Editing Josh Alan Friedman

{{short description|American novelist}}

{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2014}}
{{Infobox writer <!-- for more information see [[:Template:Infobox writer/doc]] -->
| name        = Josh Alan Friedman
| image       = Josh Alan Friedman.jpg
| image_size  = 200px
| caption     = 
| birth_date  = 
| birth_place = 
| occupation  = Musician, writer
| nationality = American
| period      = 1976–present
| relatives   = [[Drew Friedman (cartoonist)|Drew Friedman]] (brother)
| pseudonym   = John Alan
}}

'''Josh Alan Friedman''' is an American musician, writer, editor and journalist, who has worked in New York and Dallas. He is known for his 1986 collection ''Tales of Times Square'' and his comics collaborations with his brother, artist [[Drew Friedman (cartoonist)|Drew Friedman]]. Many of these are compiled in the books ''Any Similarity to Persons Living or Dead is Purely Coincidental'' and ''Warts and All''. Friedman is also a musician and songwriter, recording and performing under the name '''Josh Alan.'''<ref>"Josh Alan: The Czar of Atomic Acoustic Guitar," ''Washington City Paper'', November 14, 1997.</ref>

==Music career==

Though Friedman began playing guitar at 9, a pitching injury at 14 cost him the use of his right arm for two years. "I figured if I ever had the honor of being able to play again, no one's going to pull me away from it."<ref name="Wilonsky, Robert 1991">Wilonsky, Robert. "Josh Alan picks guitar as first love". ''Dallas Times Herald'', February 21, 1991.</ref> His time as a student with journeyman jazz guitarist Joe Monk in particular left a deep impression on the young musician.<ref>{{cite web|last=Cracker |first=Black |url=http://joshalanfriedman.blogspot.com/2010/01/joe-monk.html |title=Black Cracker Online: Joe Monk |publisher=Joshalanfriedman.blogspot.com |date=2010-01-25 |accessdate=2014-07-11}}</ref>

Friedman spent his last five years in New York working as a guitarist with the busy show band City Limits, featuring Richard Lanham, former vocalist for [[The Drifters]].

Following his move to Dallas in 1987, Friedman began recording and performing as a solo artist in earnest. He also recorded and performed extensively with [[Sara Hickman]], and produced Dallas' ''KERA 90.1 Sound Sessions''. Billed as "Josh Alan," he barnstormed the state of Texas for 20 years, rocking whole arenas with his Guild D-40 and earning three ''Dallas Observer'' Music Awards for Best Acoustic Act. He was noted for his live use of acoustic feedback, the Maestro Echoplex and surf instrumentals, as well as an acoustic medley of Black exploitation movie soundtracks. He has released four albums: ''Famous & Poor'', ''The Worst!'' (a musical based on the life and career of "Worst Director of All Time" [[Ed Wood]]), ''Blacks 'n' Jews'' (the title of which was also used for a documentary on Friedman's life) and ''Josh Alan Band''.

Josh Alan has recorded and/or played with [[Sara Hickman]], [[Keb' Mo']], [[Kinky Friedman]], Bugs Henderson, [[Phoebe Legere]], and was a perennial opener in Texas for dozens of rock and blues acts, including [[Johnny Winter]], [[Clarence "Gatemouth" Brown]], [[War (U.S. band)|War]], [[Huey Lewis and the News]], [[Bad Company]], [[Mitch Ryder]], [[Michael Nesmith]] and [[Wanda Jackson]].

==Writing career==
[[Image:BLACK CRACKER cover.jpg|thumb|''Black Cracker'' by Josh Alan Friedman (Wyatt Doyle Books)]]
Friedman's first published work was for ''[[Screw (magazine)|Screw]] magazine.'' He continued to write for the magazine for several years, eventually holding the position of Senior Editor through 1982. He covered the Times Square beat for ''Screw'' during a perilous time when few, if any writers, ventured there. He also worked as a producer on ''Screw'''s cable television show, ''[[Midnight Blue (TV series)|Midnight Blue]]''. Several of Friedman's ''Screw'' pieces would eventually serve as the foundation for his 1986 collection, ''Tales of Times Square'', documenting "pre-Disney" Times Square. By the late 70s, Josh's brother, artist Drew Friedman, was drawing covers for ''Screw,'' some conceptualized with Josh.<ref>Kelly, John. "Drew Friedman". ''The Comics Journal'' #151 July 1992.</ref> Additionally, "Meeting Groucho," Friedman's childhood reminiscence of a memorable dinner with comedian [[Groucho Marx]], was published in ''[[New York Magazine]]'' as "A Memory of Groucho" in August 1978.<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=_OACAAAAMBAJ&q=josh+alan+friedman&pg=PA98 |title=New York Magazine - Google Books |date=1978-08-28 |accessdate=2014-07-11}}</ref>

Concurrently, Friedman worked as a stringer for ''Soho News'', contributing celebrity profiles, notably of legendary songwriter [[Doc Pomus]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.wfmu.org/LCD/23/docpomus.html |title=LCD 23 &#124; Tell the Truth Until They Bleed |publisher=Wfmu.org |date= |accessdate=2014-07-11}}</ref> Pomus became a friend and mentor, and Friedman credits Pomus with teaching him to be a songwriter “without him knowing it. Just by hanging around him, I felt like he taught me how to write songs…that's what turned me from being a frustrated songwriter into a songwriter.”<ref name="Wilonsky, Robert 1991"/>

During this period, Friedman's comix collaborations with brother Drew were gaining momentum. Beginning with a notorious parody of ''[[The Andy Griffith Show]]'', first published in [[School of Visual Arts]] instructor [[Harvey Kurtzman]]'s student publication, ''Kar-tunz''' (later reprinted in [[RAW magazine]]), the Friedmans developed an enthusiastic following for their bizarro parodies and dissections of forgotten B-list entertainers and obscure pop culture figures. With their acidic, occasionally fantastical biographies of second- and third-tier celebrities, such as talk show host [[Joe Franklin]] ("The Joe Franklin Story," ''High Times'', June 1981), [[Wayne Newton]] ("The Living History of Wayne Newton," ''High Times'', September 1983), [[Frank Sinatra, Jr.]] ("The Saga of Frank Sinatra, Jr.," ''National Lampoon'', October 1985) and [[Joey Heatherton]] ("I, Joey Heatherton," ''National Lampoon'', December 1989), the Friedman Bros. became the most-feared names in satirical cartooning. Their comics had a discernible influence on [[Second City Television|SCTV]].

Much of their work as a team was collected in the books ''Any Similarity to Persons Living or Dead is Purely Coincidental'' (1985) and ''Warts and All'' (1990). ''Warts and All'' included an effusive introduction by [[Kurt Vonnegut]], and the book won a comics industry [[Harvey Award]] in 1991.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.harveyawards.org/previous-awards-nominees/1991-harvey-awards/ |title=1991 |publisher=Harvey Awards |accessdate=2014-07-11 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20160506165345/http://www.harveyawards.org/previous-awards-nominees/1991-harvey-awards/ |archivedate=May 6, 2016 }}</ref>

Friedman served as Managing Editor of ''[[High Times]]'' magazine in 1983, and as Contributing Editor to ''[[National Lampoon (magazine)|National Lampoon]]'' in the 1980s.

In 2001, Josh co-edited ''Now Dig This: The Unspeakable Writings of Terry Southern'' in collaboration with Nile Southern.

In 2005, [[Feral House]] published ''When Sex Was Dirty.''

In 2006, ''I, Goldstein: My Screwed Life'' (with [[Al Goldstein]]) was released by Thunder's Mouth Press.

In 2007, Feral House reissued ''Tales of Times Square'' in an expanded edition.

In 2008, ''Tell the Truth Until They Bleed: Coming Clean in the Dirty World of Blues and Rock 'n' Roll'' was published by Backbeat Books. The book's opening section, a profile of songwriter [[Jerry Leiber]], evolved from an ill-fated collaboration between Friedman and Leiber on Leiber's autobiography.  Friedman later eulogized Leiber in "Kiss My Big Black Ass: Jerry Leiber's Life in Spades" on his website.<ref>{{cite web|last=Cracker |first=Black |url=http://joshalanfriedman.blogspot.com/2011/09/kiss-my-big-black-ass-jerry-leibers.html |title=Black Cracker Online: Kiss My Big Black Ass: Jerry Leiber's Life in Spades |publisher=Joshalanfriedman.blogspot.com |date=2011-09-04 |accessdate=2014-07-11}}</ref> A slightly abbreviated version appeared in the ''[[Dallas Observer]]''.<ref>{{cite web|author=Josh Alan Friedman |url=http://www.dallasobserver.com/2011-09-01/music/remembering-jerry-leiber/ |title=Remembering Jerry Leiber |publisher=Dallas Observer |date=2011-09-01 |accessdate=2014-07-11}}</ref>

In 2009, Friedman launched ''Black Cracker Online'', a website and online archive. Reprints, photographs, video, unpublished material and new work are posted weekly.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.BlackCrackerOnline.com |title=Black Cracker Online |publisher=Black Cracker Online |date= |accessdate=2014-07-11}}</ref> In 2010, his autobiographical novel ''Black Cracker'' was published by Wyatt Doyle Books. The same year, Friedman provided the introduction to Michael H. Price's biography of [[Mantan Moreland]], ''Mantan the Funnyman''<ref>{{cite book|title=Mantan the Funnyman|date=August 18, 2016 |publisher=Midnight Marquee Press| isbn=978-1535181198 }}</ref>

In 2012, [[Fantagraphics Books]] reprinted ''Any Similarity to Persons Living or Dead is Purely Coincidental'', including new material from both Friedmans unique to that edition.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.fantagraphics.com/anysimilarity |title=Fantagraphics Books &#124; Comics and Graphic Novels - Any Similarity to Persons Living or Dead Is Purely Coinciden |publisher=Fantagraphics.com |accessdate=2014-07-11 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20150524173823/https://www.fantagraphics.com/anysimilarity |archivedate=May 24, 2015 |df=mdy-all }}</ref>

Also in 2012, New Texture announced the anthology ''Weasels Ripped My Flesh!'' Friedman is a contributor and co-editor, in collaboration with Robert Deis and Wyatt Doyle.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://newtextureblog.blogspot.com/2012/03/weasels-ripped-my-flesh-next-from-new.html |title=new texture: WEASELS RIPPED MY FLESH! Next From New Texture |publisher=Newtextureblog.blogspot.com |date=2012-03-24 |accessdate=2014-07-11}}</ref>

==Selected bibliography==

===Non-fiction===
* ''Tell the Truth Until They Bleed''. New York: Backbeat Books/Hal Leonard, 2008.
* ''I, Goldstein'' (with [[Al Goldstein]]). New York: Thunder's Mouth Press, 2006.
* ''When Sex Was Dirty''. Los Angeles: Feral House, 2005.
* ''Tales of Times Square''. New York: Delacorte Press, 1986.

===Fiction===
* ''Weasels Ripped My Flesh!'' (co-editor with Robert Deis and Wyatt Doyle). Los Angeles: New Texture, 2012.
* ''Black Cracker: An Autobiographical Novel''. Los Angeles: Wyatt Doyle Books/New Texture, 2010.
* ''Now Dig This: The Unspeakable Writings of Terry Southern'' (co-editor with Nile Southern). New York: Grove Press, 2001.
* ''Warts and All'' (with [[Drew Friedman (cartoonist)|Drew Friedman]]). New York: Penguin, 1990.
* ''Any Similarity to Persons Living Or Dead Is Purely Coincidental'' (with [[Drew Friedman (cartoonist)|Drew Friedman]]). Agoura, CA: Fantagraphics, 1985.

==Discography==

===Albums===
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Year
! Album
! style="width:50px;"| <small>[[Billboard 200|US]]</small>
! Label
|-
| 1991
| ''Famous & Poor''
| style="text-align:center;"| —
| Four Dots
|-
| 1994
| ''The Worst!''
| style="text-align:center;"| —
| Black Cracker
|-
| 1997
| ''Blacks 'n' Jews''
| style="text-align:center;"| —
| Black Cracker
|-
| 2001
| ''Josh Alan Band''
| style="text-align:center;"| —
| TopCat
|}

===Singles===
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Year
! Single
! style="width:45px;"| <small>[[Billboard 200|US]]</small>
! Label
|-
| 1988
| "Thanksgiving at McDonald's in Times Square"
| style="text-align:center;"| —
| Alternative Music
|}

==Filmography==
Paul Stone's unfinished adaptation of ''Tales of Times Square'' and Kevin Page's documentary on Josh Alan's life, ''Blacks and Jews'', have played film festivals.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.timessquaremovie.com/TalesPressKit.pdf |title=Tales of Time Square |publisher=Timessquaremovie.com |accessdate=2014-07-11 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20081123051311/http://www.timessquaremovie.com/TalesPressKit.pdf |archivedate=November 23, 2008 |df=mdy-all }}</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* [http://www.BlackCrackerOnline.com] ''Black Cracker Online'', Josh Alan Friedman's official website

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Friedman, Josh Alan}}
[[Category:1956 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:20th-century American novelists]]
[[Category:21st-century American novelists]]
[[Category:American male singer-songwriters]]
[[Category:American rock guitarists]]
[[Category:American blues guitarists]]
[[Category:American male guitarists]]
[[Category:American rock singers]]
[[Category:American rock songwriters]]
[[Category:Singer-songwriters from New York (state)]]
[[Category:American male novelists]]
[[Category:American satirists]]
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[[Category:Guitarists from New York (state)]]
[[Category:20th-century American male writers]]
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[[Category:20th-century American guitarists]]
[[Category:Novelists from New York (state)]]
[[Category:20th-century American non-fiction writers]]
[[Category:21st-century American non-fiction writers]]
[[Category:American male non-fiction writers]]
[[Category:20th-century American male musicians]]