News Vale Kris Kristofferson

[raptalia]

Kiris Kristofferson, a giant of the 1970s music scene has passed away aged 88. Kris Kristofferson lead an extraordinary life. He was a Rhodes Scholar and studied at Merton College Oxford. He served as a Captain in the US Air Force where he flew helicopters. He once landed a helicopter in Johnny Cash's front yard. The story goes that after leaving the Air Force Kristofferson took a job as a cleaner at the Columbia recording studios. There he met June Carter who as of course Johnny Cash's wife. She liked a few songs he had written suggested he drop by and let Johnny have a listen. She didn't expect air mail delivery.

As well as recording several hits of his own Kristofferson wrote some great songs for other artists. Sunday Morning Coming Down recorded by Johnny Cash, Me and Bobby McGee recorded by Janus Joplin, Help Me Make It Through The Night recorded by Gladys Knight and For the Good Times by Ray Price were a few of Kristofferson's best works.

Kris Kistofferson was an amazingly gifted individual, while at Oxford he gained a Boxing Blue and played Rugby. As well as being a songwriter and recording artist Kristofferson was also an actor of note and won a Golden Globe for Best Actor for his role in A Star is Born opposite Barbra Streisand.

An amazingly talented individual.