Texas Tribune / Todd Wiseman
Kinky Friedman is proven at his ranch in Medina on Dec. 12, 2013.
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Richard “Kinky” Friedman — the provocative and flamboyant Texas satirist who mounted a spirited marketing campaign for governor in 2006 — has died. He was 79.
Friedman died at his longtime residence at Echo Hill Ranch in Medina, his buddies Cleve Hattersley stated in an interview and Kent Perkins stated on social media. He had Parkinson’s illness, Hattersley stated.
Friedman ran for governor in opposition to Republican incumbent Rick Perry in 2006. Regardless of a colourful marketing campaign and heavy media consideration, Friedman completed fourth within the race. He additionally ran unsuccessfully for the Democratic nomination for agriculture commissioner in 2010 and in 2014.
Friedman was identified for his outsized persona, pithy one-liners and signature look: curly hair poking out from beneath a black cowboy hat, cigar in hand.
“He was a communicator. An uncommon, however very pointed and poignant communicator,” Hattersley stated. “He might carry you to tears on stage. He might make you roll on the ground in laughter.”
Friedman gained a fame as a provocateur. Within the early Seventies, he shaped the satirical nation band Kinky Friedman and The Texas Jewboys — which penned songs like “They Ain’t Makin’ Jews Like Jesus Anymore” and “Get Your Biscuits within the Oven and Your Buns within the Mattress.” Later, he revealed novels that always featured a fictionalized model of himself, together with Elvis, Jesus and Coca-Cola and Armadillos and Previous Lace.
In politics, Friedman staked out uncommon positions on the time for somebody in search of statewide workplace in Texas, like legalization of marijuana and on line casino playing. He supported same-sex marriage in 2006, lengthy earlier than the Supreme Court docket legalized it nationally, quipping, “I assist homosexual marriage as a result of I consider they’ve proper to be simply as depressing as the remainder of us.”
Hattersley stated Friedman’s irreverence gave voice to extra concepts.
“Proper now we’re in form of a time in society the place phrase utilization is being suppressed, and language is being codified virtually to the purpose of hieroglyphics and a lot is being overlooked,” Hattersley stated. “Kinky by no means left something out.”
It is a growing report. Examine again for updates.
This text initially appeared within the Texas Tribune.
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