Kris Kristofferson (on his music and songwriting) "It's where the stuff you feel in your heart is expressed, it's the closest thing to your soul.  To me it's satisfying to express things that you feel and have other people say 'Right, that's exactly how I feel, too.'" "I think the world's been very kind to me.  I haven't worked a lick since 1969 and I've been able to do things beyond my wildest dreams.  I'm working with my heroes, with Johnny Cash and Willie and Waylon. Just to have met them would have been an incredible thing, but to be their friend and their peer is wonderful." Birth Name: Kristoffer Kristofferson Induction Year: 1977 Date of Birth: 6/22/1936 Place of Birth: Brownsville, TX   Education: High School--San Mateo High College--Pomona College; graduated Phi Beta Kappa as a creative writing major College--Merton College, Oxford University; attended on a Rhodes Scholarship (studied English literature) Career Milestones: late 1940s--started writing songs 1959--while in England, began performing career as "Kris Carson"; signed contract with British recording firm Top Rank 1965--moved to Nashville (instead of going to West Point for a teaching job) 1969--Roger Miller recorded "Me & Bobby McGee" 1969--signed a recording contract with Monument Records 1960--Janis Joplin's recording of "Me & Bobby McGee" was #1 for several weeks in the Fall and became a million seller; by 1972 the song was recorded by more than 50 artists 1970--New York City club debut at The Bitter End 1969-1970--chance to write music score for Dennis Hopper's "The Last Movie" 1970--debut at Los Angeles' club The Troubador (opened for Linda Rondstadt) 1970--first album released over the summer, "Kristofferson" (later released as "Me & Bobby McGee") 1973--regular cast member (along with Rita Coolidge) on NBC's summer replacement series "Country Music" 1985--song "Highwayman," featuring Kristofferson, Waylon Jennings, Willie Nelson, and Johnny Cash (as The Highwaymen) went to #1 Awards: 1970--ACM\Song of the Year\For the Good Times 1970--CMA\Song of the Year\Sunday Mornin' Comin' Down 1970--NSAI\Songwriter of the Year 1971--Grammy\Song of the Year\Help Me Make it Through the Night 1971--NSAI\Songwriter of the Year 1973--Grammy\Best Group Performance\From the Bottle to the Bottom (Kristofferson and Rita Coolidge) 1973--NSAI\Songwriter of the Year Catalog Highlights Me & Bobby McGee Artists: Roger Miller (1969), Janis Joplin, Jerry Lee Lewis (1972) For the Good Times Artists: Ray Price (1970) Sunday Mornin' Comin' Down Artists: Johnny Cash (1970) Help Me Make It Through the Night Artists: Sammi Smith (1971), Willie Nelson (1980) One Day At a Time Co-writer: Marijohn Wilkin Artists: Marilyn Sellars (1973), Christy Lane (1980) Why Me Artists: Kris Kristofferson (1973) Loving Her Was Easier (Than Anything I'll Ever Do Again) Artists: Roger Miller (1971), Kris Kristofferson (1971), Tompall & the Glaser Brothers (1981) Comments: Received a Golden Globe Award in 1977 in the Best Actor category for the feature film "A Star Is Born" Has appeared in the following feature films: "Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore," "Convoy," "Rollover," and "A Star Is Born"