Brian Martin Productions Presents Legends In Concert: George Jones ~ Kris Kristofferson at Carnegie Hall October 31 ~ 7:30 p.m.

Brian Martin Productions presents Legends In Concert: George Jones ~ Kris Kristofferson at Carnegie Hall on Tuesday, October 31, at 7:30 p.m.

NEW YORK (PRWEB) October 4, 2006 -- Brian Martin Productions presents Legends In Concert: George Jones ~ Kris Kristofferson at Carnegie Hall on Tuesday, October 31, at 7:30 p.m.

George Jones, “The Greatest Living Country Singer,” first hit the charts in the 1950s with “Why Baby Why,” his first Top Five hit. In April 1999, he celebrated the 40th anniversary of his first Number One record, the rockabilly-flavored “White Lightning.” Through the decades, Jones has transcended country music trends. Whether the times have favored honky-tonk songs or lushly produced and orchestrated “pop” offerings, George Jones has continued to make his own brand of country music. In fact, he has had more charted singles than any other artist in any format in the history of popular music and his classic 1980 rendering of “He Stopped Loving Her Today” was voted the Greatest Country Song of All Time in a nationwide poll of country music radio listeners.

In 1969, Jones married country music’s hottest new female artist Tammy Wynette. Their marriage was stormy, but in the recording studio they were perfect partners, hitting #1 with “We’re Gonna Hold On,” “Golden Ring” and “Near You.” Jones kicked off the 1980s with “He Stopped Loving Her Today,” which won the Single of the Year honors from the CMA in both 1980 and 1981. In 1991, he recorded several new albums for MCA Records before re-uniting in 1995 for a CD with Wynette entitled “One,” followed by their first tour together in 20 years.

In 1999, a year after Wynette unexpectedly passed away, Jones signed with Asylum Records. In the middle of the recording, he lost control of his SUV and hit a bridge. After several months of recovery, he resumed his career with the release of “Cold Hard Truth.” The first single, “Choices,” earned him a Grammy Awards for Best Country Male Vocal Performance and Record of the Year. Upon first hearing the album, Jones remarked, “It could be the story of my life.” He continued his busy touring schedule … but this was a new George Jones who had finally turned his life around. Not only did he give up liquor, he stopped smoking and drinking coffee. “That accident put the fear of God into me,” said Jones. “I realized I was getting to the age that I had to quit all that mess and smoking was hurting my lungs and affecting my voice. So, I just quit it all. Within months I was hitting higher notes than I hit before and wishing I had done it years ago.”

When his label, Asylum Records, was consolidated into Warner Bros. Records, Jones opted to leave and join some friends in starting Bandit Records. In 2001 he released “The Rock: Stone Cold Country 2001.” In 2003, he reunited with his long time producer Billy Sherrill to release his first Gospel Collection. That same year, Jones received the National Medal of Arts, the nation’s highest honor for artistic excellence, from President George W. Bush at a White House ceremony.

In September 2005, Jones released “Hits I Missed – and One I Didn’t,” a collection of songs he wished he had recorded. In October, he steps out front with Merle Haggard on “Kickin’ Out the Footlights … Again: Jones Sings Haggard, Haggard Sings Jones.” At 75, he continues to headline more than 100 concerts a year. George Jones – “The Possum” – is at a great place and, for the first time in his adult life, he is straight, sober and having the time of his life.

Kris Kristofferson has always identified himself first and foremost as a writer, and true writers know that what works best is giving a piece of themselves to the listener. With his latest album, “This Old Road,” Kristofferson lays a chunk of his own soul on every track. The recording, produced by Don Was, puts an emphasis on his fine lyrics and distinctive voice by featuring Kristofferson, his guitar, and harmonica.

Kristofferson’s story is fairly well known: he had a dream—along with the necessary talent and ambition—to become a songwriter. After turning down a teaching position at West Point, the Rhodes Scholar hoped to get his foot in the door of the music business by taking a job as a janitor at Columbia Records. It wasn't long after arriving in Nashville that he was receiving magnificent acclaim and being hailed as one of America’s clearest and most important voices, having penned such classics as “Me and Bobby McGee,” “Sunday Morning Coming Down,” “For the Good Times” and many others. His songwriting reaped hits for Roger Miller, Johnny Cash, Faron Young, Jerry Lee Lewis, Ray Price, Waylon Jennings, Sammi Smith, Patti Page, O. C. Smith, Gladys Knight & the Pips, Brenda Lee, Ronnie Milsap, Janis Joplin, Willie Nelson and numerous others. In fact, from his beginning in the 1970s to 1987, his songs already had been recorded by more than 450 artists.

Kristofferson gained recognition as a performer after Johnny Cash introduced him at the famed Newport Folk Festival and on his network television show. He went into the studio and cut his own versions of some of the songs others had already done -- "Me and Bobby McGee," "Best of All Possible Worlds," "Darby's Castle," "Sunday Mornin' Comin' Down" -- as well as some new songs, notably "Help Me Make It Through the Night" and "For the Good Times." His debut album, “Kristofferson,” was released in 1970. Other albums include “The Silver-Tongued Devil and I,” “Border Lord,” “Jesus Was A Capricorn,” Surreal Thing,” “Repossessed,” Third World Warrior,” and Broken Freedom Song” as well as “Full Moon,” “Breakaway” and “Natural Act” with his wife at the time, Rita Coolidge, and three releases with The Highwaymen, the supergroup featuring Kristofferson, Willie Nelson, Johnny Cash and Waylon Jennings.

Now Kristofferson has reached living legend status, but that hasn’t changed or hindered his skills. His 2006 release, “This Old Road,” contains 11 gems that explore love, gratitude, aging, war and his ever-present theme of freedom. “If you took freedom out of the songs, you’d have very few Kristofferson songs,” he laughs.

In addition, Kristofferson’s success as a songwriter and musician brought him to the attention of Hollywood and led to a lengthy career as a film actor. His credits include “Cisco Pike,” Billy the Kid,” “Blume in Love,” “Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore,” “A Star Is Born,” “Lone Star,” “Fire Down Below,” “Blade,” and “Payback.”

Tickets for LEGENDS IN CONCERT: GEORGE JONES ~ KRIS KRISTOFFERSON are $55, $65 and $75 and are available at the Carnegie Hall Box Office; CarnegieCharge at (212) 247-7800; or www.carnegiehall.org.

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