The world is mourning the loss of the beloved country singer Richard “Kinky” Friedman, who passed away today at the age of 79 at his home in Texas. Fans were left heartbroken upon hearing the news, which was shared in an emotional post on Thursday.

“Kinky Friedman stepped on a rainbow at his beloved Echo Hill, surrounded by family and friends. Despite enduring tremendous pain and unthinkable loss in recent years, Kinkster never lost his fighting spirit and quick wit.”

Richard “Kinky” Friedman had an impressive career in both music and politics. In 2006, he ran for governor of Texas as an independent candidate, securing 12% of the vote and finishing in fourth place out of six candidates.

A Musical Journey to Remember
Kinky’s musical journey began during his time at the University of Texas at Austin when he formed his first band called King Arthur & the Carrots. Their record “Schwinn 24/Beach Party Boo Boo” humorously poked fun at surf music, showcasing Kinky’s unique sense of wit.

After the disbandment of King Arthur & the Carrots, Richard formed his second band, Ginky Friedman and the Texas Jewboys, in 1973. He then released his self-titled solo album in 1974.

Notably, Kinky went on a two-year tour with music legend Bob Dylan and made a memorable appearance as a musical guest on Season 2 of Saturday Night Live. In 2011, he successfully toured the world as the headline act. Throughout his music career, he released a total of 18 albums, with his most recent one, “Circus of Life,” coming out in 2018.