Kris Kristofferson, a Rhodes scholar with a deft writing style and rough charisma who became a country music superstar and A-list Hollywood actor, has died, reports the AP .
Kris Kristofferson, a Rhodes scholar with a deft writing style and rough charisma who became a country music superstar and A-list Hollywood actor, has died, reports the AP. Kristofferson died at his home in Maui, Hawaii, on Saturday, family spokeswoman Ebie McFarland said. He was 88. McFarland said Kristofferson died peacefully, surrounded by his family. No cause was given. Starting in the late 1960s, the Brownsville, Texas, native wrote such classics standards as «Sunday Mornin’ Comin’ Down», «Help Me Make it Through the Night», «For the Good Times» and «Me and Bobby McGee.» Kristofferson was a singer himself, but many of his songs were best known as performed by others, whether Ray Price crooning «For the Good Times» or Janis Joplin belting out «Me and Bobby McGee.»
Kristofferson, who could recite William Blake from memory, wove intricate folk music lyrics about loneliness and tender romance into popular country music.