Kris Kristofferson, US Army

When I was a kid, my Dad used to play Kris Kristofferson on loop, over and over again, so his music was ingrained in my soul. I passed the love of Kristofferson and Johnny Cash on to my kids.

Johnny left us long ago, but today we lost the other half of the duo - Kris Kristofferson.

Kristofferson wrote this song about Johnny Cash finding God and getting his life together with June Carter Cash.

Kristofferson, under pressure from his family, joined the U.S. Army and was commissioned as a second lieutenant, attaining the rank of captain. He became a helicopter pilot after receiving flight training at Fort Rucker, Alabama. He also completed Ranger School. During the early 1960s, he was stationed in West Germany as a member of the 8th Infantry Division. During this time, he resumed his music career and formed a band. In 1965, after his tour in Germany ended, Kristofferson was given an assignment to teach English literature at West Point, writes Wikipedia.

The list of Kristofferson's hits is long - Me and Bobby McGee, For the Good Times, Help Me Make It Through the Night, among many others.

Not many people know, that Kristofferson, a Huey pilot, landed a UH-1 in Cash's backyard to get him to record and sing the song below.

RIP...to a patriot, a Christian, and one fantastic song writer and singer.

Hell of a party in Heaven tonight.