In 1969, Foster called up Kristofferson with the song title idea with the hook that Bobby was a woman . Kristofferson apparently took his own liberties, changing McKee to McGee, and invented a road song story about a pair of travelers who drifted apart. In Joplin’s version, she switched the genders and made Bobby a man.
Who was Bobby McGee written about?
“Me and Bobby McGee,” though usually associated with Janis Joplin (who recorded it shortly before her death in 1970), was written by Kristofferson and first recorded by Roger Miller in 1969.
Did Janis Joplin and Kris Kristofferson date?
Kristofferson briefly dated Janis Joplin before her death in October 1970 . His second marriage was from 1973 until 1976 to singer Rita Coolidge, ending in divorce by 1980.
Was Bobby McGee a real person in Janis Joplin’s life?
Due to ‘Bobby’ being a gender-neutral term, it fits seamlessly into Joplin’s wheelhouse, and people didn’t question the real Bobby McGee’s identity. The inspiration for the track is Barbara McKee , known as Bobbie.
Who sang Bobby McGee originally?
On January 11, 1971 Port Arthur native Janis Joplin’s version of the Kris Kristofferson and Fred Foster’s song “Me and Bobby McGee” was released as a single, just four months after she died of an accidental drug overdose.
Did Janis Joplin sleep with Kris Kristofferson?
Joplin had been doing heroin, but she stopped completely during her affair with Kris . “I lived with her, slept with her, but it wasn’t a love affair,” he tells me. “I loved her like a friend. ... Kris tells me about his last night with Joplin.
Is Kris Kristofferson still married to Lisa Meyers?
After Kristofferson and Coolidge ended their marriage in 1980, he met his third wife Lisa Meyers. The couple married in 1983. ... Still married to this day, Lisa and Kristofferson had five children together — Jesse, Jody, Johnny, Blake and Kelly Marie Kristofferson.
Did Kris Kristofferson serve in Vietnam?
He graduated from West Point and became a helicopter pilot, finishing his military service in 1965 just as the Vietnam War was unfolding. Kristofferson then achieved acclaim as a songwriter, penning hit singles like Me and Bobby McGee and For the Good Times.
Did Kris Kristofferson record Me and Bobby McGee?
| “Me and Bobby McGee” | Genre Blues rock, country rock | Length 4:33 | Label Columbia | Songwriter(s) Kris Kristofferson, Fred Foster |
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Was there a real Bobby McGee?
“Me and Bobby McGee” has become a rock classic over the years. Co-written by Kris Kristofferson and Fred Foster, this iconic song was first conceptualized with just a title — inspired by a real person . Foster had a bit of a crush on Barbara “Bobbie” McKee who was a secretary on Nashville’s music row.
Why is a harmonica called a harpoon?
The more sanitized version considers the “Harpoon” as a slang word for harmonica . The second interpretation considers it a hypodermic needle, since a bandana was often used to tie off the arm before an addict shot up.
What did Kris Kristofferson think of Janis Joplin?
Kristofferson wanted Joplin to record his hit, “Me and Bobby McGee” and the rockstar ended up loving it. She admired it so much that she decided to release it on her next album, Pearl, which ultimately would be her last. Recorded just a few days before her death, the single was an instant success.
Did Kris Kristofferson ever do drugs?
When gazing at Kristofferson, itÂ’s hard to overlook the leathery lines of age etched into his chiseled face. ... But if the 1970s was the decade that made him a star, it also nearly killed him , what with his late nights, drugs, alcohol and women.
Why did Janis Joplin overdose?
Joplin died of an accidental heroin overdose in 1970 aged 27, after releasing three albums (two with Big Brother and the Holding Company and one solo album).
