BIOGRAPHY: KRIS KRISTOFFERSON

SONGWRITING TRAILBLAZER

Among the major names in the Outlaw movement, Kris Kristofferson probably took the most unlikely path. He studied literature in college and earned a higher degree in literature from Oxford University in England. He enlisted in the U.S. Army, learned to fly a helicopter, and he became an officer. He accepted a job teaching literature at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point.

And then he walked away from it all, following his dreams and moving to Nashville to become a songwriter. Within a few short years, he became a trailblazer for a group of other young Outlaw songwriters.

Born June 22, 1936, in Brownsville, Texas, Kristofferson grew up in a military family, and he did well in school and sports. He also listened to the Grand Ole Opry and worked at writing songs. Still, music was a hobby until 1965 when, two weeks before he was to start teaching at West Point, he came to Nashville to explore the songwriting scene. Foster encouraged Kristofferson to record his own A chance meeting with a music idol, Johnny Cash, music, despite his gravelly voice, and he caught on and a talk with producer “Cowboy” Jack Clement among young listeners. convinced Kristofferson to change careers. “I feel very lucky that my voice has been accepted,” “If you want to be a songwriter,” Clement said, “and he said, “but it wouldn’t be if I was singing other you don’t care if you ever make any money at it, people’s songs.” and you can’t do anything else — I mean, you just Elected to the Country Music Hall of Fame in can’t not write songs, then do it.” 2004, Kristofferson has also built a respected Kristofferson’s parents were crushed, but he was acting career, in between writing, recording, determined. To support himself, he worked as and performing. a janitor, bartender, and carpenter’s assistant. “I recommend following your heart,” he said of By 1969, he led a new breed of Nashville poet- his path. “If the whole world thinks you shouldn’t songwriters who used music to tell stories and dig be doing something that you truly believe you’re deep into their emotions. supposed to be doing, you gotta do that. And that Kristofferson’s fame rose as one Nashville star after can alienate some people, but you just have to do another sang his songs. In 1970, producer Fred what you feel like you were set down here to do.”

SOURCES LISTEN American Songwriter; The Encyclopedia “Me and Bobby McGee” of Country Music; Outlaw: Waylon, Willie, Kris, and “Why Me?” the Renegades of Nashville by Michael Streissguth; The Washington Post

3-6 Biography: Kris Kristofferson 29