Tigers X - Number one Source to Talk Auburn Tigers Sports
The Library => Broun Hall => Topic started by: CCTAU on March 24, 2016, 11:34:31 AM
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I saw this video posted about how he wrote "Why Me" and I looked up a bit more on him.
Apparently he was Army. Not only army, but a helicopter pilot and a ranger. Hmm:
Kristofferson, under pressure from his family, ultimately joined the U.S. Army and attained the rank of Captain (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Captain_%28U.S._Army%29). He became a helicopter pilot after receiving flight training at Fort Rucker (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fort_Rucker), Alabama (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alabama). He also completed Ranger School (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ranger_School). During the early 1960s, he was stationed in West Germany (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/West_Germany) as a member of the 8th Infantry Division (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/8th_Infantry_Division_%28United_States%29).[13] (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kris_Kristofferson#cite_note-13) During this time, he resumed his music career and formed a band. In 1965, when his tour of duty ended, Kristofferson was given an assignment to teach English literature at West Point (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Military_Academy).[14] (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kris_Kristofferson#cite_note-14) Instead, he decided to leave the Army and pursue songwriting. His family disowned him because of this decision and they never reconciled with him.[15] (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kris_Kristofferson#cite_note-15) They saw it as a rejection of everything they stood for, in spite of the fact that Kristofferson has said he is proud of his time in the military, and received the American Veterans Awards (https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=American_Veterans_Awards&action=edit&redlink=1) "Veteran of the Year Award" in 2003.[16] (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kris_Kristofferson#cite_note-16)[17] (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kris_Kristofferson#cite_note-17)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1tA7E7pbUws (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1tA7E7pbUws)
Some of these old school artists led pretty interesting lives.
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Proud to say that I have met him and people who have played in his band. The little garage apartment that he lived in while in Ozark (in the WIREGRASS region of the state) is still standing.
I think you have to be a pretty decent songwriter for two of your songs to be widely used in collegiate American Literature books across the country.
He's having some memory issues but still performs from time to time. Was recently on John Prine's label. Not sure if he's on one now. Last I heard, still living in Hawaii. He's an American treasure, imo.
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He dumped toxic waste in mountains of West Virginia.
He's a bad man.
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Kristopherson could throw up a bowl of alphabet soup and it will still be a better written song that the shit that is today's country.