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Country music legend Kris Kristofferson, who starred in the Barbra Streisand movie A Star Is Born, has died at the age of 88.
variety He died Saturday at his home on Maui. No cause of death was provided.
Statement from Kristofferson’s wife Lisa. His eight children (Tracy, Chris Jr., Casey, Jesse, Jody, John, Kelly, and Blake) and seven grandchildren are proud to share the news of our husband, father, and grandfather, Kris Kristofferson. It is with great sadness that we tell you that he passed away peacefully at home on Saturday, September 28th. We are all so happy for the time we spent with him and thank you for loving him over the years. , and when you see the rainbow, know that he is smiling on us all.”
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Country Music Hall of Fame CEO Kyle Young said of the late singer, who was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2004: Gifts are doomed to failure and misfortune. He preached that the life of the mind gives voice to the soul, and he went on to create a body of work that gave voice not only to his soul, but to ours as well. Chris’ heroes included prize fighter Muhammad Ali, the great poet William Blake, and “Hillbilly Shakespeare” Hank Williams. He lived his life in a way that respected and embodied the values of each of these people, and he left behind a just, courageous and resounding legacy that resonates with their values. ”
Kristofferson was born in Brownsville, Texas, on June 22, 1936, and spent much of his youth in San Mateo, California. He hoped to become a writer and was twice published in the prestigious Atlantic Monthly magazine. He was a nationally recognized collegiate athlete and Rhodes Scholar.
His first attempts at writing songs were in the late ’50s, but they initially yielded no results. Instead, he became obsessed with graduating and then serving in the military, the career path chosen by his father. When Kristofferson left the military in 1965 in favor of songwriting, his family disowned him.
After working odd jobs around Nashville and avidly pursuing the attention of country star Johnny Cash, Kristofferson persuaded Cash to record “Sunday Mornin’ Comin’ Down,” and in 1970 became a songwriter for CMA.・Won the award of the year. He did so by infamously landing a helicopter in Cash’s garden.
In the same year, he immediately recorded his debut solo record “Kristofferson”.
A succession of famous singers recorded his songs, including Bob Dylan, Ray Stevens, Jerry Lee Lewis, Patti Page, Kenny Rogers, and Roger Miller. Perhaps his most iconic contribution is “Me and Bobby McGee.” The song was covered by ex-girlfriend Janis Joplin and included on her posthumous 1971 album Pearl, and became a rock classic.
Kristofferson’s second album, The Silver Tongued Devil and I (1971), was a huge hit, and his movie idol looks led to acting opportunities. He made his film debut in The Last Movie (1971) and went on to appear in Cisco Pike (1972), Bloom (1973), Pat Garrett and Billy the Kid (1973), and Appeared in “Bring Me.” “The Head of Alfred Garcia” (1974), “Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore” (1974), “The Sailor Who Fell from Grace with the Sea” (1976), “Semi-Tough” (1977) , “Convoy” (1978), “Heaven’s Gate” (1980), “Rollover” (1981), “Big Top Pee-wee” (1988), “No Place to Hide” (1993), ” Lone Star (1996), Fire, Down Below (1997), Blade (1998), Planet of the Apes (2001), Blade II (2002), Blade: Trinity ( 2004), “He’s Just Not That Into You” (2009), “Dolphin Tale” (2011), “Joyful Noise” (2012), “Deadfall” (2012), “Dolphin Tale 2” ” (2014), “Blaze” (2018) and many others.
He was nominated for an Oscar for his score in 1984’s The Songwriter, starring Willie Nelson. It spawned a hugely successful soundtrack record, “Music from Songwriter.”
Kristofferson’s best-known film role was as John Norman Howard in Barbra Streisand’s version of 1976’s second big hit, A Star Is Born, despite mixed reviews. . He won a Golden Globe Award for Best Actor for the film, and the accompanying album was certified four times platinum.
He also worked on television, appearing in a number of made-for-television movies, including 1986’s The Last Days of Frank and Jesse James, with Johnny Cash. Miniseries “America” (1987). He was the narrator of the series “Dead Man’s Gun” (1997-1999). Most recently, he played President Andrew Jackson in the miniseries Texas Rising (2015).
Musically, Kristofferson enjoyed a rich legacy that included incredible collaborations. He was part of the supergroup Highwaymen with Johnny Cash, Willie Nelson, and Waylon Jennings. He recorded it with his ex-wife Rita Coolidge. And Nelson recorded an entire album of his own songs.
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The three-time Grammy Award winner has released a total of 18 solo studio albums over 56 years, including three with Coolidge and one with Dolly Parton, Brenda Lee, and Nelson. There is one. His most successful solo singles were “Lovin’ Her Was Easier (Than Anything I’ll Ever Do Again)” (1971), “Josie” (1972), “Jesus Was a Capricorn” (1972), “Why Me” (1973). ), “A Song I’d Like to Sing” (with Coolidge, 1973), and “Watch Closely Now” (1977).
Kristofferson was married three times, including to frequent collaborator Rita Coolidge from 1973 to 1980.
He is survived by his wife of over 40 years, Lisa, eight children and seven grandchildren.
