In a final send-off of a man who went through life as a rebel with a cause for each twang of the guitar string and for each tapping of the typewriter key, Kinky Friedman, the singer, the author and the political icon has left the world at the age of 79. His death on Thursday therefore puts to an end the period that was characterized by flamboyance, humor and a creativity that cut across all ages.
Friedman known for using his guitar and the ability to tell everyone stories that had satire touch of cowboys was born on November 1, 1944 and he begun to perform music in early 1970s. Kinky Friedman and the Texas Jewboys were his band; some of the songs were as provocative with the titles as it was with the content. Songs such as “Get Your Biscuits in the Oven and Your Buns in Bed” and “The Ballad of Charles Whitman” are highly sarcastic and provocative socially-related songs.
The transition of Friedman into the lime light was not without serious drama. First discovered by Vanguard Records by Ray Benson of Asleep at the Wheel, several other encounters would influence his destiny. His music which was country, folk and provocative clearly struck a chord of the achievers of the society including such personalities like Bill Clinton.
Kinky Friedman, the eccentric country singer-songwriter whose musings, novels, one-liners and quixotic gubernatorial run made him a folk hero, has died at age 79
More on his life and legacy: https://t.co/4xsqPu9q7Q pic.twitter.com/7zgn5Cl26F
— Rolling Stone (@RollingStone) June 27, 2024
Above all, Kinky Friedman was a man of letters apart from being a singer-songwriter. His novels or most of them were based on his colourful and gigantic personality and the adventures that he led and the disasters he encountered. Another aimless navel-gazer and self-strom statistician, Friedman was also a professional fabulist who confused readers with the fantasy of reality and the reality of fantasy.
But the most daring contribution Friedman perhaps made was in the sphere of politics alone. Competing for a range of political positions in Texas and using tags such as “Why the Hell Not?” and “How Hard Could It Be?” he became the icon of protest against the politics as usual. While he never succeeded in being elected the mayor, his attempts to do so at least added a healthy tone of the silly and playful to the sphere of politics that is often so serious and grave.
Away from the limelight, Kinky Friedman was a staunch advocate for animal rights, reflecting a deep-seated love for creatures great and small. His ranch in the Texas Hill Country became a sanctuary for animals, embodying his commitment to causes beyond himself.
Fans and acquaintances alike are paying respect to the man, lamenting the loss of a true original, as word of his departure spreads. Beyond music and literature, Kinky Friedman leaves a legacy that speaks to the strength of individualism and the bravery to defy expectations.
How the hell is Kinky Friedman not trending? What is wrong with you people? pic.twitter.com/SqYV19Z6Tm
— Joe Rhodes (@earlkabong) June 27, 2024
Kinky Friedman’s path was one of “heartfelt melodies and lyrical truths,” as he put it in his own songs. It was an irreverent symphony that spoke to everyone who dared to listen. We say goodbye to this iconoclast of American culture with appreciation for a life bravely and unreservedly lived, one that will always live on in the songs and legends he leaves behind.
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