“The great thing about Nashville back in the day was that the old guys hung out where the young guys were. The established writers like Harlan Howard and Jack Clement gave us encouragement and passed the guitar, you know? Chet Atkins let me sit in on his sessions. Everybody was good to us, and everybody loved the music.”

American musician, songwriter, and actor

Kris Kristofferson was an American musician, songwriter, and actor. He was a leading figure in the outlaw country movement of the 1970s, which pushed country music away from the polished Nashville sound and toward a rougher, more personal style. He is best known for songs such as "For the Good Times," "Sunday Mornin' Comin' Down," "Help Me Make It Through the Night," and "Me and Bobby McGee." Many of these songs were also recorded by other artists and became major hits, which helped make his writing widely known beyond his own performances.