Some interesting facts about Kris Kristofferson.

[jimintoronto]

I don't think many people know about these parts of his early adult life.

In 1958 he graduated from Pomona College in a Bachelor of Arts program with a major in English Literature. In 1958 he was selected for the Rhodes Scholarship, and attended Oxford University in England, graduating in 1960 with a Bachelor's in English Literature. He joined the US Army as a first LT, attended helicopter school at Fort Rucker, and flew Army helicopters in West Germany with the US Army's 8th Infantry Division. In 1965 he was selected to teach English Literature at West Point, but he decided to resign his commission and switch to a possible music career.

His Father was a USAF Major General. JIMB.

 

[911]

Kris was a long time friend of Johnny Cash. He all but begged Cash to record the song he (Kris) wrote, "Sunday Morning Coming Down,' but Johnny kept refusing. Finally, Kris told him if he didn't record it, he was going to record it.

Johnny decided to record it and it became a hit.

 

[hollydolly]

I like/d Johnny Cash.. Willie Nelson..Waylon Jennings ( The Highwaymen)...I could never and still cannot stand Kristofferson.. he gives me the heeby jeebies..

 

[Naturally]

He joined the US Army as a first LT, attended helicopter school at Fort Rucker,

Joining the Army in 1960, Kristofferson earned his Ranger tab before becoming a helicopter pilot.

I live in a town just outside Fort Rucker ... well, used to be Fort Rucker.

The Army post is now Fort Novosel. It is named in honor of Chief Warrant Officer Michael J. Novosel, an Army aviator and Medal of Honor recipient.

It was previously named for a Civil War officer, Confederate Colonel Edmund Rucker ... and the U.S. government is getting rid of all things "Confederate", so the name was changed to Fort Novosel, 10 April 2023.

The story goes that Kristofferson stole a helicopter, flew to Cash's house and landed on the Man in Black's front lawn.

In retrospect, Kristofferson admitted he's lucky Cash didn't try to shoot him down with a shotgun. Instead, the icon listened to his demo for "Sunday Morning Coming Down." Cash liked it so much, he recorded it and Kristofferson took the first step toward becoming a country music legend.

Now "lifted from obscurity" (as Kristofferson put it), he wrote some of his biggest hits, including "Vietnam Blues," "Help Me Make It Through the Night" and "Me and Bobby McGee." Later, he would form The Highwaymen, a country music supergroup composed of himself, Willie Nelson, Waylon Jennings and Johnny Cash.