Kris Kristofferson R.I.P.

[Calico]

Kris Kristofferson passed away yesterday at the age of 88.

His music was the soundtrack of my youth. In 1970, I was 15, and his first album had just been released. My aunt took me to see Kristofferson and John Prine perform in a very small venue in Evanston, Illinois. I don't remember who opened for whom, but I was a fan of both of them from that night forward. I saw John Prine perform in North Carolina some years ago, after he became ill. He still had that magic! I was just listening to some of Kristofferson's music the other other night while making dinner.

Thanks for the memories, and rest in peace, you silver tongued devil!

I loved all his music, but four of my favorites were The Silver Tongued Devil and I; Sunday Morning Coming Down; For the Good Times (it still brings a tear to my eyes); Help Me Make it Thought the Night.

 

[JBTX]

I’m not a country guy. My first exposure to him was Smokey and the Bandit.

 

[street]

Help Me Make it Thought the Night. Booze, broads or bible.

RIP!

 

[Koolau]

Great song writer. Great singer. Great actor. Great person. RIP

 

[ERD50]

... In 1970, I was 15, and his first album had just been released. My aunt took me to see Kristofferson and John Prine perform in a very small venue in Evanston, Illinois. ...

I mostly connect Kris K with John Prine. I know Prine's music more that Kris K's.

Was that small venue one of the incarnations of Amazing Grace Coffee House?

Amazingrace Coffeehouse

How sweet the sound!

amazingrace.com

 

[Calico]

I mostly connect Kris K with John Prine. I know Prine's music more that Kris K's.

Was that small venue one of the incarnations of Amazing Grace Coffee House?

Amazingrace Coffeehouse

How sweet the sound!

amazingrace.com

It's possible! My memory isn't what it used to be.

Prine and Kristofferson always go together in my mind too.

Around the same time period I heard Odetta sing in Evanston - I remember sitting on the floor at her feet, and the room literally shook when she sang!

 

[Koolau]

Help Me Make it Thought the Night. Booze, broads or bible.

RIP!

Yeah, he was like many artists: Conflicted. I think he finally made peace with life.

 

[FlaGator]

He wrote Me and Bobby McGee (Janis Joplin), Sunday Morning Coming Down (Johnny Cash) as well as Help Me Make It Through The Night (Sammi Smith, and the best ever country erotica IMO). Plus many deeply emotional songs, at least to me. As much I like the versions made famous by those above, the versions he did hit me harder. And I love all of them, as well as his work with the Highway Men.

Very glad he made his mark on music in my lifetime.

 

[Koolau]

It's possible! My memory isn't what it used to be.

Prine and Kristofferson always go together in my mind too.

Around the same time period I heard Odetta sing in Evanston - I remember sitting on the floor at her feet, and the room literally shook when she sang!

Odetta. Yes. At a 4000 seat venue, the PA system failed. She set the mic down and said "I don't need this" and finished the show. It's difficult to lose our musical heroes including KK.

 

[ERD50]

.... Around the same time period I heard Odetta sing in Evanston - I remember sitting on the floor at her feet, and the room literally shook when she sang!

I saw Odetta at Amazing Grace, I have the ticker stub. Yes, powerful voice, and an icon.

They don't mark the years on them, but other connections that I have of that concert, and a 1976 calendar, places it as 1976.

 

[Calico]

I can't get over the $2.50 ticket price!!

 

[aja8888]

Both a Rhodes Scholar and Army helicopter pilot.

 

[pjm-7]

I went to what was probably his last performance in Denver in November 2019. When the pandemic hit he put off touring and then announced I think early last year that he would never tour again. It was such good music and I am so glad that I was able to make that concert.

 

[Gumby]

Kris Kristofferson was a multi-talented guy. My first knowledge of him came from watching the movie A Star is Born where he played opposite Barbra Streisand.

 

[homestead]

 

[ERD50]

I can't get over the $2.50 ticket price!!

Yea, even when you think in terms of inflation, not much. That was about a 1/2 hour's pay for me at the time. I don't ever remember thinking "Oh, I can't afford to see that concert" even in my student years and part time job. I saw something about every week, sometimes multiple shows per w/e. Of course, many of those were bars., so add in the cost of cheap beer.

 

[Montecfo]

He was an amazing talent. I used to enjoy saying that he was a Rhodes Scholar but did not let that get in the way of a successful country music career.

I loved the Streisand/Kristofferson version of A Star is Born and his endearingly stiff delivery of his lines to Elle. Burstyn in Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore as a young actor.

Some would question his talent as a singer but I loved his work with The Highwaymen especially. Who would have thought back then that Willie Nelson would outlive Cash, Waylon and Kris? His own rendition of Sunday Morning Coming Down is I think the best.

My recollection was that he got his break while working as a janitor in a radio station. My memory was imperfect but close. Article linked below captures this remarkable story, including reference to his military career.

Enjoyed seeing his star on the South Texas Country Music Walk of Fame in Corpus Christi earlier this year. He is also in the one in Nashville.

He will be missed.

The song Kris Kristofferson wrote while working as a janitor

Kris Kristofferson has lived a life of epic proportions, which includes penning a classic track when he was working as a janitor.

faroutmagazine.co.uk

 

[Calico]

He was an amazing talent. I used to enjoy saying that he was a Rhodes Scholar but did not let that get in the way of a successful country music career.....

His own rendition of Sunday Morning Coming Down is I think the best.....

He will be missed.

The song Kris Kristofferson wrote while working as a janitor

Kris Kristofferson has lived a life of epic proportions, which includes penning a classic track when he was working as a janitor.

faroutmagazine.co.uk

I agree 100%.

 

[audreyh1]

Kris Kristofferson was in a lot of movies! I particularly liked his depiction of the mean ole sheriff in Lone Star.

 

[Yoheadden]

RIP,
My parents brought me along when they saw him in a small theater in Old Bridge, NJ. A great voice.
One of my favorites.

 

[frayne]

88 years is a good run for anybody, RIP Kris.

 

[Aggie1999]

Singer, truck driver and vampire hunter! Can't ask for much more in life!

 

[JDARNELL]

Don't forget Airborne Ranger! AATW!

 

[pacergal]

Very talented song writer and singer.
88 is a pretty good life.

 

[gcgang]

Must’ve been a great guy if Lukas says so.