Kinky Friedman, known for his satirical and often provocative style, has passed away at 79. A post on his social media announced, “Kinky Friedman stepped on a rainbow at his beloved Echo Hill surrounded by family & friends.
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.”
Richard Samet “Kinky” Friedman earned a cult following for his unique take on country and Western music.
He released numerous albums, starting with “Sold American” in 1973, a record that laid the foundation for his career.
Known as the “governor of the heart of Texas,” he even toured with Bob Dylan during the “Rolling Thunder Revue” and made history as the “first full-blooded Jew” to perform at the Grand Ole Opry.
Apart from his musical endeavors, Friedman was a prolific writer. He wrote detective novels and contributed as a columnist for Texas Monthly.
He also ventured into politics, running for Governor of Texas in 2006 with the campaign slogan “My Governor is a Jewish Cowboy,” securing 12.6 percent of the votes among six candidates.
Born in Chicago and raised in Texas, Friedman studied psychology at the University of Texas at Austin.
His passion for music led him to form King Arthur & the Carrots and later Kinky Friedman and the Texas Jewboys. He described the latter as a “country band with a social conscience, a demented love child of Lenny Bruce and Bob Wills.”
Reflecting on his life, Friedman once wrote, “Somewhere in heaven, I’m sure there’s a quiet corner with a big easy chair, a bright floor lamp, a big stack of biographical books, and a few old dogs wagging their tails to the faint smell of cigar smoke.”
Thrilling André Rieu Concert Captivates Three-Year-Old Violin Prodigy
André Rieu Presents Emerging Violinist
The Dutch Conductor and His Ensemble
The Johann Strauss Orchestra, one of the biggest private orchestras in the world, is conducted by the well-known Dutch violinist and conductor André Rieu. Awarded the title of “King of the Waltz,” Rieu has sold more than 40 million CDs and DVDs, catapulting classical and waltz music to the forefront of the global music scene. In 2022, his tours will still enthrall audiences throughout the globe by exhibiting the extraordinary musical prowess of both him and his orchestra.
A Master Enters the Stage
André Rieu presented the world to a magnificent young talent in a concert that will never be forgotten in 2004. Akim Camara was featured as a violin prodigy at the age of three. Through tapes that his music teacher shared of Camara’s performances, Rieu was made aware of the tremendous talent of the young student. Rieu was so impressed with Camara’s talent that he invited him to perform at the Limburg Stadion in the Netherlands, and Camara lived up to the hype.
The Formative Years of a Young Violinist
At the age of two, Akim Camara started playing the violin. He expressed a strong desire to learn the violin after being moved by a concert he had seen. Camara’s mother gave her support for his enthusiasm by buying a violin, and she has been committed to playing ever since.
Meet the extraordinary talent of Akim Camara, as presented by André Rieu. See the little prodigy’s captivating performance in the video below, which captured the attention of the audience.
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