Kristofferson--What he has meant to me.

By the title you'd think I know the man personally. I WISH!! But- boy howdy do I know his music. Thanks to my parents. My Mom and Dad were always so great about that. As a young child they exposed me to so many wonderful things-- the performers they took me to see! Once I start going down the list--it's pretty impressive I must say. I'm so glad they carried enough insight to do that. They planted the seed-it took root and grew.





I have been listening to Kris Kristofferson since before I could walk- I learned to talk listening to his music. Aside from his physical beauty-this man is brilliant! His writing is simply amazing. I have always likened him to a "musical Ernest Hemingway". People in the industry know how incredibly talented he is--he's won all the writing accolades. But the general public really only know him as the actor, or the guy that wrote "Me and Bobby McGee" for Janis or "Sunday Morning Coming Down" for Johnny Cash-- great songs, yes! But there is so much more.





His artistic commitment was and is stellar. He did everything an artist should. He suffered, he sacrificed and he examined every portal of his soul--good, sometimes very bad and indifferent. Most people are unaware that Kris is a Rhodes Scholar. He studied English Literature at Oxford. He was an officer in the U.S. Army-- and was set to teach English Lit. at West Point-- then he threw it all away-- for art. He went to Nashville, got a job as a janitor, yes, janitor at Capitol and hung around listened and learned. Much to the dismay of his family-- his Dad was a high ranking officer in the Army- and his mother pretty much disowned him. All for following his dream. But it was necessary. He had stories he needed to tell. It was do this- or die. There was no other way for his soul to survive. I know I'm going on and on--I sound like his publicist! I listen to his music everyday and have for years. Those songs just strike a chord with me. They are like old friends- I hear so many of them differently now then I did, say, when I was 15. Through older and wiser ears- but they have always resonated with in me. I would tell people who love good music and impeccable writing then do your self a favor and listen to his catalog-and even if it is not your cup of tea-- you'll have at least tried. To me, he is an American master-and a huge part of my musical conciseness.