Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

I Hear America Singing - Kris Kristofferson

This week we remember songwriter, singer, actor Kris Kristofferson on I Hear America Singing.

Born in Brownsville, Texas into a military family, Kristofferson became a Rhodes Scholar studying Literature at Oxford before joining the Army. He turned down an appointment to teach Literature at West Point to pursue a musical career.

He first gained recognition for writing songs that became hits for other people including Help Me Make It Through the Night for Sammi Smith and For the Good Times for Ray Price. He broke through with his own hits such as Why Me and Lovin’ Her (Was Easier Than Anything I’ll Ever Do Again).

He married Rita Coolidge, and the recorded together, Later, he joined with Willie Nelson, Waylon Jennings, and Johnny Cash to record The Highwayman and toured as the Highwaymen.

I HEAR AMERICA SINGING - KRIS KRISTOFFERSON

1. The Bottom of the Glass by Nashville Street Singers
2. Dave Dudley by Talking Viet Nam
3. Morgan City by Bobby Bridger
4. Gypsy Rose and I Don’t Give a Curse by The Kingston Trio
5. Help Me Make It Through the Night by Sammi Smith
6. Sunday Morning Comin’ Down by Johnny Cash
7. For the Good Times by Ray Price
8. A Poster With Janis Joplin by Arlo Guthrie
9. Me and Bobby McGee by Janis Joplin
10. Lovin’ Her Was the Easier (Than Anything I’ll Ever Do Again) by Kris Kristofferson
11. Why Me by Kris Kristofferson
12. Loving Arms by Kris Kristofferson
13. The Pilgrim – Chapter 33 by Willie Nelson
14. Highwayman by The Highwaymen
15. Hemingway’s Whiskey by Kris Kristofferson
16. Snakes of Nuevo Laredo by Buffy Ford Stewart

A native of Austin, Texas, Ross grew up in the midst of the Urban Folk Revival of the 1950s and 60s. His first introduction to folk music was the Kingston Trio with their million selling albums. From there, he went forward, backwards and sideways collecting music all along the way. He is a retired librarian and a student of history.