Texas country singer Kinky Friedman performs May 8 in Sebastopol

Kinky Friedman -- country singer, mystery writer and cheerfully unsuccessful candidate for governor of Texas -- will perform in concert May 8 in Sebastopol.

Friedman first gained fame in the ‘70s as leader of Kinky Friedman and the Texas Jewboys, performing sometimes controversial songs, including “They Ain’t Makin’ Jews Like Jesus Anymore” and “Get Your Biscuits in the Oven and Your Buns in Bed.”

Starting in the ‘80s, he also wrote a popular series of detective novels starring a former country singer coincidentally named Kinky Friedman, whom he supposedly killed off in the last book. However, the series resumes this summer with the publication of “The Hard-Boiled Computer.”

The singer also wrote two other novels and a column for Texas Monthly, which ran from 2001 to 2005.

Friedman ran for governor of Texas in 2006 in an earnest but sometimes light-hearted campaign, using slogans like “Why The Hell Not?”

The Sebastopol concert will honor late concert producer Laurie Schaeffer of Shaef-Abel Productions. It is also a benefit for the Earle Baum Center and the Folk Music Society.

Greg Abel and Steve Tamborski also will perform at the concert, which starts at 7:30 p.m. at the Sebastopol Grange Hall.

Tickets cost $30 in advance and $35 at the door. Information: northbaylive.com.