Kinky Friedman

Richard F. "Kinky" Friedman, (born October 31, 1944 in Chicago, Illinois) is an American singer, songwriter, novelist and, currently, a candidate for the office of Governor of the State of Texas, United States.

Music career

Friedman formed his band, The Texas Jewboys, in the early 1970s. Friedman's father objected to the name of the band, calling it a "negative, hostile, peculiar thing."

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Arriving on the wave of country rock following on from Gram Parsons, The Band and The Eagles, Friedman originally found cult fame as a country and western singer. His repertoire mixed social commentary ("We Reserve The Right To Refuse Service To You") and maudlin ballads ("Western Union Wire") with raucously politically incorrect humor ("Get Your Biscuits In The Oven and Your Buns In Bed"), while his "Ride'em Jewboy" was a remarkably effective extended tribute to the victims of the Holocaust. Friedman was a musical guest on Saturday Night Live in October 1976.

Related Topics:
Country rock - Gram Parsons - The Band - The Eagles - Country and western - Social commentary - Politically incorrect - The Holocaust - Saturday Night Live

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Selected discography

• Sold American (1973)
• Kinky Friedman (1974)
• Lasso From El Paso (1976)
• Under the Double Ego (1983)
• Old Testaments and New Revelations (1992)
• From One Good American To Another (1995)
• Classic Snatches from Europe (2000)