"Them's Two For a Penny" - Remembering Kris Kristofferson

1northcoin

I only "met" Kris Kristofferson once in person and that was during the decade between 1985 and 1995 that he joined Johnny Cash, Willie Nelson, and Waylon Jennings as members of "The Highwaymen." They were performing in a small stage Las Vegas venue and I ended up being seated arms length from the four. Most memorable for me was their performing "[Ghost] Riders in the Sky" as a silhouetted scene of Ghost Cowboys chasing the Devil's Steer was projected above them. (In 2013 I would again hear that song as it was performed in Elko, Nevada by the Grammy Award winning group "Riders in the Sky" at the 22nd National Cowboy Poetry Gathering where my Cowboy Poet Uncle was also performing.)

FWIW, here is a coin related song sung by Kris:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ej1I-IrHWCc

Now the Highwaymen are down to one and that one, Willie Nelson, performed this week at the 100th Birthday Celebration for Jimmy Carter.

PipestonePete

A great song and a longtime favorite of mine.

Copperindian

@1northcoin: great memory - thanks for sharing. Kris spent his younger days here in San Mateo CA & graduated from San Mateo HS. Was a great life long friend to two of my wife’s uncles. He visited the area frequently; once told me a piece of his heart would always be here! Nice man!

1northcoin

@1northcoin said:
I only "met" Kris Kristofferson once in person and that was during the decade between 1985 and 1995 that he joined Johnny Cash, Willie Nelson, and Waylon Jennings as members of "The Highwaymen." They were performing in a small stage Las Vegas venue and I ended up being seated arms length from the four. Most memorable for me was their performing "[Ghost] Riders in the Sky" as a silhouetted scene of Ghost Cowboys chasing the Devil's Steer was projected above them. (In 2013 I would again hear that song as it was performed in Elko, Nevada by the Grammy Award winning group "Riders in the Sky" at the 22nd National Cowboy Poetry Gathering where my Cowboy Poet Uncle was also performing.)

Now the Highwaymen are down to one and that one, Willie Nelson, performed this week at the 100th Birthday Celebration for Jimmy Carter.

As to my Cowboy Poet Uncle Jack, I found this poem of his that seems apropos to remembering those who have passed on including most recently, Kris Kristofferson. An older brother had contracted meningitis while away at college. The footnote to the poem reads, "My brother Roy's biggest joy was hunting and fishing in the Ruby Mountains. Before he died he requested his ashes be spread in his beloved Ruby Mountains,"

Here are selected verses from my Cowboy Poet Uncle Jack's poem titled, "Tribute to Roy:"

As the sun sets on the Rubies,
A voice is calling me home
Reaching out through the ranges wide
Where through life I chanced to roam.
.....
In a camp high on the mountain
On the shores of Hidden Lake
We cast a line into the water
As daylight began to break.
.....
A coyote howls from a grassy ridge
Way over in the west.
My soul is now at peace,
For I've come home to rest.
The sun sets on the Rubies,
A place of eternal bliss.
I often think that heaven
Would be a lot like this.

knovak1976

I flew for PHI (Petroleum Helicopters Inc.) in the Gulf of Mexico, and his route for Union Oil to offshore oil rigs was one of the ones I flew. Had several pilots mention how lucky I was to fly Kris Kristofferson’s route. Loved his performance with the Highwaymen. He will certainly be missed.

PCGS_Moderator

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