Kris Kristofferson
Induction Year: 1977
Birth Name: Kristoffer - Kris Kristofferson
Birth Date: June 22, 1936
Place of Birth: Brownsville, TX
Biography
(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."
Education: |
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Discography / Career Highlights
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" - A rtists: Ray Price (1970)
"Sunday Mornin' Comin' Down " - A rtists: Johnny Cash (1970)
"Help Me Make It Through the Night " - A rtists: Sammi Smith (1971), Willie Nelson (1980)
"One Day At a Time" - Co-writer: Marijohn Wilkin - Artists: Marilyn Sellars (1973), Christy Lane (1980)
"Why Me" - A rtists: Kris Kristofferson (1973)
"Loving Her Was Easier (Than Anything I'll Ever Do Again) " - A rtists: 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"
