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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 house at Echo Hill Ranch in Medina, his associates Cleve Hattersley stated in an interview and Kent Perkins stated on social media. He had Parkinson’s illness, Hattersley stated.
Friedman ran for governor towards 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 recognized 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 may deliver you to tears on stage. He may make you roll on the ground in laughter.”
Friedman gained a repute 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 printed novels that usually 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 looking for 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 Courtroom legalized it nationally, quipping, “I help homosexual marriage as a result of I imagine 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 type 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 disregarded,” Hattersley stated. “Kinky by no means left something out.”
This can be a creating report. Verify again for updates.
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