Outlaw country musician and Hollywood actor died on Saturday, September 28, at his home in Maui, Hawaii. The news was announced in a press release from . A cause of death was not provided, just that he was surrounded by family.
Kristofferson was 88 years old. Kristofferson was born into a military family and moved frequently, as a child, due to his father’s service. He attended Pomona College, in California, and earned a Rhodes Scholarship to the University of Oxford.
While in England, he earned his master’s degree, in English literature, and attempted to enter the recording industry. He wasn’t successful with his early foray into the music industry, and he returned the United States to join the U.S.
Army. After leaving the Army, in 1965, Kristofferson moved to Nashville to try again to make it in the music business. While working as a janitor at Columbia Records, he started to make a name for himself as a songwriter.
Hits like “Me and Bobby McGee” and “Sunday Morning Coming Down” were recorded by Janis Joplin and Johnny Cash. Waylon Jennings, Ray Price, and Gladys Knight also recorded Kristofferson’s songs. Kristofferson released his first studio album, , in 1970, and he continued to gain recognition with 1971’s .
The next year, 1972, Kristofferson had a great showing at , as he received three nominations for Best Country Song. Ultimately, “Help Me Make It Through the Night” prevailed over “Me and Bobby McGee” and “For the Good Times.” Kristoffe.
