With the death of singer/songwriter Kris Kristofferson in September of 2024, America lost a 21st century troubadour whose ballads chronicled a life that took him from exhilarating highs (a Rhodes scholarship at England’s Oxford University) to demoralizing lows (to follow his dream of breaking into the music industry, he gave up his academic pursuits to work as a janitor at Columbia Records in Nashville 鈥� a move that resulted in estrangement from his family).
Kristofferson鈥檚 smoky voice may have hinted at too many nights on Whiskey Row, but his song lyrics revealed the soul of a poet. He was considered one of the most influential songwriters of his generation, and along with three of his contemporaries 鈥� Willie Nelson, Johnny Cash and Waylon Jennings 鈥� ramped up the Outlaw movement in country music with their group The Highwaymen.
On March 28th, Richmond will honor Kristofferson with a tribute performance at the Richmond Area Arts Center. Randy Westbrook, the Arts Center鈥檚 executive director, says that the goal is not just to honor Kristofferson, but 鈥渢o shed light on country music as a true art form.鈥�
This year鈥檚 concert is a follow-up to last year鈥檚 inaugural tribute to Loretta Lynn, which was a sellout. Westbrook hopes that this year鈥檚 event will be the same.
Toward that end, he has assembled a cast of 12 talented performers, all of whom have an affinity with country/western music in general and Kristofferson in specific.
鈥淭his is an All-Star lineup with fans throughout Central Kentucky and beyond,鈥� says Westbrook, a keyboard player with a Ph.D. in musicology from the University of Memphis, who will be, not just the organizer but one of the performers.
Joining him are husband and wife duo, Mike and Donna Agee of Faded Blue Band. Mike is the band鈥檚 drummer/vocalist, and Winchester native Donna is a 2024 inductee into the Academy of Local Musicians Hall of Fame.
Berea-based La鈥橲helle Allen is a classically trained opera singer who has performed with both the Cincinnati Opera and the Lexington Public Library鈥檚 Legend Series. Much of her career has been devoted to American Negro Spirituals, although she is also proficient in gospel, folk and R&B.
Georgetown native Ronnie Amburgey once opened for Exile, and is currently lead singer in the band Superfecta. One of Amburgey’s former bands, Caught Red Handed, might be the perfect moniker for a country/western ensemble.
Something of a local celebrity, singer Greg Austin, has the distinction of having a music venue named in his honor 鈥� Lexington鈥檚 Austin City Saloon.
Curt Chapman, whose current band is Wildfire, has frequently played bass for Bluegrass legend J.D. Crowe.
Kenny Hayes is a well-known Central Kentucky guitarist who has often been seen on stage at Renfro Valley.
Mike Howard has the distinction of being one of the original Exiles.
Pam Perry was one of the original members of the band Wild Rose (lead and harmony vocals, guitar and mandolin) which earned both Grammy and Academy of Country Music nominations.
Bob Stamper may be a whiz in the cyber-tech world today, but the former EKU music student still knows what it takes to put out a good song.
Finally, Haley Stark is well known to the Richmond community as owner of Stark Southern Boutique, but she sings as well as she sells, having earned a degree in music from EKU.
While Westbrook doesn鈥檛 want to give away which artist will be performing which song 鈥� 鈥測ou have to have some surprises,鈥� he says 鈥� he does note that the evening will include all of Kristofferson鈥檚 greatest hits (both those he wrote for others and those he sang himself).
There will also be music from his duet days with Rita Coolidge and even some of the soundtrack from his movie 鈥淎 Star is Born.鈥�
So, attendees are promised a wide range from his repertoire 鈥� from 鈥淢e and Bobby McGee鈥� to 鈥淲hy Me?鈥� to the movie duet 鈥淓vergreen.鈥�
If you鈥檙e a Kris Kristofferson fan or even just a fan of country/western/bluegrass, join us March 28th at 7:30 p.m. at the Richmond Arts Center, 399 W. Water Street. Tickets are $20 and can be purchased at or by calling 859-624-4242.