A great neighbor and all around good guy, Richard Samet “Kinky” Friedman, slipped away peacefully at home in his sleep early Wednesday morning from Parkinson’s Disease.
“Kinky Friedman stepped on a rainbow at his beloved Echo Hill surrounded by family & friends,” a statement on X read announcing his death. “Kinkster endured tremendous pain & unthinkable loss in recent years but he never lost his fighting spirit and quick wit. Kinky will live on as his books are read and his songs are sung.”
Kinky left a legacy of laughter, music, loyalty, mercy, tolerance, servitude, and wisdom as a best-selling author, humorist, songwriter, and singer.
Around these parts, between Kerrville and Medina, Texas, we thought of him as a rescuer of unwanted dogs and cats, a compassionate, philanthropic, soft-spoken man who devoted much of his life to serving others less fortunate.
A few years ago, he made an appearance with Ruth Buzzi (of Classic TV’s “Laugh In” fame) down the road in Bandera, “The Cowboy Capital of the World,” for the grand opening at Texas Spirits (All things made in Texas) which has a section devoted to his memorabilia.
Dodie and I saw him before Christmas last year with his daughters at the Medina Social Club while dining at the River Oaks Courts less than 200 yards from our home.
We heard a couple of months prior he was reported missing over a local fire and rescue scanner channel, but was later found “lost and confused” in his truck.
During this December 2023 meal, Kinky appeared reserved, but okay. I noticed he was performing at various Texas venues not long after, so we assumed he was doing better.
He and his sister Marcie founded the Echo Hill Gold Star Camp. It is in session now, for kids who’ve lost a parent to military, police, fire, or EMS service.
He was friends with Presidents, homeless vagrants, and every type of human being in between; all people were of equal value to him. His heroes included Jesus, Moses, Mahatma Gandhi, Nelson Mandela, and Winston Churchill.
Kinky, at 79, performed on stage as long as he could stand up with a guitar strapped around his neck, but most sitting down.
I first met him during a Thanksgiving meal at the Kerrville YO Ranch and Conference Center in the late 1990s. He was a friendly gentleman. Sitting just across the table from him, he was, of course entertaining, but not full of himself.
Years later, with the help of long time friend and Country Music Hall of Fame DJ “Cousin” Jerry King, I was able to interview Kinky behind the Majestic Theater at a Willie Nelson concert in San Antonio. He was as thrilled to be there as any Willie fan.
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IN GOD WE TRUST
Loralyn ‘Dodie’ & Jack Dennis
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Rest in peace Kinky, you were greatly admired.
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Thanks for introducing me to Kinky. He must have been an honorable and God fearing lover of humanity. May he rest in Heaven’s glory.
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I love the quotes you included; he sounds like an exceptional and loving man, and yeah, a kinky sense of humor. He’d be the guy that people really miss having around.
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I didn’t know he passed. When I conjure up Texas characters, Kinky was at the top of the list, right there with Dobie. A true son of Texas, gone but not forgotten.
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