Nobody Wins

There was a man several years ago, he really wanted to be a songwriter. He studied English and went on to become a professor of English at a well respected college. He left this college to become a janitor at a record company in Tennessee. That didn't give him enough money to pay his bills so on the weekends he worked flyin' a helicopter. He flew helicopters in the army and was an experienced pilot. He was paid well to fly business men on and off of oil rigs in the ocean.

While he worked at this record company during the week, he met a lot of big stars in the country music. Among them was his idol, Johnny Cash. This man gave Johnny Cash and a few others songs of his to look over, but everyone does that to rock stars so no one ever really paid attention to the janitor's song.

This janitor got tired of bein turned down by everyone everywhere he went. He believed in himself. He believed he had sumthin' special inside him and wanted to share it with the world. So, this nobody hops in a helicopter one weekend and flies it to Johnny Cash's place and of course Cash can't ignore this guy now. He gives his songs a listen and decides this man actually has talent.

The janitor got a recording contract, became great friends with his idol, wrote a dozen hit songs, released several albums, was partnered up with several musicians known worldwide, even starred in a few movies that I'm there's a good chance you've seen.

Odds are you don't know his name though.

It's Kris Kristofferson.

See?

8 outta 10 of you just said, "Who the hell is that?"

He wrote "Me and Bobby McGee", "Sunday Mornin' Comin' Down", and several other popular songs. He toured with The Highwaymen, a group made up of Johnny Cash, Willie Nelson, Waylon Jennings, and himself. He starred in "Pat Garrett and Billy the Kid", the "Blade" trilogy, and "Planet of the Apes"(Although, it was Tim Burton's new piece of crap movie not the classic with Chuck Heston).

The man's music is great in my humble opinion. I love the sound of his voice. A lot of his movies suck but there are a few good ones. (He was in one called "Heaven's Gate" that was a massive flop. He's not a horrible actor but I wouldn't say he's great either.) For one reason or another, despite his talent and the people (like Johnny Cash, Janis Joplin, Bob Dylan, and Willie Nelson) he was friends with he never seemed to get anywhere outside of the country music community.

Everybody knows Ritchie Valens (Ricardo Valenzuela) for about five good songs and a movie starring Lou Diamond Phillips (I hope that's a made up name). Everybody knows James Dean for about three movies. Yes, these guys died young and tragically, I get that. But Kris Kristofferson has decades of under-appreciated work under his belt.

I believe Kris Kristofferson is the most underestimated musician alive. He's gettin' old too so there's not exactly a lot of time left to appreciate him. He was born down in Brownsville back in '36 if I'm not mistaken (Puts him at 73 for you math people out there). Through his music I feel like I know the guy. I've seen a ton of interviews with him. I pay attention to whatever it is that he's workin' on. If I ever got to meet him, I'd want my dad to be there and we could all sit down and have an ice cold beer.

I feel he's under-appreciated 'cause I can mention him to almost anybody off the street and nobody knows who he is. He's a Nobody, but he's the most famous and talented Nobody you never heard of. So I guess Nobody wins anyway. He's got his fame and his money but not enough to keep him caged apart from family and friends. (The few that are left anyway.)

No this isn't my usual philosophy or complainin' I just really feel that more people should know who this guy is an I felt like sayin' it. I also really love the story of how he got Johnny Cash's attention. Ain't that the coolest?


"Freedom's just another word for nothin' left to lose,
Nothin' ain't worth nothin' but it's free,
Feelin' good was easy, Lord, when Bobby sang the blues,
Feelin' good was good enough for me,
Good enough for me and Bobby McGee"

-"Me and Bobby McGee" Kris Kristofferson 1969