A Great Date To Be Kris – Today In Country Music History [VIDEO]

January 30th, 1971

Kris Kristofferson was honored with an award from the Nashville Songwriters Association.Known for song's such as "Sunday Mornin' Comin' Down" and "Help Me Make It Through the Night", Kristofferson is the sole writer of most of his songs, though, earlier in his career he collaborated with various other figures of the Nashville scene, including Shel Silverstein.

Kristofferson grew up an army brat, as his father, a Swedish immigrant, served as a U.S. Army Air Corps officer and later a U.S. Air Force Major General. Kris graduated from Pomona (CA) College with a BA, summa cum laude, in literature. He earned a Rhodes Scholarship to Oxford University, where he began songwriting, and recording under the name Kris Carson.

Under pressure from his family, Kristofferson ultimately joined the U.S. Army and attained the rank of Captain, becoming a decorated a helicopter pilot. After leaving the Army in 1965, Kristofferson moved to Nashville. He worked at a variety of odd jobs while struggling for success in

music, eventually getting a job sweeping floors at Columbia Recording Studios in Nashville. There he met Johnny Cash, who initially accepted some of Kristofferson's songs, but chose not to use them.

He would "cash" in an his contact with the "Man In Black", achieving some success as a performer himself, following Cash's introduction of Kristofferson at the Newport Folk Festival. Kristofferson had previously grabbed Cash's attention when he landed his helicopter in Cash's yard without prior arrangement and gave him some tapes.

January 30th, 1972

Grammy voters shower Kris Kristofferson with five nominations as a songwriter for three songs: "Help Me Make It Through The Night", "Me And Bobby McGee" and "For The Good Times".

Four artists are also nominated for recordings of Kristofferson tunes, including Sammi Smith, who won Best Female Vocal Performance for "Help Me Make It Through The Night."