The beloved figure, who was 79 years old, went suddenly at his Texas home in late June, leaving the country music community in sadness. In a touching social media statement on June 27, it was disclosed that he passed away at Medina’s Echo Hill Ranch, surrounded by his loved ones.
“He stepped on a rainbow at his beloved Echo Hill, surrounded by those he held dear,” the notification said, capturing the essence of the moment. He endured unspeakable suffering and unfathomable loss in recent years, but he never lost his will to live and his bright mind.
He faced off against Ricky Perry in the 2006 gubernatorial race, garnering a lot of media attention despite coming in fourth place. In 2010 and 2014, he unsuccessfully ran for the Democratic candidacy for agriculture commissioner.
His old friend Clive Hattersley remembered him with fondness as a remarkable communicator who could elicit strong feelings, whether they were tears or laughter. Hattersley also disclosed his struggle with Parkinson’s illness.
His satirical country band Kinky Friedman and The Texas Jewboys, famed for hits like “They Ain’t Makin’ Jews Like Jesus Anymore” and “Get Your Biscuits in the Oven and Your Buns in the Bed,” brought him fame in the early 1970s. Despite the short lifespan of the group, he carried on with his career, recording a solo album of the same name in 1974 and going on a two-year tour with Bob Dylan.
He put out eighteen albums during his career; his last album, “Circus of Life,” was published in 2018.
Last month, the country music community lamented the untimely death of renowned performer Richard “Kinky” Friedman, 79, who went away at his Texas home in late June.
Peace be with you.
