Kris Kristofferson, Country Music Legend and ‘A Star Is Born’ Leading Man, Dies at 88

As I delve into the captivating narrative of Kris Kristofferson, I find myself awestruck by the sheer resilience and tenacity this man possessed. From the battlefields to the music halls, he navigated life with a grit that is rarely seen.

88-year-old Kris Kristofferson, renowned for his trailblazing work as a country music artist and actor in films and television, passed away peacefully at his home on Maui, Hawaii, on Saturday. The cause of death has not been disclosed, but it’s reported that he was surrounded by family at the time.

With a sense of profound sadness, we announce the peaceful passing of our beloved husband, father, and grandfather, Kris Kristofferson, on September 28, at home. We feel incredibly fortunate for the time we spent with him. We appreciate your love and affection for him over all these years. When you see a rainbow, remember it’s his smile shining down on us. This message is shared on behalf of his wife, Lisa; his children Tracy, Kris Jr., Casey, Jesse, Jody, John, Kelly, and Blake; and his grandchildren.

Kyle Young, head of the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum, stated that Kris Kristofferson deeply felt that creativity is a divine gift, and those who disregard or divert such a sacred talent are destined for failure and misery. He advocated that a life devoted to intellect expresses the soul, and he produced a remarkable body of work that echoed not just his soul but ours. Kris admired figures like Muhammad Ali, William Blake, and Hank Williams – boxer, poet, and songwriter respectively – and lived his life in accordance with their values, leaving behind a noble, brave, and impactful legacy that resonates with theirs.

By the time Kris Kristofferson achieved mainstream success, he had already worked in Nashville’s music scene for several years, producing a number of moderately successful songs. His tunes like “For the Good Times” (performed by Ray Price in 1970), “Sunday Morning Coming Down” (sung by Johnny Cash in 1970), and “Help Me Make It Through the Night” (recorded by Sammi Smith in 1971) all reached No. 1 on the country charts. Interestingly, Kristofferson’s song “Me and Bobby McGee” became a top hit for his former lover, Janis Joplin, after her death in 1971.

For his initial four albums on Monument Records, he presented his raw, untamed vocal style and compositions that were reminiscent of early outlaw country, which consistently charted in the top 10 of country music. Among these, the 1972 album “Jesus Was a Capricorn,” featuring his No. 1 country hit “Why Me,” peaked at the top of the country LP charts. He was awarded three Grammys; one for best country song (“Help Me Make It Through the Night”) and two for collaborations with Rita Coolidge, whom he was married to from 1973-80.

In his seminal work “Country Music, U.S.A.,” Bill C. Malone observed that Kristofferson’s song lyrics frequently addressed themes of solitude, detachment, and suffering. However, they also praised liberty and authentic connections, and these themes were expressed in a personal, sensual language that was relatively uncommon in country music.

The musician’s casual charm and attractive demeanor fit perfectly for photo shoots. He initially gained recognition in Bill L. Norton’s 1972 film “Cisco Pike,” where he portrayed the lead character, a Los Angeles musician and drug dealer controlled by a corrupt police officer (played by Gene Hackman). The movie also incorporated several of Kristofferson’s songs into its soundtrack.

During the ’70s, his movie career took off. He played the romantic lead opposite Susan Anspach in Paul Mazursky’s “Blume in Love” (1973) and Ellen Burstyn in Martin Scorsese’s “Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore” (1974). In 1977, he shared the spotlight with Barbra Streisand, winning a Golden Globe Award for his portrayal of a troubled rock star in the third remake of “A Star is Born.

Despite encountering rough patches in Hollywood, particularly with a few infamous production issues, he was involved in two notable instances. First, he worked alongside James Coburn in Sam Peckinpah’s 1973 Western “Pat Garrett and Billy the Kid,” where he played the notorious outlaw. Unfortunately, the film gained notoriety when it was removed from Peckinpah’s control and re-edited by MGM. Subsequently, he starred in Peckinpah’s “Convoy” (1978), a film adaptation of C.W. McCall’s CB radio-themed hit; however, while the movie was financially successful, his performance received poor reviews.

After his role in Michael Cimino’s 1980 Western film “Heaven’s Gate,” Kristofferson’s acting career didn’t fully bounce back. The movie was plagued by rumors about budget issues and Cimino’s demanding directing style on set. Upon release, it received poor reviews and was pulled from theaters quickly for re-editing; United Artists (which had been sold to MGM following this disaster) declared the film a loss less than a week after its premiere. The film’s title became almost synonymous with Hollywood extravagance and arrogance.

As a dedicated fan, I’ve always stood firm in defense of “Heaven’s Gate,” a movie that initially faced severe criticism but eventually earned critical acclaim. In a 2012 interview included in the Criterion Collection’s home video release, I expressed my belief that both Michael and his masterpiece deserved more than they got. The film, in my opinion, was deserving of being recognized as a work of art, not just another failed economic venture.

In the ’80s, he gradually found his professional stride again. Collaborating with Willie Nelson, who released a hit album of Kristofferson’s songs in 1979, he appeared alongside him in Alan Rudolph’s 1984 movie “Songwriter”. Their joint soundtrack for the film earned an Academy Award nomination.

In 1985, the country music supergroup known as the Highwaymen was formed by Kristofferson, Nelson, Johnny Cash and Waylon Jennings with their album “Highwayman.” This album reached No. 1 on the country charts. Over the years, they released two more successful albums in 1990 and 1995.

His movie and TV acting career progressed steadily, even if it included smaller parts; in the end, he amassed over 100 performances. In 1996, he earned positive criticism for his portrayal of a cruel Texas sheriff in John Sayles’ “Lone Star.” In 1998, he began a series of three roles as Abraham Whistler, the vampire hunter, alongside Wesley Snipes in the successful “Blade” comic book adaptation.

Following his separation from Monument in the ’80s, Kristofferson infrequently released solo records. However, he garnered impressive reviews for three later albums – “A Moment of Forever” (1995), “This Old Road” (2006) and “Closer to the Bone” (2009) – which were intimately produced by Don Was. In 2013, he self-released “Feeling Mortal” on his own record label, KK Records.

In 2004, Kristofferson was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame, and in 2015, he was honored with a Lifetime Achievement Award by the Grammy Awards organization.

During the subsequent award ceremony, his contemporary and friend Rodney Crowell penned that Kristofferson had established a narrative style in country music that incorporated intelligence, wit, moving eloquence, spiritual yearning, male vulnerability, and a hint of sensuality – even eroticism.

He was born June 2, 1936, in Brownsville, Texas. His father was a career Army Air Corps and Air Force officer, and his family moved frequently. He attended high school in San Mateo, Calif., where he proved both a strong student and a gifted athlete. He graduated summa cum laude with a degree in English from Pomona College and attended Oxford University in England as a Rhodes Scholar.

In the U.K., Kris Carson made his first records as Kristofferson. Upon returning to America, he was persuaded by family to join the army and rose through the ranks to become a captain who could fly helicopters. Just before starting an English teaching assignment at West Point, he chose to leave the military. In 1965, he relocated to Nashville to focus entirely on his music career. His family then severed ties with him.

For four years, Kristofferson honed his craft in Music City, balancing his role as a commercial helicopter pilot with cleaning duties at Columbia Records’ local studio. It was here that he is said to have met his future “Pat Garrett” co-star, Bob Dylan, who was in town recording the iconic album “Blonde On Blonde”. Persuading a prominent figure in country music to notice his songs proved challenging, but this encounter became a well-known tale in Nashville folklore.

Later on, Johnny Cash reminisced about an instance: “I hadn’t paid much heed to them until one day, he descended a National Guard helicopter into our garden. I was taking a nap, and June exclaimed, ‘Someone has landed a helicopter in our yard! They used to approach from the road; now they’re arriving from the sky!’ As I raised my head, there was Kris emerging from a helicopter, clutching a beer bottle in one hand and a tape in the other.

On “The Johnny Cash Show,” Kristofferson’s “Sunday Morning Coming Down” garnered significant success for its writer, marking one of his first major hits. This song was later recognized as ‘Song of the Year’ by the Country Music Association. Notably, Kristofferson received this award in a well-publicized, somewhat disheveled television appearance.

Having earned a reputation as one of the nation’s foremost songwriting talents, with popular covers by artists like Ray Stevens, Bobby Bare, Roger Miller, and Waylon Jennings, he secured a long-term contract with Monument Records. His first album “Kristofferson” initially sold poorly, but it reached No. 10 on the country charts in 1971 following the label’s decision to rename the collection “Me and Bobby McGee,” capitalizing on Joplin’s successful rendition of the same song.

Before the term “outlaw” was widely used in country music, Kristofferson consistently placed eight albums in the top 25 during the ’70s. His unique blend of relaxed charisma and hint of danger earned him leading roles in various Hollywood films such as “The Sailor Who Fell From Grace With the Sea” and “Semi-Tough.

Despite the dismal performance of “Heaven’s Gate” at the box office, excessive alcohol and drug use had taken a heavy toll on the performer’s personal life. In 2008, he confided to The Guardian that after his separation from Coolidge, a doctor advised him that his liver was as large as a football and if he didn’t stop drinking, he would likely succumb to his addiction.

From the 1980s onwards, his music and film careers advanced consistently, albeit not as explosively as during his initial fame. As time went by, he primarily concentrated on acting, but maintained frequent tours. His albums for Mercury Records, “Repossessed” (1986) and “Third World Warrior” (1990), carried strong political views leaning towards the left.

In his later life, Kristofferson experienced memory issues, which were incorrectly diagnosed for numerous years according to him and his family. Initially, he was informed that he might have dementia due to Alzheimer’s or be dealing with the effects of head injuries sustained during his football, rugby, and boxing days as a young man. However, in 2016, a doctor confirmed that he tested positive for Lyme disease.

According to Lisa (his wife), he had been consuming various medications for ailments he didn’t actually suffer from, all of which came with adverse effects. She noted that his health significantly improved when he ceased medication for unrelated conditions. Chris Gantry, a friend, described the change as akin to Lazarus rising from the dead and being reborn anew, as reported by Closer Weekly.

2024-09-30 01:47

Kris Kristofferson, Country Music Legend and ‘A Star Is Born’ Leading Man, Dies at 88

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