Lyrics and Vocals: Irish folk singer/songwriter, the late Co. Kerry born Christie Hennessy (Edward Christopher Ross 1945–2007). Interesting to note: Cristie’s 1992 release ‘The Rehearsal’ outsold Irish rock band ‘U2’ here in Ireland.
Roll Back the Clouds.
I’ve been sitting here so long, for you to hear my song, And all you want to know, have I been on the radio, Who’s the biggest star I’ve seen, what is my favourite scene, And if I get the job would I sing on Mars. Yes Sir I would sing on Mars, I’d play upon a star, I’d sing songs of the Sun and when my job was done, I would say I love you so, I’d like to play one more, Just to all young lovers, for the road. Tell me Son, yeah just how far, I need to go to be a star. I have known my highs and lows, I’ve worked in every show, I’ve played in every town, and brought some houses down, The critics never noticed me, I’m not a star you see, And yet I give my heart to every part. I would stand for hours and hours, I’d wade through sun and showers, With my dancing shoes and my dreams and views, I’d walk upon an empty stage with one light in my face, To be told don’t phone us, but we’ll phone you. Tell me Son, yeah just how far, I need to go to be a star. Every day the same old scenes, the same old happenings, A hundred miles of shows and just no place to go, And when your luck has all run out, you’re asked to take a bow, You’ve just stolen the show but now you’re on your own. Yes Sir I would sing on Mars, My dream scene is me the star, Me a star, I am a star.
Sadly, his family have announced, that.the US country music legend Kris Kristofferson, has passed away at the age of 88. His family have stated on his official Facebook page, quote, “It is with a heavy heart that we share the news our husband/father/grandfather, Kris Kristofferson, passed away peacefully on Saturday, September 28th, at home in Hawaii. We’re all so blessed for our time with him. Thank you for loving him all these many years, and when you see a rainbow, know he’s smiling down at us all.” No cause of death as yet has been given in the statement issued by his family, however he had retired from his music career, claiming he was loosing his memory.
Born Kristoffer Kristofferson on June 22nd, 1936 in Brownsville, Texas, U.S., the outstanding performer, who held a Bachelor of Philosophy degree in English literature and an Honorary Doctorate in Fine Arts, held down numerous jobs prior to his enormous fame. These included that of floor sweeper, commercial helicopter pilot, and attaining the rank of United States Army Captain, before leaving the army.
Kris Kristofferson. R.I.P.
His favourite sports, at which he greatly excelled included, boxing, rugby, American football and track and field events. Due to his great determination he eventually achieved hard won fame as a talented singer, musician, songwriter and actor; giving us all those wonderful story telling lyrics, “Me and Bobby McGee”; “For the Good Times”; “Sunday Mornin’ Comin’ Down”, and “Help Me Make It Through the Night”, to name but a few.
I had the great privilege of meeting and photographing Mr Kristofferson, for publicity photographs in the Premier Hall here in Thurles, many years ago, when he performed there during one of his many visits to Ireland.
On leaving the US army, he was offered a teaching job at West Point, but he decided instead to head to Nashville, where he began to submit songs for others to record.
In 1970, he signed his own record deal and recorded his first album, (which I borrowed from a friend in 1971). He would earn success both with his own voice and by providing tunes for other hitmakers, including Johnny Cash, Janis Joplin, Ray Price, Dave Dudley, Roy Drusky, Waylon Jennings, Billy Walker, Ray Stevens Gladys Knight & the Pips, Jerry Lee Lewis, Al Green and Kenny Rogers, to name but a few. During his career Kristofferson and Willie Nelson continued a partnership, before joining Waylon Jennings and Johnny Cash, to form the supergroup “The Highwaymen”.
Kristofferson made his acting debut in “The Last Movie”, directed by Dennis Hopper. This was followed by films including “Blade”; “Dance with Me”; “Yohan—the Children Wanderer”; “Dolphin Tale”; “Joyful Noise”, latter with long-time friend Ms Dolly Parton; “The Motel Life”; as well as “Angels Sing” with Willie Nelson and Lyle Lovett. Kris Kristofferson also appeared alongside Barbra Streisand in the 1976 film “A Star is Born”.
Mr Kristofferson had eight children from his three marriages; two from his first marriage to Fran Beer; one from his second marriage to Rita Coolidge and five from his marriage to his third wife, Lisa (née Meyers) Kristofferson.
The artist once stated that he would like the first three lines of Leonard Cohen’s “Bird on the Wire”, on his tombstone: “Like a bird on the wire, Like a drunk in a midnight choir, I have tried in my way to be free”.
In ár gcroíthe go deo. Aeterna Non Caduca. (Eternal Not Decay).
Oscar-winning character actress Dame Ms Maggie Margaret Natalie Smith (Maggie Smith)[Order of the Companions of Honour (CH) and Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (DBE)] (Dec. 28th 1934 − Sept. 27th 2024), has sadly passed away while in the care of staff at the Chelsea and Westminster Hospital, 369 Fulham Road, London, aged 89.
The talented British actress; best known for her outstanding roles in ‘Harry Potter’(portraying the wise and formidable head of Gryffindor House) and ‘Downton Abbey’(portraying the Dowager Countess of Grantham, Violet Crawley, together with her Academy Award-winning performance in ‘The Prime Of Miss Jean Brodie’, and her Best Supporting Actress role in ‘California Suite’, passed away peacefully in hospital early this morning.
Moments that made Maggie Smith in ‘Downton Abbey’.
The intensely private lady, passed away surrounded by close friends and family, leaving behind two sons, Chris Larkin and Toby Stephens and five loving grandchildren all devastated by the loss of their extraordinary talented mother and grandmother.
Born in Ilford, Essex, on December 28, 1934, Ms Smith began her career in the early 1950s with notable performances in theatre. She gained recognition in ‘The Royal Family’ and won her first Oliver Award, in 1971, for her performance in ‘The Private Ear/The Public Eye’. Her film debut began in 1958 in the crime film ‘Nowhere to Go’.
She was also Oscar-nominated for ‘Othello’ (1965), ‘Travels with My Aunt’ (1972), ‘A Room with a View’ (1985), and ‘Gosford Park’ (2001).
Ms Smith received an early BAFTA award for Promising Newcomer in 1959 for ‘Nowhere To Go’. This was followed by BAFTA nominations for ‘Young Cassidy’ in 1966, ‘Death On The Nile’ in 1979, ‘California Suite’ in 1980, ‘Quartet’ in 1982, ‘The Secret Garden‘ in 1994, ‘Tea With Mussolini’ in 2000, ‘Gosford Park’ in 2002 and ‘The Lady In The Van’ in 2016.
She also won Best Actress Awards for ‘The Prime Of Miss Jean Brodie’, ‘A Private Function’ and ‘The Lonely Passion Of Judith Hearne’.
One of her final roles included ‘The Miracle Club’, which follows a group of women from Dublin, Ireland, who go on a pilgrimage to the French town of Lourdes.
Ms Smith married actor Robert Stephens on June 29th 1967. They had two sons, Chris (b. 1967) and Toby (b. 1969), and they were divorced on April 6th 1975. Ms Smith married playwright Alan Beverly Cross on June 23rd 1975, at the Guildford Register Office. They remained married until his death on March 20th 1998. Once, when asked in 2013 if she was lonely, she replied, “It seems a bit pointless, going on, on one’s own, and not having someone to share it with”.
Author: Mr Alan Joseph Shatter[Irish lawyer, author and former politician who served as Minister for Justice, Equality and Defence, (March 2011 – 7 May 2014) ].
Anyone In Charge?
Helter skelter. Bicycle shelter. Construction complete. A real belter!
Security Hut. Door kept shut. Architecturally sound. No short cuts.
Cost irrelevant. OPW white elephants. Government shocked. Cos it can’t blame an emigrant!
Person in charge. Still at large. Nowhere to be found. Gone to ground.
Taoiseach bemused. Tanaiste taken aback. No one responsible. Sure governings great crack!
Lyrics: Award winning songwriter, composer and lyricist and librettist Gregory Becker and the late American songwriter Troy Jones. Vocals: Neotraditional American country music singer-songwriter Alan Eugene Jackson.
When God Paints.
When God paints, birds sing. He colours every feather on a sparrow’s wing. When God paints, the wind blows, With a stroke of love, he dips his brush in a rainbow. Sometimes I take for granted the simple things. I can be his biggest critic when it starts to rain, But there’s always a bigger picture I can’t explain, When God paints, the heart beats, A life begins, a season ends and lovers meet, And I’ve learned that sometimes, It’s not always black and white or well-defined, When God paints. Sometimes I take for granted the simple things. I can be his biggest critic when it starts to rain, But there’s always a bigger picture I can’t explain, When God paints, we dance, And I reach across the canvas and I take your hand, And my world is so complete, When I look at you, a masterpiece is all I see, When God paints. Sometimes I take for granted the simple things. I can be his biggest critic when it starts to rain. But there’s always a bigger picture I can’t explain, When God paints. I pray I always see the beauty inside the frame, When God paints. END
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