 Kinky Friedman, the singer, songwriter, and novelist who also dabbled in Texas politics with a campaign for governor, has died at the age of 79. Close friend Kent Perkins says Friedman had suffered from Parkinson's disease. Friedman led the alt-country band the Texas Jew Boys, toured with Bob Dylan, and sang with Willie Nelson in a career that earned him a cult following across musical and literary genres. This is Here and Now.