Richard Samet "Kinky" Friedman was a multifaceted American entertainer and writer known for his sharp wit and satirical observations. Drawing inspiration from iconic figures like Will Rogers and Mark Twain, he carved out a unique space for himself across various domains, including music, literature, and even politics. His diverse body of work often reflected his humorous and insightful perspective on American life and culture, particularly that of his home state, Texas.
November 1, 1944: Birth of Kinky Friedman
Richard Samet "Kinky" Friedman was born on November 1, 1944. He would become known as an American singer, songwriter, novelist, humorist, politician, and columnist, often compared to satirists like Will Rogers and Mark Twain.
1962: Friedman Graduates High School
Kinky Friedman graduated from Austin High School in Austin, Texas in 1962.
August 1, 1966: Release of "The Ballad of Charles Whitman"
Friedman released "The Ballad of Charles Whitman," a satirical song about the sniper attack from the University of Texas at Austin's Main Building tower, which occured on August 1, 1966.
1966: Friedman Earns Degree from UT Austin
In 1966, Friedman graduated from the University of Texas at Austin with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology. He was part of the Plan II Honors program and a member of the Tau Delta Phi fraternity.
1966: King Arthur & the Carrots is Formed
While studying at the University of Texas at Austin, Friedman formed his first band, King Arthur & the Carrots, a satirical take on surf music. The band released one single, "Schwinn 24/Beach Party Boo Boo", in 1966.
1973: Infamous Buffalo Concert
A 1973 concert in Buffalo, New York, became infamous after Friedman's performance of "Get Your Biscuits in the Oven and Your Buns into Bed," which led to a confrontation with audience members and an early end to the show.
1973: Formation of Kinky Friedman and The Texas Jewboys
Friedman formed his second band, Kinky Friedman and The Texas Jewboys, in 1973. The name was a satirical nod to Bob Wills and His Texas Playboys. In line with the band's humorous nature, each member adopted a comical stage name.
1974: Friedman Releases Debut Album
Friedman released his debut album, "Kinky Friedman," under ABC Records in 1974.
March 1975: Boarding House Incident
In early March 1975, during a show at The Boarding House, Buffy Sainte-Marie took offense to Friedman's attire and performance of "Miss Nickelodeon." She interrupted the performance, removing a war bonnet Friedman was wearing.
November 11, 1975: Unaired Austin City Limits Performance
Friedman and his band taped an episode of Austin City Limits on November 11, 1975. The episode was never aired, marking the first and only time in the show's history that an episode went unaired. The show's executive producer explained that the decision stemmed from the potentially offensive nature of the content.
1975: Touring with Bob Dylan
Friedman embarked on a tour with Bob Dylan from 1975 to 1976.
October 23, 1976: Saturday Night Live Appearance
Friedman appeared as the musical guest on the fifth episode of Saturday Night Live's second season, which aired on October 23, 1976. He performed his original song, "Dear Abbie."
1976: Touring with Bob Dylan
Friedman embarked on a tour with Bob Dylan from 1975 to 1976.
1976: Friedman Mentioned in Joseph Heller's Novel "Good as Gold"
In 1976, Kinky Friedman received a brief but notable mention in Joseph Heller's satirical novel "Good as Gold". The novel's governor, a character believed to be a satirical representation of Lyndon B. Johnson, expresses his admiration for Friedman, comparing him favorably to the main character.
1976: Joining the Rolling Thunder Revue
Friedman joined Bob Dylan's Rolling Thunder Revue tour during its second leg in early 1976.
April 2001: Friedman Begins Writing for Texas Monthly
Friedman began writing a regular column for Texas Monthly in April 2001.
November 2001: Friedman Writes about Friendship with Clinton and Bush
In November 2001, Kinky Friedman shared insights into his friendships with both Bill Clinton and George W. Bush in his column "Hail to the Kinkster" for Texas Monthly, reflecting on his relationships with the former and current presidents.
2004: Friedman Announces Candidacy for Texas Governor
Friedman announced his candidacy for Governor of Texas in 2004, aiming for the 2006 election. His campaign was notable for its colorful nature and slogans, including "dewussification" of Texas.
2004: Friedman Featured in "Barbecue: A Texas Love Story" Documentary
Kinky Friedman was featured in the 2004 documentary "Barbecue: A Texas Love Story", directed by Chris Elley and narrated by Governor Ann Richards. In the film, Friedman shares his humorous take on barbecue and cultural differences.
February 3, 2005: Friedman Voices Support for Gay Marriage
On February 3, 2005, Kinky Friedman expressed his support for gay marriage in a statement to an Associated Press reporter, stating his belief in their right to experience the same challenges as heterosexual couples.
March 2005: Friedman's Column Put on Hold
Friedman's column for Texas Monthly was suspended in March 2005 due to his gubernatorial campaign in Texas.
2005: Unreleased Footage of Friedman Included in "Barbecue: A Texas Love Story" DVD
Previously unreleased footage from Kinky Friedman's interview for the documentary "Barbecue: A Texas Love Story" was included in the film's 2005 DVD release.
2006: Friedman's Gubernatorial Campaign
Friedman continued his campaign for Texas Governor, employing memorable slogans like "How Hard Could It Be?", "Why The Hell Not?", and "My Governor is a Jewish Cowboy."
2006: Friedman's Gubernatorial Run
In 2006, Friedman ran as an independent candidate in the Texas gubernatorial election. He secured fourth place out of six candidates with 12.6% of the vote.
February 2007: Release of Tribute Album "Why the Hell Not ..."
Sustain Records released "Why the Hell Not ..." in February 2007. The album is a compilation of Kinky Friedman's songs performed by various artists, including Dwight Yoakam, Willie Nelson, Lyle Lovett, and Kelly Willis.
July 20, 2007: Concert to Save Town Lake
Friedman hosted the Concert to Save Town Lake on July 20, 2007, to commemorate Lady Bird Johnson's commitment to protecting and preserving Town Lake's shores in Austin, Texas.
August 9, 2007: Friedman Considers Second Run for Texas Governor
Kinky Friedman hinted at a potential second run for Texas Governor in 2010, as reported by the Austin American-Statesman on August 9, 2007. He expressed openness to the idea but said a final decision would come after the 2008 elections.
2008: Friedman's Column Returns
Friedman resumed writing for Texas Monthly on a bimonthly basis in 2008.
2008: Friedman Considering Running for Governor
In 2008, Kinky Friedman was considering a run for Governor of Texas.
February 10, 2009: Friedman Confirms Interest in 2010 Texas Governor Race
On February 10, 2009, Kinky Friedman confirmed to the Associated Press his continued interest in running for Texas Governor in the 2010 election.
April 14, 2009: Friedman Announces Second Gubernatorial Run
On April 14, 2009, Kinky Friedman officially announced his second run for Texas Governor in an email to his supporters, this time as a Democrat.
December 14, 2009: Friedman Exits Gubernatorial Race, Seeks Agriculture Commissioner Nomination
Kinky Friedman made a significant announcement on December 14, 2009, withdrawing from the Texas gubernatorial race to pursue the Democratic nomination for Texas Agriculture Commissioner in the March 2010 primary.
March 2, 2010: Friedman Loses Democratic Nomination for Agriculture Commissioner
The Democratic primary election on March 2, 2010, saw Kinky Friedman losing the nomination for Texas Agriculture Commissioner to rancher Hank Gilbert.
March 2010: Friedman Runs for Agriculture Commissioner
Kinky Friedman ran for the Democratic nomination for Texas Agriculture Commissioner in March 2010.
2010: Friedman Announces Intention to Run as Democrat
Kinky Friedman announced his intention to run in the 2010 Texas gubernatorial race as a Democrat.
2010: Friedman Runs for Governor of Texas
Kinky Friedman ran for Governor of Texas in 2010.
2010: Friedman's First Run for Agriculture Commissioner
Friedman ran for Texas agriculture commissioner in 2010 but lost in the Democratic primary.
March 28, 2011: Premiere of "Becoming Kinky: The World According to Kinky Friedman"
March 28, 2011, marked the world premiere of the play "Becoming Kinky: The World According to Kinky Friedman." Directed by Ted Swindley, known for "Always...Patsy Cline", the play featured a cast including Jesse Dayton, Little Jewford, Alan Lee, and Andross Bautsch, and debuted in Houston, Texas.
April 2011: Re-release of Friedman's Books as E-books
In April 2011, Friedman's own publishing company, Vandam Press, began re-releasing his earlier works as e-books. Several titles were released, including "Greenwich Killing Time," "A Case of Lone Star," and "Musical Chairs."
2011: Friedman Hosts "Texas Roadhouse Live"
Around 2011, Kinky Friedman hosted "Texas Roadhouse Live," a live concert music television show. It aired late Saturday nights on over-the-air network television in several Texas markets.
2012: Friedman Returns to Buffalo
Friedman returned to perform in Buffalo in 2012 after the controversial 1973 concert.
October 15, 2013: Friedman Announces Second Run for Agriculture Commissioner
On October 15, 2013, Friedman announced his intention to run again for Texas agriculture commissioner as a Democrat.
2017: The Waterboys Release Song about Friedman
Mike Scott, the frontman of the band The Waterboys, released a song titled "Kinky's History Lesson" on their 2017 album "Out of All This Blue." In the song, Scott humorously attempts to correct a series of allegedly false statements made by Kinky Friedman.
June 27, 2024: Death of Kinky Friedman
Kinky Friedman passed away on June 27, 2024.