Texas-based country singer/songwriter, author and politician Richard Friedman is better known by his stage name Kinky Friedman. He collected a cult following during the 1970s with his 1974 self-titled album, which he followed with his first of many tours with Bob Dylan in 1975. His witty banter mixed with social commentary made for a smart brand of humor that would carry his music forward for decades to come. Friedman steadily released country rock albums into the 2000s, including his 2007 Live from Austin, TX record, while also finding time to pen several novels, many of which feature a fictionalized version of himself as the main character, and contribute articles to the Texas Monthly. He has taken his humor to the political stage on many occasions, including his run for Governor of Texas in 2006.
