He preached that a life of the mind gives voice to the soul (Page 6 ) | October 3, 2024

After parting ways with Monument in the early ‘80s, Kristofferson recorded solo only sporadically. He nonetheless received strong reviews for three poignant and personal latter-day albums – “A Moment of Forever” (1995), “This Old Road” (2006) and “Closer to the Bone” (2009) – nakedly produced by Don Was. He issued 2013’s “Feeling Mortal” on his own KK Records imprint.

A 2004 inductee in the Country Music Hall of Fame, Kristofferson received a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Recording Academy in 2015.

At the time of the latter honor, his contemporary and friend Rodney Crowell wrote that Kristofferson had created “a narrative style that introduced intelligence, humor, emotional eloquence, spiritual longing, male vulnerability and a devilish sensuality – indeed, a form of eroticism – to country music.”

He was born June 2, 1936, in Brownsville, Texas. His father was a career Army Air Corps and Air Force officer, and his family moved frequently. He attended high school in San Mateo, Calif., where he proved both a strong student and a gifted athlete. He graduated summa cum laude with a degree in English from Pomona College and attended Oxford University in England as a Rhodes Scholar.

While in the U.K., Kristofferson cut his first records as Kris Carson. However, on returning to the U.S., he joined the army under pressure from his family. He ultimately attained the rank of captain, and was able to pilot a helicopter. However, on the eve of beginning an assignment to teach English at West Point, he left the army, and in 1965 he moved to Nashville to pursue music full-time. His family promptly cut ties with him.

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