Christopher Cross

For other people named Christopher Cross, see Christopher Cross (disambiguation).

Christopher Cross
Cross in 2022
Cross in 2022
Background information
Birth nameChristopher Charles Geppert
Born (1951-05-03) May 3, 1951 (age 73)
San Antonio, Texas, U.S.
Genres
Occupations
  • Musician
  • singer
  • songwriter
  • composer
Instruments
  • Vocals
  • guitar
Years active1971–present
Labels
Websitechristophercross.com

Christopher Cross (born Christopher Charles Geppert; May 3, 1951) is an American singer-songwriter and guitarist from San Antonio, Texas. He has won five Grammy Awards for his eponymous debut album released in 1979. The singles "Sailing" (1979), 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.[2][3][4] "Sailing" earned three Grammys in 1980,[5] while "Arthur's Theme" won the Oscar for Best Original Song in 1980 (with co-composers Burt Bacharach, Carole Bayer Sager, and Peter Allen).

Career

[edit]

Early musical career

[edit]

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.[6][7] Though they considered themselves a band, Warner Bros. signed Christopher Cross as a solo artist in early 1979.[6][7][8]

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.[9] Cross also substituted for Ritchie Blackmore during a Deep Purple concert in 1970 when Blackmore fell ill.[7][10]

Cross was the original owner of fellow Austin guitarist Stevie Ray Vaughan’s legendary “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.[11]

First album and immediate success

[edit]

Cross released his self-titled debut album, Christopher Cross, on December 20, 1979.[12] 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.[2] "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.[13] 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.[a] This feat was not replicated for 39 years, until Billie Eilish won all four awards at the 62nd Annual Grammy Awards in 2020.[14][15] 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.[16]

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,[17] and was nominated for three Grammys, but did not win.[18][b] 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.[19]

Second album

[edit]

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.[20] He also co-wrote and sang the song "A Chance For Heaven" for the 1984 Summer Olympic Games.

1980s

[edit]

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 Cross's brand of adult contemporary music declined in popularity.[21]

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.

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

[edit]

Cross made three more albums in the 1990s, and although some of his releases gained 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.[22][23]

2000s

[edit]
Cross in 2008

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.[24][25]

2010s

[edit]

In 2011, Cross released a new studio album titled Doctor Faith.[26]

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.[27]

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.[28]

In 2017, he played a concert in his hometown, at the Tobin Center, San Antonio, Texas.[29] In 2018, he joined with other musicians in Austin to form the band Freedonia.[30]

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".[31]

Since 2018, Cross has been playing in a band called Freedonia. They have two full length albums: "Freedonia" and "Firefly" and an EP titled "Bring Back The Dinosaurs".

2020s

[edit]

During 2021–2022, Cross played in his 40th anniversary tour which had been rescheduled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Flamingo

[edit]

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.[32]

Personal life

[edit]

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.[33] He attended Alamo Heights High School in San Antonio and graduated in 1969. He was involved in football and track and field.[34] Cross was married to Roseanne Harrison from 1973 until the couple divorced in 1982. His 1988 marriage to Jan Bunch ended in a 2007 divorce.[35]

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.[36] By October 2020, he was able to walk with a cane, but said his memory and speech had been affected.[37] In 2021 and 2022 he played his 40th anniversary concert tour, which had originally been planned for 2020.[38]

He is Catholic. [citation needed]

Discography

[edit]

Studio albums

[edit]
Year Album Label Chart positions Certifications
(sales thresholds)
AUS
[39] 		CAN
[40] 		GER
[41] 		JPN
[42][43] 		NLD
[44] 		NZ
[45] 		SWE
[46] 		UK
[47] 		US
[48]
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 — — 45 27 — 93 49 — —
1993 Rendezvous CMC — — — 96 — — — — —
1994 Window — — — 91 — — — — —
1998 Walking in Avalon — — — — — — — — —
1999 Red Room — — — — — — — — —
2007 A Christopher Cross Christmas Ear — — — — — — — — —
2008 The Café Carlyle Sessions — — — — — — — — —
2010 Christmas Time Is Here — — — — — — — — —
2011 Doctor Faith — — 48 — — — — — —
2013 A Night in Paris — — — — — — — — —
2014 Secret Ladder Christopher Cross Records — — — — — — — — —
2017 Take Me As I Am — — — — — — — — —
"—" denotes releases that did not chart.

Compilations

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  • 1991: The Best of Christopher Cross (WEA)
  • 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 (101 Distribution)

Soundtracks

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Singles

[edit]
Year Single Peak chart positions Certifications
(sales thresholds) 		Album
CAN
[52] 		GER
[53] 		IRE
[54] 		NED
[55] 		NOR
[56] 		AUS
[39] 		NZ
[57] 		SWI
[58] 		UK
[59] 		US
[60] 		US
A/C
[61]
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 (soundtrack)
1983 "All Right" 13 23 14 16 5 30 44 5 51 12 3 Another Page
"No Time for Talk" — — — — — — — — — 33 10
"Think of Laura" 9 — — — — 100 — — — 9 1
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)" — — — — — — — — — — —
"Loving Strangers" 94 — — — — — — — — — 27 Nothing in Common (soundtrack)
1988 "Swept Away" — — — — — — — — — — — Back of My Mind
"I Will (Take You Forever)" (with Frances Ruffelle) 90 — — — — 47 — — — — 41
1993 "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 only)
"Wild, Wild West" (Germany only) — — — — — — — — — — —
"—" denotes releases that did not chart

Other appearances

[edit]
  • 1974: Electromagnets, (with Eric Johnson) – "Motion"
  • 1981: 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)[62]
  • 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"

Awards and nominations

[edit]
Year Award Category Nominated work Result Ref.
1981 Academy Awards Best Original Song "Arthur's Theme (Best That You Can Do)" (from Arthur) Won [63]
1981 ASCAP Film and Television Music Awards Most Performed Feature Film Standards Won
1981 Golden Globe Awards Best Original Song Won [64]
1980 Grammy Awards Album of the Year Christopher Cross Won [65]
Record of the Year "Sailing" Won
Song of the Year Won
Best New Artist — Won
Best Pop Vocal Performance, Male Christopher Cross Nominated
Best Arrangement Accompanying Vocalist(s) "Sailing" Won
1981 Record of the Year "Arthur's Theme (Best That You Can Do)" Nominated
Song of the Year Nominated
Best Pop Vocal Performance, Male Nominated
1988 Primetime Emmy Awards Outstanding Achievement in Music and Lyrics "Swept Away" (from Growing Pains – Episode: "Aloha") Nominated [66]

Notes

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  1. ^ Cross and producer Michael Omartian also won Best Arrangement Accompanying Vocalist(s), he was nominated for but did not win Best Pop Vocal Performance, Male. The album was also nominated for Best Engineered Recording – Non-Classical (Chet Himes).[13]
  2. ^ The song was nominated for Record of the Year, Song of the Year and Best Pop Vocal Performance, Male[18]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Giles, Jeff (February 26, 2018). "The Night Christopher Cross Sat in With Deep Purple". Ultimate Classic Rock.
  2. ^ a b "Christopher Cross". Billboard. Retrieved July 28, 2022.
  3. ^ "New York Times". Movies & TV Dept. Baseline & All Movie Guide. 2008. Archived from the original on February 5, 2008. Retrieved October 11, 2011.
  4. ^ Holden, Stephen (April 17, 2008). "New York Times". Retrieved October 11, 2011.
  5. ^ "23rd Annual GRAMMY Awards | GRAMMY.com". grammy.com. Retrieved February 19, 2024.
  6. ^ a b Frolik, Joe (March 10, 1979). "Christopher Cross may let secret out of bag". Austin American-Statesman. p. 29.
  7. ^ a b c Margaret Moser. "The Reluctant Celebrity: Christopher Cross." The Austin Chronicle. January 20, 2012. Retrieved July 25, 2022.
  8. ^ "Christopher Cross & Flash". Archived from the original on July 15, 2011. Retrieved April 26, 2010.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  9. ^ Flans, Robyn (September 25, 2015). "Classic Track: 'Ride Like the Wind,' Christopher Cross". Mixonline.
  10. ^ Cross, Christopher (October 18, 2013). "Christopher Cross". Songfacts (Interview). Interviewed by Greg Prato. Retrieved June 21, 2022.
  11. ^ "Gear Blog: Stevie Ray Vaughan's Number One". Acltv.com. October 3, 2012. Retrieved April 22, 2021.
  12. ^ "Gold & Platinum". RIAA. Retrieved July 28, 2022.
  13. ^ a b 23rd Annual GRAMMY Awards at Grammy.com. Retrieved July 25, 2022.
  14. ^ "A Virtual College of Grammy Knowledge", by Wook Kim, Entertainment Weekly, 2007. Retrieved January 7, 2008.
  15. ^ Sisario, Ben (January 26, 2020). "Billie Eilish Sweeps Top Awards at the Grammys". The New York Times. Retrieved January 27, 2020.
  16. ^ "American certifications – Christopher Cross – Christopher Cross". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved July 24, 2022.
  17. ^ Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 136. ISBN 1-904994-10-5.
  18. ^ a b 24th Annual GRAMMY Awards at Grammy.com. Retrieved July 25, 2022.
  19. ^ "Christopher Cross Artist Biography by Jason Ankeny - Awards". Allmusic.com. Retrieved March 30, 2014.
  20. ^ "American certifications – Christopher Cross – Another Page". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved July 24, 2022.
  21. ^ "Christopher Cross has his first of two #1 hits with "Sailing" – History.com This Day in History – 8/30/1980". History.com. Retrieved March 29, 2015.
  22. ^ "Classicbands.com". Classicbands.com. Retrieved October 11, 2011.
  23. ^ Weingarten, Marc (May 10, 1998). "Los Angeles Times". Articles.latimes.com. Retrieved October 11, 2011.
  24. ^ "Westcoastmusic". Noted.blogs.com. October 2, 2008. Retrieved October 11, 2011.
  25. ^ "Insidemusicast.com". Inside Musicast. May 4, 2009. Retrieved October 11, 2011.
  26. ^ "Christopher Cross Website – Doctor Faith Release". Christophercross.com. Archived from the original on September 27, 2011. Retrieved October 11, 2011.
  27. ^ "Christopher Cross Returns with his First Live Release "A Night in Paris"". Archived from the original on July 13, 2013.
  28. ^ "Christopher Cross Official Web Site". Christophercross.com.
  29. ^ David Hendricks "Christopher Cross returns to San Antonio better than ever",my SA, June 5, 2017
  30. ^ "Christopher Cross Official Web Site". Christophercross.com.
  31. ^ "Dolenz, Rundgren, Molland Begin Beatles Tribute Tour". July 30, 2015.
  32. ^ "Christopher Cross Official Website - FAQs". Christophercross.com. Archived from the original on June 29, 2018. Retrieved May 17, 2018.
  33. ^ Christopher Cross. Comments during Concert at Wolf Trap Performing Arts Center, Vienna, Virginia. January 19, 2013.
  34. ^ "Christopher Cross Yearbook Photo & School Pictures". Classmates. Retrieved February 19, 2024.
  35. ^ "Christopher Cross files for divorce". USA Today. April 27, 2007. Retrieved December 18, 2011.
  36. ^ Lisa Respers France. "Christopher Cross says Covid-19 paralyzed him temporarily". CNN. Retrieved October 16, 2020.
  37. ^ France, Lisa Respers (October 16, 2020). "Christopher Cross says Covid-19 paralyzed him temporarily". CNN. Retrieved March 10, 2023.
  38. ^ "'Where it all started': Christopher Cross is grateful to have sailed back into Austin". Austin American Statesman. Retrieved February 27, 2023.
  39. ^ a b Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992. St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.Note: 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)
  40. ^ "Canadian Albums peaks". Collectionscanada.gc.ca. Archived from the original on May 25, 2016. Retrieved May 17, 2018.
  41. ^ "Album Search: Christopher Cross" (in German). Media Control. Retrieved May 20, 2011.[dead link]
  42. ^ Okamoto, Satoshi (2006). Oricon Album Chart Book: Complete Edition 1970–2005. Roppongi, Tokyo: Oricon Entertainment. ISBN 4-87131-077-9.
  43. ^ "クリストファー・クロスのCDアルバムランキング-ORICON STYLE". oricon.co.jp (in Japanese). Original Confidence. Retrieved August 8, 2011.Note: Reference indicates chart positions from 1988 onwards, and part of the information are currently unavailable
  44. ^ "Dutchcharts.nl Christopher Cross discography". Hung Medien. MegaCharts. Retrieved August 8, 2011.
  45. ^ "chart.org.nz Christopher Cross discography". Hung Medien. RIANZ. Retrieved August 8, 2011.
  46. ^ "swedishcharts.com – Discography Christopher Cross". Retrieved November 3, 2010.
  47. ^ "The Official Charts Company – Christopher Cross". Official Charts. Retrieved November 3, 2010.
  48. ^ "Christopher Cross - Billboard 200". Billboard. Retrieved January 3, 2021.
  49. ^ a b c "American certifications – Cross, Christopher". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved August 9, 2011.
  50. ^ "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 1996 Albums" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved November 28, 2021.
  51. ^ a b c "British certifications – Christopher Cross". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved August 2, 2024. Type Christopher Cross in the "Search BPI Awards" field and then press Enter.
  52. ^ "Canadian Top Singles peaks". Archived from the original on March 14, 2016. Retrieved May 17, 2018.
  53. ^ "Home - Offizielle Deutsche Charts". Officialcharts.de. Archived from the original on September 3, 2014. Retrieved May 17, 2018.
  54. ^ "Search for Irish peaks". Archived from the original on August 30, 2012. Retrieved August 25, 2012.
  55. ^ "Christopher Cross". Top40.nl. Stichting Nederlandse Top 40. Retrieved May 17, 2018.
  56. ^ Hung, Steffen. "norwegiancharts.com - Norwegian charts portal". norwegiancharts.com. Retrieved May 17, 2018.
  57. ^ "New Zealand peaks". Retrieved April 24, 2019.
  58. ^ "Die Offizielle Schweizer Hitparade und Music Community". hitparade.ch. Retrieved April 24, 2019.
  59. ^ Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. ISBN 1-904994-10-5.
  60. ^ "Christopher Cross - Billboard Hot 100". Billboard. Retrieved January 3, 2021.
  61. ^ "Christopher Cross - Adult Contemporary". Billboard. Retrieved January 3, 2021.
  62. ^ "Grammy's Greatest Moments, Volume III: Various Artists". Amazon. Retrieved November 23, 2011.
  63. ^ "The 54th Academy Awards (1982) Nominees and Winners". Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. Retrieved August 24, 2011.
  64. ^ "Arthur". Golden Globe Awards. Retrieved August 6, 2023.
  65. ^ "Christopher Cross". Grammy Awards. Retrieved August 6, 2023.
  66. ^ "Christopher Cross". Academy of Television Arts & Sciences. Retrieved August 6, 2023.
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