Artistes The actor Richard “Kinky” Friedman has d ied. He was 79 years old.

The news came through X on Thursday. “Kinky Friedman stepped on a rainbow at his beloved Echo Hill surrounded by family & friends,” said it. “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,” said the post. His name was John and he went to the University of Texas at Austin. The exact day he d ied was not given.However, Kinky also ran for governor of Texas as an independent candidate in 2006. With 12% of the vote, he came in fourth place out of six candidates. PROFILE IN MUSIC King Arthur & the Carrots was Kinky’s first band, which he started at UT. They only made one record in 1966, which was Schwinn 24/Beach Party Boo Boo. Surf music was made fun of by King Arthur & The Carrots. Ginky Friedman and the Texas Jewboys was Richard’s second band. They were formed in 1973. They didn’t stay together for long, and Kinky’s self-titled album came out in 1974.