Iconic singer-songwriter and actor Kris Kristofferson passed away over the weekend on the island of Maui, his hometown in Hawaii. This became known this morning, the country legend who also acted is considered one of the notorious song suppliers, especially in the country genre.
Me and Bobby MacGee
“Busted flat in Baton Rouge, waitin for a train/ When I’s feelin’ near as faded as my jeans/ Bobby thumbed a diesel down, just before it rained/ and rode us all the way into New Orleans… Zo begint het troubadourslied dat Kristofferson in 1970 zong op zijn debuut. Producer Robert Foster deelde in de credits van Me and Bobby Mc Geewhich was posthumously immortalized by Janis Joplin, and countless others followed. It was somewhat the fate of Kristofferson, a great songwriter and fascinating storyteller but a rather mediocre singer.
Even before his first recording sessions took place in 1970, Kristofferson’s songs were already being covered by country folk. Roger Miller brought Me And Boby McGhee out in ’69. That year Ray Stevens and Johnny Cash recorded Sunday Morning Coming Down. An inspired performance by Gordon Lightfoot followed later. Sammi Smith took Help Me Make It ThroughThe Night afterwards a huge hit for Glady’s Knight and The Pips.
Outlaw Country
Smith was one of the few women in the so-called outlaw movement. Together with Merle Haggard, Guy Clark, Billy Joe Shaver and Donnie Fritts, Kris Kristofferson was part of that musical movement that rebelled against the Nashville-based mainstream industry. It is undoubtedly Kristofferson’s most creative period. From the debut until the early eighties, about a dozen long players were released, supplemented with live and demo material, which can be found on The Complete Monument & Columbia Albums Collection. Duo projects with his then wife Rita Coolidge were also released during that period. In the eighties there was the musical alliance The Highwaymen with Johnny Cash, Waylon Jennings and Wilie Nelson. The collaboration ends after Jennings’ death after three long-players.
By actor
Everyone knows him as the actor opposite Barbara Streisand A Star Is Born the partially autobiographical story that became an acclaimed success story in ’76. Previously, Kris starred alongside actress Ellen Burnstyn in the romantic drama Alice Doesnt Live Here Anymore by Martin Scorcese. We mainly remember him as Billy The Kid hunted by Sheriff Pat Garrett James Coburn on the Bob Dylan soundtrack or his brief passage as an older sheriff in Lone Star He remains active in the film world and fortunately also as a musician until an advanced age.
Kristofferson remains with his cracked voice after the adventure The Highwaymen deliver long players. After the one dating from ’95 A Moment or Forever form the dating from 2006 This Old Road and the one released three years later Closer To The Bone each time a reason for a European tour. After his concert at the AB in Brussels, I last saw the man on stage in Antwerp’s Arenberg in 2008, two memorable concerts with only his acoustic guitar as a companion de route.
In the meantime, alleged Alzheimer’s, which later turned out to be Lyme disease, had already left considerable holes in his memory. That did not prevent him from, at the end of 2012, Feeling Mortal to be released and a year later The Cedar Creek Sessions, in 2021 he finally said goodbye to the stage.
Kristofferson was 88 and leaves behind a wife, eight children and seven grandchildren. He now follows Johnny Cash and that other Highwayman Waylon Jennings.
