Christopher Cross
Template:Short description Template:Other people Template:Use mdy dates Template:Infobox musical artist Christopher Cross (born Christopher Charles Geppert; May 3, 1951) is an American singer-songwriter and guitarist. He won five Grammy Awards for his eponymous debut album released in 1979. The singles "Sailing" (1980), and "Arthur's Theme (Best That You Can Do)" (from the 1981 film Arthur) peaked at number one on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100.<ref name=":0">Template:Cite magazine</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> "Sailing" earned three Grammys in 1980,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> while "Arthur's Theme" won in 1982 the Oscar for Best Original Song (with co-writers Burt Bacharach, Carole Bayer Sager, and Peter Allen).
Personal life
A self-described "army brat", Cross is the son of a U.S. Army pediatrician stationed at Walter Reed Army Hospital in Washington, D.C., in the mid-1950s, acting as physician for President Dwight Eisenhower's grandchildren.<ref>Christopher Cross. Comments during Concert at Wolf Trap Performing Arts Center, Vienna, Virginia. January 19, 2013.</ref> He attended Alamo Heights High School in San Antonio and graduated in 1969. He was involved in football and track and field.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Cross was married to Roseanne Harrison from 1973 until their divorce in 1982. His 1988 marriage to Jan Bunch ended in a 2007 divorce.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> He has two children, Madison and Rain.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
On April 3, 2020, Cross confirmed through his Facebook page that he had tested positive for the COVID-19 virus, and was ill, but was recovering. Cross later reported on Twitter that he had lost the use of his legs, but his doctors told him he should fully recover. Physicians told him his illness triggered an episode of Guillain–Barré syndrome that caused the nerves in his legs to stop functioning properly.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> By October 2020, he was able to walk with a cane, but said his memory and speech had been affected.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> In 2021 and 2022 he played his 40th anniversary concert tour, which had originally been planned for 2020.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
Cross was raised Catholic.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Career
Early musical career
Geppert, bassist Andy Salmon, and keyboardist Rob Meurer met in San Antonio when they were still teens. Geppert and Salmon became bandmates in Flash, with Geppert on guitar. Together, they formed Christopher Cross as a band and moved to Austin, where they added drummer Tommy Taylor. There, they played covers for cash while recording demo versions of original songs at Austin's Odyssey Sound, which later became Pecan Street Studio, which they shipped to record labels.<ref name=":1">Template:Cite news</ref><ref name="Moser" /> Though they considered themselves a band, Warner Bros. signed Christopher Cross as a solo artist in early 1979.<ref name=":1" /><ref name="Moser">Margaret Moser. "The Reluctant Celebrity: Christopher Cross." The Austin Chronicle. January 20, 2012. Retrieved July 25, 2022.</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Although best known for his vocals and songwriting, Cross is also a skilled guitarist. Donald Fagen and Walter Becker of Steely Dan invited Cross to play on their albums, but Cross declined because "he was so intimidated, afraid to do it."<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Cross also substituted for Ritchie Blackmore during a Deep Purple concert in 1970 when Blackmore fell ill.<ref name="Moser" /><ref>Template:Cite interview</ref>
Cross was the original owner of fellow Austin guitarist Stevie Ray Vaughan's "Number One" 1962/1963 hybrid Fender Stratocaster. Vaughan purchased the guitar at Ray Hennig's Heart of Texas Music in Austin in 1974, only one day after Cross had traded the guitar for a Gibson Les Paul.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
First album and immediate success
Cross released his self-titled debut album, Christopher Cross, on December 27, 1979.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Billboard Hot 100 top 20 hits from this album included "Ride Like the Wind" (featuring backing vocals by Michael McDonald), "Sailing", "Never Be the Same" and "Say You'll Be Mine" (featuring backing vocals by Nicolette Larson). "Ride Like the Wind" hit number two on the U.S. Hot 100, while "Sailing" topped the chart for one week.<ref name=":0" /> "Never Be The Same" went number one on the Adult Contemporary chart. Cross, the album, and the song "Sailing" were nominated for six Grammy Awards in 1980 and won five.<ref name="Grammy 1980">23rd Annual GRAMMY Awards at Grammy.com. Retrieved July 25, 2022.</ref> Cross was the first artist in Grammy history to win all four general field awards in a single ceremony, bringing home Record of the Year ("Sailing"), Album of the Year (Christopher Cross), Song of the Year ("Sailing") and Best New Artist at the 23rd Annual Grammy Awards.Template:Efn This feat was not replicated for 39 years, until Billie Eilish won all four awards at the 62nd Annual Grammy Awards in 2020.<ref name="EW2007">"A Virtual College of Grammy Knowledge", by Wook Kim, Entertainment Weekly, 2007. Retrieved January 7, 2008.</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> In addition, "Sailing" won for Best Arrangement Accompanying Vocalist(s). Christopher Cross has been certified platinum five times in the U.S., selling over 5 million copies.<ref>Template:Cite certification</ref>
Later in 1981, Cross released "Arthur's Theme (Best That You Can Do)", co-written by Burt Bacharach, Carole Bayer Sager and Peter Allen, which was the main theme for the 1981 film Arthur. The song won the Oscar for Best Original Song in 1981,<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> and was nominated for three Grammys, but did not win.<ref name="Grammy 1981">24th Annual GRAMMY Awards at Grammy.com. Retrieved July 25, 2022.</ref>Template:Efn In the U.S., it reached number one on the Billboard Hot 100 and on the Hot Adult Contemporary charts in October 1981, remaining at the top of the Hot 100 for three weeks while it also was a top-ten hit in several other countries. The song became the second and last American number-one hit by Christopher Cross.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Second album
Cross's second album, Another Page (1983), produced "All Right", "No Time for Talk", and "Think of Laura". "All Right" was used by CBS Sports for its highlights montage following the 1983 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament, while "Think of Laura" is used as a reference to characters on the soap opera General Hospital. Against his wishes, ABC used his song in this context; however, he has stated that he wrote "Think of Laura" not in reference to the television characters, but to celebrate the life of Denison University college student Laura Carter who was killed when she was struck by a stray bullet. Cross has stated on his social media platforms that he felt it was inappropriate for ABC/General Hospital to use the song against his wishes and those of Carter's family. Another Page sold well, getting Gold certification.<ref>Template:Cite certification</ref> He also co-wrote and sang the song "A Chance For Heaven" for the 1984 Summer Olympic Games.
1980s
After 1984, Cross's commercial success faded. As music television channel MTV grew to dominate the mainstream music scene in the United States, Cross's style of music proved to be a bad fit for the network, and his brand of adult contemporary music declined in popularity.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Cross's next two albums, 1985's Every Turn of the World and 1988's Back of My Mind did not produce any top 40 hits or reach Gold or Platinum status. His track "Charm the Snake" was the sole success from his album Every Turn of the World. It reached No. 68 in the Billboard Hot 100.
He did, however, place the song "Swept Away" in the TV show Growing Pains. It was used during a video montage while Kirk Cameron's character Mike fell in love with a local girl while vacationing with the family in Hawaii.
1990s
Cross made three more albums in the 1990s, and although some of his releases gained positive critical response, he was not able to attract the mass audience he once enjoyed. After his decline in fame in the mid to late 1980s, he toured and opened for various acts during the 1990s.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
2000s
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The year 2002 saw the release of the Very Best of... album, and in 2007 he completed a Christmas album titled A Christopher Cross Christmas. In 2008, Cross recorded a new acoustic album of his hits titled The Cafe Carlyle Sessions.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
2010s
In 2011, Cross released a new studio album titled Doctor Faith.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
In 2013, he released A Night in Paris, a 2-CD live album he recorded and filmed in April 2012 at the Theatre Le Trianon in Paris, France.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
The song "Ride Like the Wind" was featured on the Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues original movie soundtrack, released in 2013.
In September 2014, he released Secret Ladder, followed in November 2017 by Take Me as I Am.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
In 2017, he played a concert in his hometown, at the Tobin Center, San Antonio, Texas.<ref>David Hendricks "Christopher Cross returns to San Antonio better than ever",my SA, June 5, 2017</ref>
In late 2019, Cross toured with Todd Rundgren, Jason Scheff, Micky Dolenz and Joey Molland of Badfinger in celebration of the Beatles' White Album on the "It Was Fifty Years Ago Today – A Tribute to the Beatles' White Album". Cross performed "Sailing" and "Ride Like the Wind".<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
2020s
During 2021–2022, Cross played in his 40th anniversary tour which had been rescheduled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
In 2025, Christopher Cross joined Toto as the special guest on the Dogz of Oz tour, performing across the U.K. and Europe in early 2025. Cross and Toto had previously shared the stage at the Hollywood Bowl on September 1, 2024, and this tour further solidified their booking together.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Freedonia
In 2018, he joined with other musicians in Austin to form the band Freedonia.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
With Freedonia, he has released two full-length albums: "Freedonia" (2018) and "Firefly" (2019) and an EP titled "Bring Back The Dinosaurs" (2021).
Flamingo
One common feature of Cross's album covers is the appearance of a flamingo. According to Cross, there is no meaning behind this other than the painting chosen for his first album cover featured the bird, which has been used as a motif ever since.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Discography
Studio albums
| Year | Album | Label | Chart positions | Certifications (sales thresholds) | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AUS <ref name="AUS1">Template:Cite bookNote: This reference gives Australian albums and singles information. It is used for chart peak positions as the early albums were released before ARIA regulated the Australian charts itself (1989)</ref> |
CAN <ref>Template:Cite web</ref> |
GER <ref name="GER1">Template:Cite webTemplate:Dead linkTemplate:Cbignore</ref> |
JPN <ref name="JPN1">Template:Cite book</ref><ref name="JAal2">Template:Cite webNote: Reference indicates chart positions from 1988 onwards, and part of the information are currently unavailable</ref> |
NLD <ref name="NLD">Template:Cite web</ref> |
NZ <ref name="NZ">Template:Cite web</ref> |
SWE <ref name="SWal">Template:Cite web</ref> |
UK <ref name="UKal">Template:Cite web</ref> |
US <ref>Template:Cite web</ref> | ||||
| 1979 | Christopher Cross | Warner Bros. | 6 | 26 | — | 18 | 14 | 16 | — | 14 | 6 |
|
| 1983 | Another Page | 6 | 23 | 2 | 1 | 7 | 9 | 12 | 4 | 11 |
| |
| 1985 | Every Turn of the World | — | — | 44 | 27 | 34 | — | 37 | — | 127 | ||
| 1988 | Back of My Mind | Reprise | — | — | 45 | 27 | 93 | — | 49 | — | — | |
| 1992 | Rendezvous | Ariola | — | — | — | 96 | — | — | — | — | — | |
| 1994 | Window | — | — | — | 91 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1998 | Walking in Avalon | CMC | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
| 1999 | Red Room | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2007 | A Christopher Cross Christmas | Sony | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
| 2008 | The Café Carlyle Sessions | Edel | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
| 2011 | Doctor Faith | Ear | — | — | 48 | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
| 2012 | A Night in Paris | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2014 | Secret Ladder | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2017 | Take Me As I Am | Christopher Cross Records | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
| "—" denotes releases that did not chart. | ||||||||||||
Compilations
- 1991: The Best of Christopher Cross (Warner Bros.)
- 1999: Greatest Hits Live (CMC)
- 2001: Definitive Christopher Cross (Warner Bros./Asia)
- 2002: The Very Best of Christopher Cross (Warner Bros.)
- 2011: Crosswords: The Best of Christopher Cross (Rhino)
- 2025: All Right: The Worldwide Singles 1980–1988 (Omnivore)
Soundtracks
- 1981: Arthur (Motion picture soundtrack) "Arthur's Theme (Best That You Can Do)"
- 1983: General Hospital (TV series soundtrack) "Think of Laura"
- 1984: Official Music of the XXIIIrd Olympiad "A Chance For Heaven" (swimming theme)
- 1986: Nothing in Common (Motion picture soundtrack) "Loving Strangers (David's Theme)"
- 2010: 30 Rock (TV series soundtrack) "Lemon's Theme"
Singles
| Year | Single | Peak chart positions | Certifications (sales thresholds) |
Album | |||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CAN <ref>Template:Cite web</ref> |
GER <ref>Template:Cite web</ref> |
IRE <ref>Template:Cite web</ref> |
NED <ref>Template:Cite web</ref> |
NOR <ref>Template:Cite web</ref> |
AUS <ref name="AUS1" /> |
NZ <ref>Template:Cite web</ref> |
SWI <ref>Template:Cite web</ref> |
UK <ref>Template:Cite book</ref> |
US <ref>Template:Cite web</ref> |
US A/C <ref>Template:Cite web</ref> | |||||||||
| 1980 | "Ride Like the Wind" | 3 | — | — | — | — | 25 | 31 | — | 69 | 2 | 24 |
|
Christopher Cross | |||||
| "Sailing" | 1 | — | 21 | 18 | — | 46 | 8 | — | 48 | 1 | 10 |
| |||||||
| "Never Be the Same" | — | — | 25 | — | — | 42 | 41 | — | — | 15 | 1 | ||||||||
| "Say You'll Be Mine" | 33 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 20 | 15 | ||||||||
| "Mary Ann" (Japan only) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | Single only | |||||||
| 1981 | "Arthur's Theme (Best That You Can Do)" | 2 | — | 7 | — | 1 | 13 | 10 | 6 | 7 | 1 | 1 |
|
Arthur: The Album | |||||
| 1983 | "All Right" | 13 | 23 | 14 | 16 | 5 | 30 | 44 | 5 | 51 | 12 | 3 | Another Page | ||||||
| "No Time for Talk" | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 33 | — | ||||||||
| "Think of Laura" | 9 | — | — | — | — | 100 | — | — | — | 9 | 1 | ||||||||
| "Deal 'Em Again" | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||||||||
| 1984 | "A Chance for Heaven" (swimming theme from 1984 Summer Olympics) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 76 | 16 | The Official Music of the XXIIIrd Olympiad Los Angeles 1984 | ||||||
| 1985 | "Charm the Snake" | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 68 | — | Every Turn of the World | ||||||
| "Every Turn of the World" | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||||||||
| 1986 | "Love Is Love (In Any Language)" | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |||||||
| "That Girl" | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||||||||
| "Loving Strangers" | 94 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 27 | Nothing in Common: Original Soundtrack Album | |||||||
| 1988 | "Swept Away" | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | Back of My Mind | ||||||
| "I Will (Take You Forever)" (with Frances Ruffelle) | 90 | — | — | — | — | 47 | — | — | — | — | 41 | ||||||||
| "Someday" | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||||||||
| 1992 | "In the Blink of an Eye" (Germany only) | — | 51 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | Rendezvous (Germany & Japan only) | ||||||
| "Nothing Will Change" (Germany only) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||||||||
| "Is There Something" (Germany only) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||||||||
| 1994 | "Been There, Done That" (Germany only) | — | 55 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | Window (Germany, Japan & US only) | ||||||
| "Wild, Wild West" (Germany only) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||||||||
| 1995 | "Open Up My Window" | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |||||||
| 1998 | "Walking in Avalon" | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | Walking in Avalon | ||||||
| "When She Smiles" | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||||||||
| "—" denotes releases that did not chart | |||||||||||||||||||
Other appearances
- 1974: Electromagnets, (with Eric Johnson) – "Motion"
- 1981: Chris Christian, Chris Christian (Boardwalk Records) – "Don't Give Up on Us" (guitar solo)
- 1982: Long Time Friends, Alessi Brothers – "Forever" (background vocals)
- 1985: Soul Kiss, Olivia Newton-John – "You Were Great, How Was I?" (background vocals)
- 1985: Crazy from the Heat, David Lee Roth – "California Girls" (background vocals)
- 1988: Brian Wilson, Brian Wilson – "Night Time" (background vocals)
- 1989: Christmas at My House, Larry Carlton – "Ringing the Bells of Christmas"
- 1991: Love Can Do That, Elaine Paige – "Same Train"
- 1994: Grammy's Greatest Moments Volume III – "Arthur's Theme" (live version)<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
- 1996: Venus Isle, Eric Johnson – "Lonely in the Night" (background vocals)
- 1996: On Air, Alan Parsons – "So Far Away"
- 1998: Imagination, Brian Wilson (special edition "Words and Music" bonus disc) – "In My Room"
- 2001: A Gathering of Friends, Michael McDonald – "Ride Like the Wind"
- 2001: When It All Goes South, Alabama – "Love Remains"
- 2004: Confidential, Peter White – "She's in Love"
- 2006: Skylark, Gigi Mackenzie – "That's All"
- 2008: Soundstage: America Live in Chicago – "Lonely People", "A Horse with No Name"
- 2013: Train Keeps a Rolling, Jeff Golub – "How Long"
- 2013: Imagination of You, Eric Johnson – "Imagination of You"
Music videos
| Year | Title | Album |
|---|---|---|
| 1980 | "Ride Like the Wind" | Christopher Cross |
| "Sailing" | ||
| "Never Be the Same" | ||
| 1981 | "Arthur's Theme (Best That You Can Do)" | Arthur: The Album |
| 1983 | "All Right" | Another Page |
| "Think of Laura" | ||
| 1985 | "Charm the Snake" | Every Turn of the World |
| "That Girl" | ||
| 1988 | "I Will (Take You Forever)" | Back of My Mind |
Awards and nominations
| Year | Award | Category | Nominated work | Result | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1981 | Academy Awards | Best Original Song | "Arthur's Theme (Best That You Can Do)" Template:Small | Template:Won | <ref>Template:Cite web</ref> |
| 1981 | ASCAP Film and Television Music Awards | Most Performed Feature Film Standards | Template:Won | ||
| 1981 | Golden Globe Awards | Best Original Song | Template:Won | <ref>Template:Cite web</ref> | |
| 1980 | Grammy Awards | Album of the Year | Christopher Cross | Template:Won | <ref>Template:Cite web</ref> |
| Record of the Year | "Sailing" | Template:Won | |||
| Song of the Year | Template:Won | ||||
| Best New Artist | Template:N/a | Template:Won | |||
| Best Pop Vocal Performance, Male | Christopher Cross | Template:Nom | |||
| Best Arrangement Accompanying Vocalist(s) | "Sailing" | Template:Won | |||
| 1981 | Record of the Year | "Arthur's Theme (Best That You Can Do)" | Template:Nom | ||
| Song of the Year | Template:Nom | ||||
| Best Pop Vocal Performance, Male | Template:Nom | ||||
| 1988 | Primetime Emmy Awards | Outstanding Achievement in Music and Lyrics | "Swept Away" Template:Small | Template:Nom | <ref>Template:Cite web</ref> |
Notes
References
External links
- Template:Official website
- Template:IMDb name
- Template:AllMusic
- Living Legends – Christopher Cross Interview Series
- Template:Webarchive
- 1951 births
- Living people
- Alamo Heights High School alumni
- American acoustic guitarists
- American male pop singers
- American male guitarists
- American male singer-songwriters
- American pop rock singers
- American pop guitarists
- American rock guitarists
- American rock songwriters
- American soft rock musicians
- American ballad musicians
- Best Original Song Academy Award–winning songwriters
- Golden Globe Award–winning musicians
- Guitarists from Los Angeles
- Guitarists from Texas
- Grammy Award winners
- Singers from San Antonio
- Singer-songwriters from Texas
- 20th-century American guitarists
- 20th-century American male singers
- 21st-century American male singers
- 20th-century American singer-songwriters
- 21st-century American singer-songwriters
- Singer-songwriters from California
- American people of German descent
- American people of Irish descent
- American people of Jewish descent
- The David Lee Roth Band members
- Yacht rock musicians
- Warner Records artists
- Reprise Records artists
- Ariola Records artists
- CMC International artists