out…..along with Texas Hold’em. He has published a travelog, The Great Psychedelic Armadillo Picnic and an etiquette guide.
Music & Film – Kinky Friedman’s Short Presentation Into His World Filmed At His Home Outside Kerrville, Texas for SVT – 1998 – An Apollon Bild & Film Production Special – Kinky Friedman At His Family Ranch Outside Keerrville, Texas With Exclusive Footage Talking About His Books And His Music…..Which Contains Interviews With His Dad Tom and Village Irregulars Larry Ratso Sloman and Mike McGovern from New York.
Friedman’s early books have been republished by Friedman’s own Vandam Press as ebooks…..when during March and April of 2011, Vandam released 7 of Friedman’s early titles which included Greenwich Killing Time, A Case of Lone Star, Musical Chairs, When The Cat’s Away, Frequent Flyer, Roadkill…..and the rarely seen, Curse of the Missing Puppet Head. Elvis Jesus and Coca-Cola, God Bless John Wayne, Blast From The Past, Armadillos and Old Lace…..and two nonfiction books, Drinker With A Writing Problem and Heroes of A Texas Childhood were released in 2011. E-book releases were announced on Friedman’s X/Twitter feed and Facebook page, “TheRealKinkster”…..then he announced (via Jim Bessman’s column at examiner.com) the upcoming release of all Vandam Press titles as unabridged audio books “read by the author”…..with the recurring character “Rambam”, a New York private investigator and friend of the Friedman character in the books…..who is based on the real-life investigator Steven Rambam, who acts as a technical advisor for the real Friedman. Old Peace Corps friend and long time road manager Dylan Ferrero is also a recurring character in Kinky’s mystery novels…..as his character is known for only speaking in rock and roll quotes, a trait taken from real life.
Music & Podcast – Special Interview – Kinky Friedman Live On Billy Joe Shaver’s The Lone Star Plate Podcast – 2022 – A Lone Star Plate Production Special – Kinky Friedman On Billy Joe Shaver, The Texas Governor Race and His New Album
In 1986, Friedman ran for Justice of the Peace in Kerrville, Texas as a Republican but lost the election…..then in 2004, Friedman began an ostensibly serious, though colorful, campaign to become the governor of Texas in 2006…..with one of his stated goals being the “dewussification” of Texas…..and among his campaign slogans were “How Hard Could It Be?”, “Why The Hell Not?”, “My Governor is a Jewish Cowboy”, and “He ain’t Kinky, he’s my Governor” (cf. “He Ain’t Heavy, He’s My Brother”)…..as Friedman had hoped to follow in the footsteps of other entertainers-turned-governors…..which included Jimmie Davis, Jesse Ventura, Arnold Schwarzenegger and Ronald Reagan…..when Ventura even campaigned with Friedman for his election. As a matter of fact, when the campaign finance reports came out after the second quarter had ended, Friedman had raised more funds than the Democratic nominee, former Congressman Chris Bell. On election day, Friedman was defeated, receiving 12.6% of the votes in the six-candidate matchup. He released a statement on October 15, 2013, announcing his intent to again run for Texas agriculture commissioner as a Democrat…..as Friedman previously ran for the post in 2010…..but losing in the Democratic primary.
Music & Podcast – Special Interview – Kinky Friedman Live On Billy Joe Shaver’s The Lone Star Plate Podcast – 2020 – A Lone Star Plate Production Special – Singer-Songwriter, Humorist and Founder of Echo Hill Ranch Kinky Friedman Tells Stories About Bob Dylan, Glen Campbell, The Mexican Mouthwash And Plays His Newest Song “Buddy You’re Living My Dream”
Friedman supported the full legalization and cultivation of hemp and marijuana…..while declaring that the end of the prohibition is a health, education funding, prison reduction, border security and state’s rights issue. On education, he supported higher pay for teachers and working to lower Texas’s dropout rate. He supported more investment in harnessing Texas’s alternative fuel resources such as wind and biodiesel. Friedman was opposed to the Trans-Texas Corridor since it relies on toll road construction. On capital punishment, he previously summed up his position, “I am not anti-death penalty, but I’m damn sure anti-the-wrong-guy-getting-executed.” More recently, he clarified his position: “The system is not perfect. Until it’s perfect, let’s do away with the death penalty.” On illegal immigration, Friedman wanted to increase the number of Texas National Guard troops on the border (from the current 1,500 to 10,000)…..plus impose $25,000 and $50,000 fines on companies which hire illegal immigrants…..and require foreign nationals seeking employment to purchase a foreign taxpayer ID card once they have passed a criminal background check. “Texas can no longer wait for our federal government to solve our illegal immigration problem,” Friedman said. “These are steps that Texas can immediately take to help stem the tide of illegal immigrants penetrating our border.” Had he been elected, he had promised to meet regularly with Governor Bill Richardson of New Mexico and Governor Janet Napolitano of Arizona to develop a coordinated border state plan to supplement federal efforts to curb illegal immigration. Previously, Friedman put forth the “Five Mexican Generals” Plan, to pay Mexican officials to halt immigration on their side of the border. Although he originally said, “When I talk about the five Mexican generals, people think I’m joking but I’m dead serious”, He later told the Dallas Morning News that the plan, never meant to be carried out, was a joke with an element of seriousness. According to his official website, Friedman’s answer to the question “How does Kinky feel about abortion?” was “Kinky believes in a woman’s right to choose.” In person, he hedged his bets, saying “I’m not pro-life, and I’m not pro-choice. I’m pro-football.” On social issues, he supported gay marriage, answering an Associated Press reporter’s question on the subject on February 3, 2005 by saying, “I support gay marriage. I believe they have a right to be as miserable as the rest of us.” (Friedman himself never married.) According to Cigar Aficionado magazine, he planned to roll back “any and all smoking bans” if elected. One of his favorite quotes came from Mark Twain: “If smoking is not allowed in heaven, I shall not go.” Friedman supported the decriminalization of marijuana, though he did not advocate making its sale legal. “I’m not talking about like Amsterdam,” he noted, “We’ve got to clear some of the room out of the prisons so we can put the bad guys in there, like the pedophiles and the politicians.”
Music & Politics – A Simon Marks Reporting Episode Of “Conversation With….Kinky Friedman” – 2012 – A
Simon Marks Reporting Production Special – “In The Run-Up to the 2012 US Presidential Election, Simon Marks Traveled Across the United States And Produced A Series Of Special Edition’s of “Conversation With….”, A Hard-Hitting Interview Broadcast on Channel NewsAsia In the Texas Hill Country As Kinky Friedman Offered His Pugnacious Views On America’s Role In The World…..The State Of the US Nation…..And His Own Political Plans For The Future”
On August 9, 2007, the Austin American-Statesman reported that Friedman was considering another run for governor of Texas in 2010. “I’m open to running”, he said, adding that he would not make a final decision until after the 2008 elections. On February 10, 2009, he confirmed to the Associated Press that he was still interested in running. In an August 23, 2007 interview with the Fort Worth Star-Telegram and a February 10, 2009 interview with the Associated Press, Friedman said that if he did run in 2010, he would run as a Democrat…..while citing that “God probably couldn’t have won as an Independent”…..and that he was a Democrat all his life. On April 14, 2009, Friedman announced in an email to supporters that he intended to make a 2nd gubernatorial run…..only this time as a Democrat…..when he announced on December 14, 2009, that he was leaving the gubernatorial race…..and would instead seek the party nomination in March 2010 for Texas Agriculture Commissioner…..which he lost the nomination to rancher Hank Gilbert in the primary held on March 2, 2010.
Music & Humor – A Special Film – “Kinky Friedman On Being Kinky” – 1988 – A Boyd Matson Production Special – “Kinky Friedman Was One Of Boyd Matson’ Favorite Candidates To Ever Seek Public Office When He Ran For Governor of Texas in 2006…..With A Political Philosophy Shaped From During His Years As a Country Singer-Songwriter, Humorist and Novelist…..As This Story Was Done On His Family Ranch Outside Kerrville, Texas…..While Showing The Personality and Humor That Won Him A Lot of Press Coverage as a Candidate”
Friedman appeared in the 2004 documentary film Barbecue: A Texas Love Story by Austin-based director Chris Elley. In the film, narrated by Governor Ann Richards, Friedman exclaims that “Jesus loved Barbecue” and analyzes the speech patterns of Texans versus New Yorkers. Raw footage from his interview appears in the 2005 DVD release of the film. He appeared in other movies as well including Loose Shoes and The Texas Chainsaw Massacre 2. His persona as a politically incorrect raconteur has been likened to that of movie critic and commentator John Irving Bloom…..who was better known in print as Joe Bob Briggs…..with whom he appeared in the B movie The Texas Chainsaw Massacre 2. Friedman preferred to smoke Montecristo No. 2 Cigars…..which was the same brand once smoked by Fidel Castro…..however he also smoked Bolivars, noting that “Simón Bolívar is the only person in history to be exiled from a country named after him.” Friedman later made eponymous cigars under the name Kinky Friedman Cigars.
Music & Texas BarBQ – Netflix Documentary Film – Official Film Trailer “Barbecue: A Texas Love Story” – 2004 – A Netflix Production Special – “Featuring Kinky Friedman Saying That Jesus Loved Barbecue”
Music &Movies – Movie Clip From “Prime Time” – “Kinky Friedman as Ol’ Ben Lucas” – – 2010 – An TheOddchives Production Special – “Kinky Friedman Being Kinky As A Mixed-Up Cowboy Singer”
Friedman was given brief praise in Joseph Heller’s 1976 novel, Good as Gold, in which a governor (meant to satirize Lyndon B. Johnson), tells the main character, Bruce Gold: “Gold, I like you. You remind me a lot of this famous country singer from Texas I’m crazy about, a fellow calls himself Kinky Friedman, the Original Texas Jewboy. Kinky’s smarter, but I like you more.” Friedman was friends with Bill Clinton and George W. Bush…..as he visited both at the White House…..and he wrote about his friendships with them in his November 2001 column (“Hail to the Kinkster”) for Texas Monthly. The play Becoming Kinky: The World According to Kinky Friedman, directed by Ted Swindley (Always…Patsy Cline), starring Jesse Dayton, Little Jewford, Alan Lee, and Andross Bautsch…..and premiered in Houston on March 28, 2011. Friedman was responsible for the quote “you’ve got to find what you love and let it kill you”…..which is often falsely attributed to the poet and novelist Charles Bukowski.
Music & News – A CBS Texas Monthly Special – “Remembering Kinky Friedman – 2024 – A CBS Texas Production Special – “A Look Back At The Interesting Life Of Eccentric Singer-Songwriter, Novelist, Humorist and One-Time Texas Gubernatorial Candidate Kinky Friedman, Who Died Thursday At Age 79”
Music & News – A FOX 2 Detroit Special – With The Amercans’ Charlie LeDuff Hearing An Awesome Story and Song “Ride Um’ Jewboy” From The One-And-Only Kinky Friedman – 2014 – A FOX 2 Detroit Production Special – “Kinky Friedman Explains to The Amercans’ Charlie LeDuff How Amazing It Is To Have His Music Connect With Someone, Especially When That Someone Is Nelson Mandela”
Music – Live in Austin, Texas Special – Kinky Friedman Sings 3 Of His Songs With Bob Dylan’s Rolling Thunder Review Band – 1976 – A neverending Bobfan Production Special – Featuring Songs “Rock Across The USA” + “Dear Abbie” + “Sold American”
Friedman hosted the live concert music television show “Texas Roadhouse Live” around 2011…..which aired on over-the-air network television late Saturday night (or midnight Sunday morning) in some Texas markets. On the 2017 album entitled Out of All This Blue, Mike Scott of The Waterboys composed a song called “Kinky’s History Lesson”…..where the singer attempts to correct Friedman on a number of false statements he has allegedly made.
Music & Comedy – A “Texas Roadhouse Live” Special – “Kinky Friedman At His Best With Quotes To Live By” – 2011 – A Hell N High Water Productions Production Special – “Kinky Friedman On Set Filming For Season 2 Of Texas Roadhouse Live”
On June 27, 2024, it was announced that Friedman had died at his home at Echo Hill Ranch in Medina from complications of Parkinson’s disease. He was 79 years old.
Music & News – The New York Post Reports That Texas Music Legend and Literary Word Merchant Genius Is Dead At Age 79 – 2024 – A New York Post Production Special – “Kinky Friedman Stepped On A Rainbow At His Beloved Echo Hill Ranch Surrounded By Family & Friends…..As The Kinkster Never Lost His Fighting Spirit And Quick Wit”
Music – From the Kinky Friedman Album Resurrection – 2019 – A Luck Films Production Special – Kinky Friedman Sings “The Bridge That Wouldn’t Burn With Friends And Photos”
Music – Live at Bull McCabe’s Pub In Somerville, Massachusetts – Kinky Friedman Performs Tom Waits Song “Christmas Card from a Hooker in Minneapolis” – 2015 – A Wayne Griffith Production Special – Kinky Friedman Recites “Kinky Friedman Live at McCabe’s With Jo Cirotti On Guitar ‘Christmas Card from a Hooker in Minneapolis’ by Tom Waits'”
Music & Podcast – Live On BBC Northern Ireland Podcast With Ralph McLean – Featuring Kinky Friedman Playing The Ballad Of Ira Hayes Followed By Hilarious Interview On Running For Governor of Texas”
Music & Podcast – Live On Apparently This Matters Podcast With Jarrett Bellini – Featuring An Insightful Interview With Kinky Friedman – 2016 – A Jarrett Bellini Production Special – “Kinky Friedman Interview Where He Delves Into His Desire To See A Jew In The White House”
Albums
Year |
Album |
Artist |
Label |
US Chart |
|---|---|---|---|---|
1973 |
Sold American |
Kinky Friedman |
Vanguard |
— |
1974 |
Kinky Friedman |
Kinky Friedman |
ABC |
132 |
1976 |
Lasso from El Paso |
Kinky Friedman |
Epic |
— |
1977 |
Silver Jubilee 1953–1977 |
Echo Hill Ranch |
Echo Hill Ranch |
— |
1982 |
Live from the Lone Star Cafe |
Kinky Friedman |
Bruno-Dean |
— |
1983 |
Under the Double Ego |
Kinky Friedman |
Sunrise |
— |
1992 |
Old Testaments & New Revelations |
Kinky Friedman and the Texas Jewboys |
Fruit of the Tune |
— |
1995 |
From One Good American to Another |
Kinky Friedman and the Texas Jewboys |
— |
|
1998 |
Pearls in the Snow – The Songs of Kinky Friedman |
Kinky Friedman |
Kinkajou Records |
— |
2003 |
Classic Snatches from Europe |
Kinky Friedman |
Sphincter |
— |
2005 |
Mayhem Aforethought |
Kinky Friedman and the Texas Jewboys |
— |
|
They Ain’t Making Jews Like Jesus Anymore |
Kinky Friedman |
Bear Family |
— |
|
2006 |
The Last of the Jewish Cowboys: The Best Of |
Kinky Friedman |
Shout! Factory |
— |
2007 |
Live from Austin, Texas |
Kinky Friedman |
New West |
— |
2013 |
Lost and Found: The Famous Living Room Tape, 1970 |
Kinky Friedman and the Texas Jewboys |
Avenue A |
— |
2015 |
The Loneliest Man I Ever Met |
Kinky Friedman |
Avenue A |
— |
2016 |
Resurrection |
Kinky Friedman |
Echo Hill |
— |
2018 |
Circus of Life |
Kinky Friedman |
Echo Hill |
— |
Music – Live At The Southgate House Revival in Newport, KY – Kinky Friedman Sings “The Loneliest Man I Ever Met – 2015 – An SPennell Production Special – “Kinky Friedman Performs The Title Cut From His New Album “The Loneliest Man I Ever Met”…..While Sharing His Wit And Wisdom”
Music – From The Album Live From Austin, TX – Kinky Friedman and The Texas Jewboys Perform The Song “Wild Man From Borneo” – 1975 -A Live From Austin, TX Production Special
Music – From The Album Live From Austin, TX – Kinky Friedman and The Texas Jewboys Perform The Song “Wild Man From Borneo” – 1975 – A Live From Austin, TX Production Special – “From The Mind and Heart of a True Texas Cowboy In Song, Stories and Script”
Music – Live at Bull McCabe’s Pub In Somerville, Massachusetts – Kinky Friedman Performs “My Shit’s Fucked Up” – 2015 – A Wayne Griffith Production Special – Kinky Friedman With Jo Cirotti On Guitar Cover Warren Zevon’s Song About The State of Many Things In This World Today
Year |
Single |
Chart Positions |
Album |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|
US Country |
CAN Country |
|||
1973 |
“Sold American” |
69 |
92 |
Sold American |
1975 |
“Autograph” |
— |
— |
Kinky Friedman |
“Popeye the Sailor Man” |
— |
— |
||
1976 |
“Catfish” |
— |
— |
Lasso from El Paso |
Music – From The Album Sold American – Kinky Friedman Sings His Solo “Autographs” From The Album of the Same Name – 1975 – A Kinky Friedman Production Special – “Kinky Friedman: A Word Merchant Of The Highest Order With A Pen and A Melody”
Music – From The Album Sold American – Kinky Friedman Sings “Autograph” – 1975 – A Mossy Vinyl Clubhouse Production Special – “Kinky Friedman Exhibits His Singer-Songwriter Magic Combined With A Wonderful Photo Gallery”
Music – ABC Records Solo – Kinky Friedman Sings “Popeye, The Sailor Man” – 1975 – A
pebey Production Special – “Kinky Friedman Exhibits His Singer-Songwriter Magic With A Wonderful Photo Display”
Music & Tributes – From The Album Circus Of Life – Kinky Friedman Sings “Autographs In The Rain (Song To Willie)” – 2018 – A Kinky Friedman Production Special – “Kinky Friedman Wrote This Song In Tribute To His Longtime Friend Willie Nelson”
Music – From The Album Circus Of Life – Kinky Friedman Sings “A Dog Named Freedom” – 2018 – A Kinky Friedman Production Special – “Forget Politics! Remember Kinky! Loved This Man’s Music and Wit!”
Music – A Lone Star Plate Special – Kinky Friedman Performs A Song For Billy Joe Shaver – “The Poet of Motel 6” – 2021 – A Lone Star Plate Production Special – “This Is Our 2nd Time With Kinky Friedman On Our Show, But It Seems Like Kinky Has A Never Ending Supply Of Funny Stories To Share, The He Surprised Us By Playing A Song That He’s Never Played Publicly Before, Which Was So Beautiful That It Even Made Me Cry For The 1st Time On The Show”
Kinky Friedman Mysteries
|
Other novels
Non-fiction & humor
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Music & Humor – Live On Stage At Vicar St In Dublin, Ireland – Kinky Friedman Spins Some Humor With His Song “They Ain’t Makin’ Jews Like Jesus Anymore” – 2003 – A dublin 1996 Production Special – “Kinky + Little Jewford + Ratso Making Music In Dublin, Ireland”
The posting of this video life story of Kinky Friedman has brought back so really sweet memories of time spent in and around Austin, Texas since 1965 when I started my college journey of attending The University of Texas at Austin…..and from that time until today, July 14, 2024, The Kinkster and my paths have crisscrossed many times over those almost 60 years. Owning a sports bar and restaurant with our own Bleacher Section that could seat 250 folks in front of a 10′ rear-projection television screen just like at the game, concert or event…..which was on 6th Street in downtown Austin…..while being a gateway many athletes, fans, politicians, musicians and locals through our doors on a regular basis…..so, suffice to say, our lives intersected on many occasions and in many ways…..musically, politically, socially and who we knew in Austin…..albeit, we probably only shook hands a half-dozen times or so. Due to the fact that I lived at my bar 7 days a week from 11am to 2am…..and that is why posting Kinky Friedman’s video life story…..and having the opportunity to get to know him personally in addition to just socially…..which has provided me with a much wiser perspective of who this incredibly talented and divinely beautiful this man, Kinky Friedman was. I have come to the conclusion that Jesus is proud of Kinky Friedman…..and that he was one of God’s wisest efforts. Heck, two of my favorite Kinky quotes are “Jesus loves you can be very comforting words, unless you’re in a Mexican prison.”…..and “Wash your hands and say your prayers because germs and Jesus are everywhere.” I have followed Kinky for a long time, all the way back to when he used to sit in on Austin radio programs (in the 60’s and 70’s)…..and the stories he would spin where top shelf classic stuff…..cuz he was a regular on Sammy Allred and Bob Cole’s morning show…..as hosts who took phone calls from folks like Kinky Friedman…..who never failed to make me laugh a lot…..which is a healthy way to start your day. He was definitely a one of a kind…..while possessing both an outlandish as well as sensitive characteristics. Kinky as a comedic performer and satirist was not what you would call politically correct…..but that precisely is what made him a brilliant satirist!…..cuz a good satirist can expose the cruelty, bigotry, hypocrisy, and so much more…..when they have every intention to shock you and shake you out of smugness. Most satirists are insightful and sensitive even though their delivery (as in Kinky’s case) can be audacious and not follow the average rules of etiquette. Meanwhile, you can tell that Kinky cared a great deal. In addition to being really smart…..in addition to being justly proud of being a musician…..the truth is that he was far too decent for politics. All the criticism he ever got came from those who had no sense of humor…..when he simply was a realist for freedom, rights and equality. He was the most controversial contemporary of all the great CW/Americana artists of my youth over 70 years ago. Read up on Kinky and his beliefs some time…..then read his books…..and you might see like I do, that he’s EXACTLY what this country needs…..an honest, open minded, intelligent man who seriously believes in defending EVERYBODY’s freedoms…..who is loving wrapped by a phenomenal sense of humor. So what if he doesn’t believe in being ”politically correct” verbally. He was so in his heart…..as a man that anyone would like as a friend. Kinky is Hunter Thompson with actual talent and true perspective…..a true original….. a man of true musical talent…..a Texas genius…..a cultural icon….a National Treasure……and one of the great unsung heroes of our time. As long as Kinky was around, guaranteed you haven’t heard it all…..for he was a transcendental piece of art. They ain’t making Jews like Kinky anymore either…..with a unique and thoroughly individual American voice…..the likes of which we wont see again…..with songs of innocence and experience! The world will be a bit dimmer in his absence…..but his spirit will continue shining bright…..and his words will resonate with generations to come…..cuz this man was not just a treasure throughout the Hill Country…..but rather was a treasure here, there and everywhere…..and it has been our honor to present his legendary life in video here at ImaSportsPhile…..for Kinky Friedman deserves his showcase among the greats in music, comedy and sports.
Music – Appearing At Paste Studio NYC Live From The Manhattan Center – Featuring Kinky Friedman & Cleve + Sweet Mary Hattersley of Greasy Wheels Fame – 2020 – A Paste Magazine Production Special – “Kinky Friedman Sings ‘Resurrection’ and ‘I Love You When It Rains’ – With Cleve + Sweet Mary Hattersley From ‘Greasy Wheels’ Performing ‘Holler Up The Mountain’ Plus A Book Reading From Their New Book”‘
PS…..even though we had finished this 5,665th video story post here at ImaSportsPhile, we found two more Kinky Friedman videos that we felt were worthy of being the final videos posted showcasing The Kinkster’s rare and incredible talents…..and interesting enough, they were songs he wrote and composed nearly 50 years apart. In the 1st video, Kinky tells the story of how he found out that Nelson Mandela played his song “Ride Em’ Jewboy” repeatedly every night of his 32 year incarceration from the moment Mandela received it through the prison black market. The song is a tribute to the victims of the Holocaust and is one of Friedman’s most poignant and beloved songs…..as a poignant reminder of the devastating impact of the Holocaust on the Jewish community…..while the song’s lyrics also touch on themes of hope, resilience and the importance of remembering the past. The song has been praised for its powerful lyrics and its ability to convey the emotions and experiences of those affected by the Holocaust…..and Kinky tells the whole story of how Nelson Mandela used it as inspiration…..plus punctuating the entire video with his assessment of how artists and musicians need to understand that they have no real idea of how much what they have to say, sing, write and show affects those who are moved by their talents….what a guy!! Then the 2nd video is Kinky singing “Mandella’s Blues”…..which a song he wrote in tribute to Nelson Mandella a mere 50 years after he wrote “Ride Em’ Jewboy”…..wherein these two videos pretty much encapsulated the life and legend of a word merchant singer songwriter of the highest order, Kinky Friedman.
Music & News – Special Film – As Kinky Friedman Tells An Incredible Story About Nelson Mandela’s Musical Inspiration While Incarcerated – 2014 – A FOX 2 Detroit Production Special – “With Kinky Friedman Singing ‘Ride Em’ Jewboy’…..The Song That Inspired Mandela”
Music – A Music Video With Lyrics From The Album “Resurrection” – Kinky Friedman Sings A Musical Tribute To Nelson Mandela – 2021 – A FOX 2 Detroit Production Special – “With Kinky Friedman Singing ‘Mandela’s Blues…..With Words Worth Listening Too”
