The songwriter, actor, country/western singer, musician, U.S. Army veteran, helicopter pilot, accomplished rugby player and boxer, Rhodes scholar, Pomona College and University of Oxford degreed, and summa cum laude literature graduate, Kris Kristofferson, recently died at 88.
Americans may have known him best for writing smash hits like “Me and Bobby McGee” and “For the Good Times,” his wide-ranging, star-acting roles in A Star is Born and Pat Garrett and Billy the Kid, his numerous solo albums, especially with then-spouse and singer Rita Coolidge, and the country group super-quartet he formed with Johnny Cash, Waylon Jennings, and Willie Nelson.
In other words, Kristofferson was a rare Renaissance man who could do it all in an age of increasingly narrow specialization and expertise.
*****
Worthless Fact of the Day: Kris Kristofferson's ex-wife Rita Coolidge was born here in Lafayette TN.
On top of all that he completed Army Ranger School. Sometimes I think that's where that sort of relaxed attitude comes from in people. If you know what real stress is, day to day life is no big deal.
ReplyDeleteI saw an interview with him once where he was asked “What’s the hardest thing you’ve ever done?” His answer was “Jungle Phase.” That seems to fit my recollection of the course.
Delete"Sunday Mornin' Comin' Down"
ReplyDeleteListen to the story of Why Me.
ReplyDeleteSteve in Ky
Didn’t he get saved at Jimmie Snow’s church? Hank Snow’s son?
DeleteAnother great article by VDH
ReplyDeleteKristofferson discovered John Prine singing in a basement bar in Chicago, helped him get his first album.
ReplyDeleteWhen KK quit the army and went to Nashville to be a songwriter, his wife left him. three years later he had a top 10 song and was starring in movies.
ReplyDelete