The world of country music mourned a profound loss last month with the passing of Richard “Kinky” Friedman, the beloved singer-songwriter, satirist, and political firebrand. He died at his home in Texas in late June at the age of 79.

Friedman, never one to follow convention, burst onto the scene in the early 1970s as the frontman of the irreverent and boundary-pushing band Kinky Friedman and The Texas Jewboys. With songs like “They Ain’t Makin’ Jews Like Jesus Anymore” and “Get Your Biscuits in the Oven and Your Buns in the Bed,” he built a reputation as both a musical rebel and a social commentator. The band’s life was brief, but Friedman’s creative fire burned long after.

In 1974, he released a self-titled solo album and went on a two-year tour with Bob Dylan, cementing his place in the larger music world. Over the decades, he released 18 albums, including his final work, Circus of Life, in 2018.

Outside of music, Friedman made headlines with his bold ventures into politics. In 2006, he ran as an independent for Texas governor, squaring off against Rick Perry and capturing widespread media attention, even though he ultimately placed fourth. He later made two unsuccessful bids for the Democratic nomination for agriculture commissioner in 2010 and 2014.

A lifelong friend, Clive Hattersley, remembered Friedman as a rare soul who could stir laughter and tears in equal measure. He also shared that Friedman had been battling Parkinson’s disease in his later years.

Kinky Friedman was more than a musician—he was a storyteller, a provocateur, and a Texas original who never shied away from speaking his mind. His legacy endures in the songs, the stories, and the unapologetic voice he shared with the world.