Kris Biogaphy

Biography

Kristoffer Kristofferson was born on June 22,1936 in the Mexican border town of Brownsville,Texas.The son of an Air Force Major General,he traveled around the country as a child while his father was in the service. Kris is one of three children, he has a sister,Karen and a brother,Craig. Before Kris was of high school age the family moved to San Mateo,California in the San Francisco Bay area and Kris attended San Mateo High School. His interests were writing and music but he was also active in sports. After High School Kris attended Pomona College in S. California (majored in creative literature-BA 1958). In College he played Football and won conference recognition as an end.Kris also boxed Golden Gloves , organized a Rugby Team, was President of his Freshman and Sophomore classes and President of the debating team and the writing club. During College he was a ROTC Cadet and the Platoon Commander. Kris graduated College in 1958 and was awarded a Phi Beta Kappa Key.He also won a Rhodes Scholarship to study English Literature at Oxford University in England. While in England he recorded briefly and uneventfully as Kris Carson.Kris got his Degree and was scheduled to continue his studies there.But he decided to go back to California.

Back home in California Kris dated and eventually married and old High School sweetheart ,Fran Beir in 1960. It was at this time he joined the Army ,went to Flight School and Jump School and became a pilot. Kris did his entire Tour in Germany flying Helicopters.Then he was assigned to the United States to take a teaching position at West Point.There was a two week leave between assignments and instead of going home he went to Nashville.That was the turning point in his life.

Kris knew then where he wanted to be and what he wanted to do. He wanted to be a songwriter. "When I started writing songs again,man I felt like I'd come back to life" So Kris quit the Army,took his family and moved to Nashville.That break from 5 years of military service is not surprising,Kris did things for his own reasons and right or wrong he did them anyway. The move to Nashville put a strain on his marriage.His wife,Fran finally left him for good taking thier daughter ,Tracy (born 1962)and infant son,Kris Jr.(born 1968) with her.They divorced in 1969.

Kris worked many jobs to make ends meet,bartender,a helicopter pilot flying to the Louisiana oil rigs,while pitching his tunes to Nashville artists.

Eventually he got a job at Columbia Studios as a janitor.There he met Johnny Cash who was a source of encouragement. Cash heard a tape of Kris's songs and liked them. It was through his influence that Kris's different style of country music was able to get recognized,opening many doors.And Cash has always been one of Kris's staunchist supporters."Sunday Morning Coming Down" was a hit for Cash in 1970.

By 1972 Kris had met Rita Coolidge ,a pop singer. She became his constant companion and later his wife.They were married August 19,1973. Kris and Rita toured together and made several albums together.Beginning with Full Moon,then Breakaway and Natural Act.But that marriage was also doomed. An explicit Playboy photo shoot with Sara Miles,who starred with him in "The Sailor Who Fell From Grace with the Sea" caused a scandal. That coupled with his heavy drinking finally destroyed the marriage.They divorced in 1979.That marriage produced one daughter,Casey, born in 1974.

Seeing himself in the character he played in "A Star is Born" ,coupled with a threat to his health and career,Kris stopped drinking.On September 21, 1976 he vowed to stop drinking and hasn't had a drink since.

In the 1980's Kris's movie career also went sour after the western "Heavens Gate" was a flop. His agent and manager died and his record company went bankrupt. Then in the mid 80's Kris teamed up with Johnny Cash,Waylon Jennings and Willie Nelson to form the Highwaymen.They toured and produced 3 albums together.Highwaymen,Highwaymen 2 and The Road Goes on Forever.

It was in the 80's Kris met his third wife,Lisa Meyers(born 1956).They met at an exercise club in Malibu where she asked him to go for a run.On Feb. 18, 1983 they were married. That marriage produced 5 more Kristofferson children.Jesse Turner in 1984,Jody in 1985,Johnny in 1988(Named for Johnny Cash),Kelly in1991 and Blake in 1994 (Named for poet William Blake).

In 1993 Kris recorded a solo CD, A Moment of Forever.But it wasn't released until 1995.Four years later he released his second CD, The Austin Sessions.

The movie "Lone Star" in 1996 turned Kris's movie career around.He cemented his comeback in recent years with juicy parts in such films such as "Blade","A Soldier's Daughter Never Cries" ,"Limbo" and "Payback".

In 1999 Kris had triple bypass surgery after learning his arteries were clogged.Currently,he is living on his Ranch on Maui in Hawaii, spending time there with his wife,children and grandchildren. Kris still does acting in films, with a role in "Blade2"in 2002. He makes some concert appearances.Most recently appearing at Willie Nelson & Friends 70th Birthday tribute in New York City on April 10, 2003. Kris just signed with Oh Boy records."Broken Freedom Song: Live from San Francisco" was released July 8, 2003.The album was recorded live last June in San Francisco with producer Alan Abrams. It is made up of standards and newer and lesser known songs.He is currently writing a memoir,which Hyperion will publish in 2005.

San Mateo High School Track Team

"William Blake said,"The Road to Excess Leads to the Palace of

Wisdom'He also said'If the fool would resist in his folly,he'd become wise'We'll see."(Kris 2003)


	Biography Kristoffer Kristofferson was born on June 22,1936 in the Mexican border town of Brownsville,Texas.The son of an Air Force Major General,he traveled around the country as a child while his father was in the service. Kris is one of three children, he has a sister,Karen and a brother,Craig. Before Kris was of high school age the family moved to San Mateo,California in the San Francisco Bay area and Kris attended San Mateo High School. His interests were writing and music but he was also active in sports. After High School Kris attended Pomona College in S. California (majored in creative literature-BA 1958). In College he played Football and won conference recognition as an end.Kris also boxed Golden Gloves , organized a Rugby Team, was President of his Freshman and Sophomore classes and President of the debating team and the writing club. During College he was a ROTC Cadet and the Platoon Commander. Kris graduated College in 1958 and was awarded a Phi Beta Kappa Key.He also won a Rhodes Scholarship to study English Literature at Oxford University in England. While in England he recorded briefly and uneventfully as Kris Carson.Kris got his Degree and was scheduled to continue his studies there.But he decided to go back to California. Back home in California Kris dated and eventually married and old High School sweetheart ,Fran Beir in 1960. It was at this time he joined the Army ,went to Flight School and Jump School and became a pilot. Kris did his entire Tour in Germany flying Helicopters.Then he was assigned to the United States to take a teaching position at West Point.There was a two week leave between assignments and instead of going home he went to Nashville.That was the turning point in his life. Kris knew then where he wanted to be and what he wanted to do. He wanted to be a songwriter. "When I started writing songs again,man I felt like I'd come back to life" So Kris quit the Army,took his family and moved to Nashville.That break from 5 years of military service is not surprising,Kris did things for his own reasons and right or wrong he did them anyway. The move to Nashville put a strain on his marriage.His wife,Fran finally left him for good taking thier daughter ,Tracy (born 1962)and infant son,Kris Jr.(born 1968) with her.They divorced in 1969. Kris worked many jobs to make ends meet,bartender,a helicopter pilot flying to the Louisiana oil rigs,while pitching his tunes to Nashville artists. Eventually he got a job at Columbia Studios as a janitor.There he met Johnny Cash who was a source of encouragement. Cash heard a tape of Kris's songs and liked them. It was through his influence that Kris's different style of country music was able to get recognized,opening many doors.And Cash has always been one of Kris's staunchist supporters."Sunday Morning Coming Down" was a hit for Cash in 1970. By 1972 Kris had met Rita Coolidge ,a pop singer. She became his constant companion and later his wife.They were married August 19,1973. Kris and Rita toured together and made several albums together.Beginning with Full Moon,then Breakaway and Natural Act.But that marriage was also doomed. An explicit Playboy photo shoot with Sara Miles,who starred with him in "The Sailor Who Fell From Grace with the Sea" caused a scandal. That coupled with his heavy drinking finally destroyed the marriage.They divorced in 1979.That marriage produced one daughter,Casey, born in 1974. Seeing himself in the character he played in "A Star is Born" ,coupled with a threat to his health and career,Kris stopped drinking.On September 21, 1976 he vowed to stop drinking and hasn't had a drink since. In the 1980's Kris's movie career also went sour after the western "Heavens Gate" was a flop. His agent and manager died and his record company went bankrupt. Then in the mid 80's Kris teamed up with Johnny Cash,Waylon Jennings and Willie Nelson to form the Highwaymen.They toured and produced 3 albums together.Highwaymen,Highwaymen 2 and The Road Goes on Forever. It was in the 80's Kris met his third wife,Lisa Meyers(born 1956).They met at an exercise club in Malibu where she asked him to go for a run.On Feb. 18, 1983 they were married. That marriage produced 5 more Kristofferson children.Jesse Turner in 1984,Jody in 1985,Johnny in 1988(Named for Johnny Cash),Kelly in1991 and Blake in 1994 (Named for poet William Blake). In 1993 Kris recorded a solo CD, A Moment of Forever.But it wasn't released until 1995.Four years later he released his second CD, The Austin Sessions. The movie "Lone Star" in 1996 turned Kris's movie career around.He cemented his comeback in recent years with juicy parts in such films such as "Blade","A Soldier's Daughter Never Cries" ,"Limbo" and "Payback". In 1999 Kris had triple bypass surgery after learning his arteries were clogged.Currently,he is living on his Ranch on Maui in Hawaii, spending time there with his wife,children and grandchildren. Kris still does acting in films, with a role in "Blade2"in 2002. He makes some concert appearances.Most recently appearing at Willie Nelson & Friends 70th Birthday tribute in New York City on April 10, 2003. Kris just signed with Oh Boy records."Broken Freedom Song: Live from San Francisco" was released July 8, 2003.The album was recorded live last June in San Francisco with producer Alan Abrams. It is made up of standards and newer and lesser known songs.He is currently writing a memoir,which Hyperion will publish in 2005. San Mateo High School Track Team "William Blake said,"The Road to Excess Leads to the Palace of Wisdom'He also said'If the fool would resist in his folly,he'd become wise'We'll see."(Kris 2003)