Kris Kristofferson, Singer And Songwriter, Dies At 88
Kris Kristofferson, a prominent US singer and songwriter, died at the age of 88 years. The news is confirmed by his family.
Legendary country music performer Kris Kristofferson costarred in A Star is Born with Barbara Streisand. For penning hits like Sunday Mornin’ Comin’ Down and Me and Bobby McGee, he was honoured with a Grammy award.
(Also read: Oscar Winning Screen Legend Maggie Smith Passes Away at 89)
Kristofferson had been a regular visitor to Ireland and had been performing solo for years. He also formed a supergroup in which the band members were Willie Nelson, Waylon Jennings and Johnny Cash.
Kris Kristofferson was also known for his performances in Blade in which he starred alongside Wesley Snipes. He performed the role of a whistler in one of the famous vampire-action trilogy of that time.
The family announced the news but the cause of his death is not yet disclosed. On the official Facebook page, the post from his family said, “It is with a heavy heart that we share the news that our husband/father/grandfather, Kris Kristofferson, passed away peacefully on Saturday, 28 September, at home”.
The post further acknowledged his presence as the blessed time the family had spent with him was a memorable time. The family further thanked his fans and said, “When you see a rainbow, know he’s smiling down at us all”.
Kris Kristofferson’s shining career highlights
Kris Kristofferson was born on 22 June 1936 in Texas. Because of his father’s status as a member of the US military, his family had to relocate frequently.
According to the details on his official website, he studied as a Rhodes scholar in Oxford after graduating from Pomona College in California.
Following in the footsteps of his father, he joined the army but kept his interest in music and songwriting as well.
He joined as a teacher at West Point and decided to submit some of his songs for others to record in Nashville.
Afterwards, he was able to pursue his dream as a singer and songwriter when he signed his own record label in 1970 to put out his first album. He was sure that he would earn success through his voice and by offering tunes for the other hitmakers in the industry in that era.
Both of the hit songs were written by Kris Kristofferson: Sunday Mornin’ Comin’ Down was sung by Johnny Cash and For the Good Times by Ray Price.
Me and Bobby McGee was sung by Janis Joplin, another female American singer and songwriter, who dated Kristofferson and is known for her rock performances as well. The song became a posthumous hit.
Kristofferson is one of those musicians who modernise the type of music played in those times. Bob Dylan’s quote seen on Kristofferson’s website says, “You can look at Nashville pre-Kris and post-Kris because he changed everything”.
The star also tried his luck in acting where he, with his good looks, earned the role with directors like Sam Peckinpah and Martin Scorsese.
Another reason for his massive success was A Star is Born in 1976 in which he performed the role of a washed-up rock singer who easily met with those of a new talent, Streisand.
Undoubtedly, he won the best actor Golden Globe award for the same movie which got a remake in 1937, which was again filmed in 1950 and a third time with Bradley Cooper and Lady Gaga in 2018.
During the Covid-19 days, he toured through the pandemic but he was suffering from memory loss. He had to announce his retirement from music in early 23021.
The singer and songwriter left behind his third wife and eight children.
