Ellis Creative: PR/Marketing/Project Mgmt: Kris Kristofferson

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Biography

Kris Kristofferson - This Old Road
March 7, 2006

Kris Kristofferson has been making things happen his entire life. Born in Texas and raised in a military family, he was a Golden Gloves boxer who studied creative writing at Pomona College in California. The Phi Beta Kappa graduate earned a Rhodes scholarship to study literature at Oxford, where he boxed, played rugby and continued to write songs. After graduating from Oxford, Kristofferson served in the army as an Airborne Ranger helicopter pilot and achieved the rank of Captain. In 1965, Kristofferson turned down an assignment to teach at West Point and, inspired by songwriters like Willie Nelson and Johnny Cash, moved to Nashville to pursue his music.

"When I was in the army, I was one of the few people outside of his personal friends who knew about Willie Nelson," Kristofferson recalls. "I listened to a disc jockey who happened to be a Willie fan. He would play Willie's songs and talk about him all the time. By the time I got to Nashville, he was a superhero to me. For guys like me, Johnny Cash and Willie Nelson were two gods we worshipped. Then Willie and I got to be best friends. I came from a position of idolizing him to finding out he's the funniest son of a bitch you could be around."

After struggling in Music City for several years, Kristofferson achieved remarkable success as a country songwriter at the start of the 1970s. His songs "Me and Bobby McGee," "Help Me Make It Through the Night," "Sunday Morning Coming Down," and "For the Good Times," all chart-topping hits, helped redefine country songwriting. By 1987, it was estimated that more than 450 artists had recorded Kristofferson's compositions.

His renown as a songwriter triggered Kristofferson's successful career as a performer and that, in turn, brought him to the attention of Hollywood, leading to his flourishing career as a film actor. Kristofferson has acted in more than 50 films. In 1977 He won a Golden Globe for Best Actor in "A Star Is Born." He's appeared in cult favorites including the "Blade" trilogy, "Lone Star," "A Soldier's Daughter Never Cries," "Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore," "Blume In Love," "Cisco Pike," and "Pat Garrett and Billy the Kid." Recent films include "Fast Food Nation," "The Wendell Baker Story," "Dreamer: Inspired By A True Story," "The Jacket," "Silver City," and "Disappearances."

Heralded as an artist's artist, the three-time GRAMMY winner has recorded 26 albums, including three with pals Willie Nelson, Johnny Cash and Waylon Jennings as part of the Highwaymen. Kristofferson has spent three decades performing concerts all over the world, in most recent years in a solo acoustic setting, which puts the focus on the songs. "There's an honesty in the sparseness. It feels like direct communication to the listener," he says. "I still have more fun when I'm with the band, but being alone is freer, somehow. It's like being an old blues guy, just completely stripped away."

Kristofferson has reached living legend status, but that hasn't changed or hindered his creativity. His current CD, This Old Road contains eleven gems that explore love, gratitude, aging, war, and his ever-present theme of freedom. "If you took freedom out of the songs, you'd have very few Kristofferson songs," he laughs.

In addition to many other awards, Kristofferson is a member of the Country Music Hall of Fame, winner of the prestigious Johnny Mercer Award from the Songwriter Hall of Fame, and was honored with the American Veteran's Association's "Veteran of the Year Award" in 2002. For Kristofferson's 70th birthday in 2006, his friends and admirers gifted him with a tribute CD, The Pilgrim: A Celebration of Kris Kristofferson. Stars including Willie Nelson, Russell Crowe, Emmylou Harris, Gretchen Wilson, Rosanne Cash, and Brian McKnight recorded 17 of Kristofferson's compositions for the tribute. In 2007, Kristofferson was honored with the Johnny Cash Visionary Award from Country Music Television.

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Quotes

"Country's most infamous songwriting Rhodes scholar has never been celebrated for his voice -- which is pretty much the definition of "unvarnished." This sparse live set of old and newer works won't change any of that, but his hoarse growl is perfect for these plain, sad songs of love and protest. In "Moment of Forever," when Kristofferson sings, "I'm so glad I got to dance with you," the sense of loss is louder than a bomb." - Rolling Stone Magazine

Press Releases

New West Records Signs Kris Kristofferson
Label Debut March 7, 2006

Los Angeles, CA – Cameron Strang, president of New West Records, is pleased to announce the signing of Grammy award-winning singer/songwriter Kris Kristofferson. New West will release Kristofferson’s label debut, This Old Road, on March 7, 2006. This Old Road is a beautifully sparse recording and Kristofferson’s first studio album in 11 years. The record was produced by Don Was (The Rolling Stones, Bob Dylan, Brian Wilson) and guests on the album include Was (bass, piano), Stephen Bruton (guitar, mandolin) and Jim Keltner (drums, percussion). Kris sings, plays guitar and harmonica. This Old Road contains eleven songs that explore love, gratitude, aging, war and freedom.

There are few artists who gain legendary status in their own lifetime, yet Kris Kristofferson has earned that position. Never pandering to popular styles or trends, Kristofferson has done it his way and now, on the brink of 70 years old, is an American icon.

The lyrics on This Old Road open an intimate window to this incredible artist and his journey – both looking back and coming to grips with the person he is now and the world in which we live.

“Since I founded the label in 1996, I have wanted to make a record with Kris. I feel honored to be working with him,” Strang said while making the announcement.

Promotional activities for This Old Road will kick off at SXSW, where Kristofferson will become the first artist ever to hit the March Trifecta at SXSW Film, SXSW Music, and the Texas Film Hall of Fame. Kristofferson will continue to tour through 2006.

This Old Road track listing:
01. This Old Road
02. Pilgrim's Progress
03. The Last Thing to Go
04. Wild American
05. In the News
06. The Burden of Freedom
07. Chase the Feeling
08. Holy Creation
09. The Show Goes On
10. Thank You for a Life
11. Final Attraction

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New West Records LLC is a nine year old, wholly independent record label distributed in North America by RED Distribution. With 86 releases to date, the roster includes Dwight Yoakam, Delbert McClinton, John Hiatt, The Flatlanders, Tim Easton, Vic Chesnutt, Drive-By Truckers, Randall Bramblett, Chuck Prophet, Stephen Bruton, the Old 97's, Ben Lee, Buddy & Julie Miller and Sarah Lee Guthrie & Johnny Irion. With offices in Los Angeles and Austin TX, the company is staffed by a unique blend of music and business specialists. New West Records also exclusively represents PBS television program Austin City Limits.

Contact:
Tamara Saviano / Ellis Creative / tamara@ellis-creative.com

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Album Credits

Kris Kristofferson - This Old Road
Credits

Kris Kristofferson: vocal, guitar, harmonica
Stephen Bruton,: guitar, mandolin, harmony vocals
Jim Keltner: drums
Don Was: acoustic bass, piano

Produced by Don Was
Recorded in Studio 9, Western Recorders, Hollywood, Ca
Engineers: Gary Myerburg & Jason Gossman
Mixed by Krish Sharma at
Karma Shack, Manhattan Beach, CA
Mastered by Ted Jensen at Sterling Sound

Thanks to: Candace Stewart, Suzanne Despres, Gary Myerburg, Peter Chaiken / JBL, Lisa Roy, Fred Maher, Cameron Strang, Peter Jesperson

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