The country music world lost a great one this weekend.
Country music icon Kris Kristofferson has passed away at age of 88 years old. According to a press release, the singer, songwriter and actor passed away peacefully in his home in Maui, Hawaii, on Saturday, September 28th.
The Texas native was of the most accomplished and uniquely impressive individuals to ever walk the planet. A Rhodes Scholar in Oxford, a defensive back, a bartender, a Golden Gloves boxer, a forest firefighter, and an Army Ranger who flew helicopters…. Kristofferson’s resume is as impressive as anybody.
Most known for writing song like “Me and Bobby McGee,” “Sunday Mornin’ Comin’ Down,” and “Help Me Make It Through the Night,” he was also a member of the outlaw country group, The Highwaymen, alongside Waylon Jennings, Willie Nelson and Johnny Cash.
In 1965, Kris went to Nashville where he met with Marijohn Wilkin, the songwriter of “Long Black Veil” who he got connected to through an Army buddy. On Kristofferson’s first Nashville night, he met Cowboy Jack Clement, then backstage at the Grand Ole Opry, he met a lifelong friend in that of Johnny Cash. He immediately resigned from his Army post and officially moved to Nashville to write songs.
Kristofferson spent 4 years in Nashville trying to make it as a songwriter. He worked as a janitor at CBS’s Nashville studio, which got him access to recording sessions by Johnny Cash, Bob Dylan, and others.
Finally, he caught in a break years later when Ray Stevens recorded his “Sunday Mornin’ Comin’ Down,” as well as Johnny Cash, who got Kris his first career #1 single. The song also won a CMA Award for Song of the Year in 1970.
Roger Miller recorded “Me and Bobby McGee,” Ray Price recorded “For the Good Times” and suddenly, Kris had enough momentum to release his own record… and a superstar was born.
According to Bob Dylan, Kris changed the entire landscape of Music City;
“You can look at Nashville pre-Kris and post-Kris, because he changed everything.”
In 1971, Kristofferson became an actor. He would go on to win a Golden Globe award for his role in A Star Is Born, which was of course later remade into an Oscar winning smash with Bradley Cooper and Lady Gaga. He starred in films including Semi-Tough, Songwriter, Pat Garrett and Billy the Kid, The Sailor Who Fell from Grace with the Sea, Lone Star, and Blade.
In 1985, Kristofferson joined Cash, Waylon Jennings, and Willie Nelson to form the supergroup now called The Highwaymen, which he felt undeserving of. He told journalist Mikal Gilmore:
“Every time I look at a picture of Willie and me and John and Waylon, I find it amazing that they let the janitor in there.”
In 2003, Kristofferson received the Free Speech Award from the Americana Music Association and in 2004 he became a member of the Country Music Hall of Fame. He has since then received lifetime achievement honors from BMI, The Recording Academy, the CMAs and the ACMs, among many others.
“When I got started, I was one of the people hoping to bring respect to country music. Some of the songs I had that got to be hits did that. I imagine that’s why somebody might vote me into a Hall of Fame. I know it’s not because of my golden throat.”
Kristofferson’s survived by his wife, Lisa; eight children, Tracy, Kris Jr., Casey, Jesse, Jody, John, Kelly, and Blake; and seven grandchildren, who, while asking for privacy, provided the following statement:
“It is with a heavy heart that we share the news our husband/father/grandfather, Kris Kristofferson, passed away peacefully on Saturday, September 28 at home.
We’re all so blessed for our time with him. Thank you for loving him all these many years, and when you see a rainbow, know he’s smiling down at us all.”
RIP to an absolute legend… the great Kris Kristofferson.
