Sadly, his family have announced, that.the US country music legend Kris Kristofferson, has passed away at the age of 88. His family have stated on his official Facebook page, quote, “It is with a heavy heart that we share the news our husband/father/grandfather, Kris Kristofferson, passed away peacefully on Saturday, September 28th, at home in Hawaii. We’re all so blessed for our time with him. Thank you for loving him all these many years, and when you see a rainbow, know he’s smiling down at us all.” No cause of death as yet has been given in the statement issued by his family, however he had retired from his music career, claiming he was loosing his memory.
Born Kristoffer Kristofferson on June 22nd, 1936 in Brownsville, Texas, U.S., the outstanding performer, who held a Bachelor of Philosophy degree in English literature and an Honorary Doctorate in Fine Arts, held down numerous jobs prior to his enormous fame. These included that of floor sweeper, commercial helicopter pilot, and attaining the rank of United States Army Captain, before leaving the army.
His favourite sports, at which he greatly excelled included, boxing, rugby, American football and track and field events. Due to his great determination he eventually achieved hard won fame as a talented singer, musician, songwriter and actor; giving us all those wonderful story telling lyrics, “Me and Bobby McGee”; “For the Good Times”; “Sunday Mornin’ Comin’ Down”, and “Help Me Make It Through the Night”, to name but a few.
I had the great privilege of meeting and photographing Mr Kristofferson, for publicity photographs in the Premier Hall here in Thurles, many years ago, when he performed there during one of his many visits to Ireland.
On leaving the US army, he was offered a teaching job at West Point, but he decided instead to head to Nashville, where he began to submit songs for others to record.
In 1970, he signed his own record deal and recorded his first album, (which I borrowed from a friend in 1971). He would earn success both with his own voice and by providing tunes for other hitmakers, including Johnny Cash, Janis Joplin, Ray Price, Dave Dudley, Roy Drusky, Waylon Jennings, Billy Walker, Ray Stevens Gladys Knight & the Pips, Jerry Lee Lewis, Al Green and Kenny Rogers, to name but a few. During his career Kristofferson and Willie Nelson continued a partnership, before joining Waylon Jennings and Johnny Cash, to form the supergroup “The Highwaymen”.
Kristofferson made his acting debut in “The Last Movie”, directed by Dennis Hopper. This was followed by films including “Blade”; “Dance with Me”; “Yohan—the Children Wanderer”; “Dolphin Tale”; “Joyful Noise”, latter with long-time friend Ms Dolly Parton; “The Motel Life”; as well as “Angels Sing” with Willie Nelson and Lyle Lovett. Kris Kristofferson also appeared alongside Barbra Streisand in the 1976 film “A Star is Born”.
Mr Kristofferson had eight children from his three marriages; two from his first marriage to Fran Beer; one from his second marriage to Rita Coolidge and five from his marriage to his third wife, Lisa (née Meyers) Kristofferson.
The artist once stated that he would like the first three lines of Leonard Cohen’s “Bird on the Wire”, on his tombstone: “Like a bird on the wire, Like a drunk in a midnight choir, I have tried in my way to be free”.
In ár gcroíthe go deo. Aeterna Non Caduca. (Eternal Not Decay).
Lyrics: Songwriter guitarist and former member of ‘Sidewalk Prophets’Ben McDonald; songwriter and producer Benjamin Glove; lead singer and founder of ‘Sidewalk Prophets’ Dave Frey. Vocals: American contemporary Christian music band from Nashville ‘Sidewalk Prophets’.
Come to the table.
We all start on the outside, The outside looking in, This is where grace begins. We were hungry we were thirsty, With nothing left to give, Oh the shape that we were in. Just when all hope seemed lost, Love opened the door for us. He said come to the table, Come join the sinners who have been redeemed, Take your place beside the Saviour, Sit down and be set free, Come to the table. Come meet this mighty crew of misfits, Liars and these thieves, No one unwelcome here. That sin and shame that you brought with you, You can leave it at the door, And let mercy draw you near, Come to the table. Come join the sinners who have been redeemed. Take your place beside the Saviour, Sit down and be set free, Come to the table. Come to the table. To the thief and to the doubter, To the hero and the coward, To the prisoner and the soldier, To the young and to the older. All who hunger all who thirst, All the last and all the first, All the paupers and the princes, All who fail, you’ve been forgiven, All who dream and all who suffer, All who loved and lost another, All the chained and all the free, All who follow all who lead, Anyone who’s been let down, All the lost you have been found, All who have been labelled right or wrong, To everyone who hears this song, Come to the table. Come join the sinners you have been redeemed, Take your place beside the Saviour, Sit down and be set free, Oh, sit down and be set free, Come to the table. Come to the table. Just sit down there and rest awhile. Just sit down and rest awhile. Come to the table.
Author: Mr Alan Joseph Shatter[Irish lawyer, author and former politician who served as Minister for Justice, Equality and Defence, (March 2011 – 7 May 2014) ].
Anyone In Charge?
Helter skelter. Bicycle shelter. Construction complete. A real belter!
Security Hut. Door kept shut. Architecturally sound. No short cuts.
Cost irrelevant. OPW white elephants. Government shocked. Cos it can’t blame an emigrant!
Person in charge. Still at large. Nowhere to be found. Gone to ground.
Taoiseach bemused. Tanaiste taken aback. No one responsible. Sure governings great crack!
Lyrics: Canadian singer and songwriter, the late Rita MacNeil(1944 – 2013). Vocals: The melodic voice of Irish country, pop and folk singer Mary Duff.
Working Man.
It’s the workin’ man I am, And I’ve been down underground, And I swear to God if I ever see the sun, Or for any length of time, I can hold it in my mind, I never again will go down underground. At the age of sixteen years, Oh, he quarrels with his peers, Who vowed they’d never see another one, In the dark recess of the mines, Where you age before your time, And the coal dust lies heavy on your lungs. It’s the workin’ man I am, And I’ve been down underground, And I swear to God if I ever see the sun, Or for any length of time, I can hold it in my mind, I never again will go down underground. At the age of sixty-four, Oh, he’ll greet you at the door, And he’ll gently lead you by the arm, Through the dark recess of the mines, Oh, he’ll take you back in time, And he’ll tell you all the hardships that were had. It’s the workin’ man I am, And I’ve been down underground, And I swear to God if I ever see the sun, Or for any length of time, I can hold it in my mind, I never again will go down underground. It’s the workin’ man I am, And I’ve been down underground, And I swear to God if I ever see the sun, (see the sun), Or for any length of time, (any length of time), I can hold it in my mind, (in my mind), I never again will go down underground.
Lyrics: Singer, producer, and musician Adam Wright(nephew of Alan Jackson), American country music singer-songwriters Hailey Whitters and Sarah Turner. Vocals: American country music singer-songwriter, Alan Eugene Jackson.
The Older I Get.
The older I get, The more I think, You only get a minute, better live while you’re in it, ‘Cause it’s gone in a blink. And the older I get, The truer it is, It’s the people you love, not the money and stuff, That makes you rich. And if they found a fountain of youth, I wouldn’t drink a drop and that’s the truth, Funny how it feels I’m just getting to my best years yet. The older I get, The fewer friends I have, But you don’t need a lot when the ones that you got, Have always got your back. And the older I get, The better I am, At knowing when to give, And when to just not give a damn. And if they found a fountain of youth, I wouldn’t drink a drop and that’s the truth, Funny how it feels I’m just getting to my best years yet, The older I get. And I don’t mind all the lines, From all the times I’ve laughed and cried, Souvenirs and little signs of the life I’ve lived. The older I get, The longer I pray, I don’t know why, I guess that I’ve, Got more to say. And the older I get, The more thankful I feel, For the life I’ve had and all the life I’m living still.
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