Remembering Kris Kristofferson
• Artist, singer, songwriter, actor and activist Kris Kristofferson passed away at his home on Maui, Hawaii on Saturday, September 28, surrounded by family. He was 88 years old. Kristofferson’s family released a statement, which reads, in part, “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.”
A lengthy chronicle of Kristofferson’s amazingly varied careers described him as “a Rhodes Scholar in Oxford, a defensive back, a bartender, a Golden Gloves boxer, a gandy dancer, a forest firefighter, a road crew member, and an Army Ranger who flew helicopters. He was a peacenik, a revolutionary, an actor, a superstar, a sex symbol, and a family man. He was commissioned to teach English at West Point, though he gave that up to become a Nashville songwriting bum.”
Kristofferson’s remarkable songwriting prowess was revealed on his first solo album released in April 1970, which contained now-classics including “Sunday Mornin’ Comin’ Down,” “Me and Bobby McGee,” “To Beat the Devil,” “Help Me Make It Through the Night,” “Just the Other Side of Nowhere,” “Darby’s Castle,” and “Best of All Possible Worlds.”
“Sunday Mornin’ Comin’ Down,” was also recorded by Ray Stevens, and later, by Johnny Cash, who took it to the top of the Country charts, and it was named CMA Song of the Year in 1970. Roger Miller, one of Kristofferson’s songwriting heroes, recorded “Me and Bobby McGee,” which was later covered by Janis Joplin, becoming her signature hit. Kristofferson’s “For the Good Times” was recorded by the great Ray Price and became a No. 1 Country hit.
“With that debut album, Kristofferson emerged as a luminous figure whose fame expanded far beyond Country music. And Kristofferson became a counter-culture darling, beloved by artists and listeners who had never before paid attention to Country music. As Bob Dylan said, ‘You can look at Nashville pre-Kris and post-Kris, because he changed everything.'”
In 1985, Kristofferson joined Cash, Waylon Jennings, and Willie Nelson to form the supergroup, The Highwaymen. Kristofferson was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 2004 and received the Willie Nelson Lifetime Achievement Award in 2019.
Sarah Trahern, CMA CEO issued this statement: “The Country Music world has lost one of its most profound storytellers. I was fortunate to get to work with Kris on many projects over the years. His charm was exactly what you’d expect — unassuming and slightly mysterious, yet deeply warm. As a prolific writer, actor and performer, his gifts were unlike anyone else. We regret that we will no longer be beneficiaries of his incredible words and talents. Our hearts go out to Kris’s friends and family during this sad time.”
Kristofferson is survived by his wife, Lisa; eight children, Tracy, Kris Jr., Casey, Jesse, Jody, John, Kelly, and Blake; and seven grandchildren. The family asks for privacy during this time. [Photo Credit: © Peter Yang/ augustimage.com]
• Benztown has produced an Audio Tribute to Kris Kristofferson, which you are invited to share.
• Compass Media and Rowdy Yates have produced a six-song retrospective on the incredibly gifted songwriter Kris Kristofferson, includes greats from Johnny Cash, Willie Nelson, Ray Price and others. Inventory-free and available to any broadcast outlet, reach out to Doug Ingold at dingold@compassmedianetworks.com.
