It’s getting to that stage when many of the music heroes from the soundtrack of one’s life are passing on at a regular rate.
Sadly, Kris Kristofferson is the latest in a long line of musical greats to be elevated to that gig in the sky, passing away at 88 years of age a few days ago.
Kris was not only known for his fantastic songwriting abilities but he also was an accomplished actor and appeared in many films over his career.
He is best known for his songwriting credits which include ‘Me and Bobby McGee’ made famous by Janis Joplin, ‘For The Good Times’ , ‘Sunday Mornin’ Comin’ Down’ and ‘Help Me Make It Through The Night’ just to name a few.
With Johnny Cash, Waylon Jennings, and Willie Nelson formed The Highwaymen and together they had great success as a band.
Enjoy the music of Kris Kristofferson that follows.
‘Me and Bobby McGee’
‘Sunday Mornin’ Comin’ Down’
‘Help Me Make It Through The Night’
‘The Highwaymen’
A playlist of Kris Kristofferson songs.
More from Col Ritchie can be read Here
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About Colin Ritchie
Retired teacher who enjoys following the Bombers, listening to music especially Bob Dylan, reading, and swimming.
Two memories came to mind when I heard of Kris’s passing. The poetry of “Me and Bobby McGee”.
“Busted flat in Baton Rouge, waitin’ for a train
When I’s feelin’ near as faded as my jeans”
And his performance at the Joni 75 birthday celebration concert in 2018, supported by Brandi Carlisle. He is clearly in poor health; his voice (and memory) shot; but the love from Brandi, other performers and the audience transcends his frailty.
To live; to love; to learn; to leave a legacy. It’s all we can ask.
I saw Kris play in Hobart in 2006. I couldn’t help but repeat the exchange Jerry and George had in the cafe once. “We are not men”. “No we are not”. Kris was everything you could want in a man. An amazing arist, Rhodes Scholar, pilot, degrees in literature and philosophy, athlete and all round hunk! From all reports he was a generous man and lived a very full life. Vale Kris
I raise my glass, another magnificent songwriter gorn. But what a bunch of great songs he left us with.
My folks didn’t have many records, maybe 20 but at least six of those were Johnny Cash albums. I first heard Sunday Mornin’ Comin’ Down on the album, The Johnny Cash Show, with the foldout sleeve that made it look like a TV. Aint many songs I can recall in detail the first time I heard them, but Sunday is one. And it floored me. At the time, 1972, Dylan was the only other songwriter whose lyrics seemed so, so far beyond the songs I heard on the radio. And then it turns out Johnny didn’t write Sunday. I would stare at the record label, trying to pronounce Kristofferson, wondering why an American singer was singing a song written by someone in Sweden. Boy, did I have a lot to learn! Even though the lyrics were so far beyond a 9 year old’s comprehension (somewhere far away a lonely bell was ringin’/And it echoed through the canyons/Like the disappearing dreams of yesterday) the mystery lodged in my heart.
So I raise my glass. And can I recommend, Here Come’s that Rainbow Again, from the early 80s, up there with Kris’ best.
Thanks Col.
Many have pointed out his actions with Sinead O’Connor when she was booed on stage at a gig to celebrate Bob Dylan in 1992. It was shortly after her Saturday Night Live appearance – when on US TV she’d urged the audience to “fight the real enemy” as she tore up a picture of Pope John Paul II.
So she gets booed by the gig audience this night but KK supports her.
“Don’t let the bastards get you down.”
K Kristofferson. Legend.
https://www.irishtimes.com/culture/music/2024/09/30/the-night-kris-kristofferson-defended-sinead-oconnor-on-stage-amid-boos-and-jeers/
He really was one of the good ones.
That great gig in the sky sounds like a belter.