Christopher Cross facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Christopher Cross
Cross in 2022
Background information
Birth name	Christopher Charles Geppert
Born	(1951-05-03) May 3, 1951 (age 74) San Antonio, Texas, U.S.
Genres	Rock pop soft rock yacht rock
Occupations	Musician singer songwriter composer
Instruments	Vocals guitar
Years active	1971–present
Labels	Warner Bros. Reprise Ariola Priority CMC International
Associated acts	Michael McDonald The Beach Boys Burt Bacharach Carole Bayer Sager Peter Allen Madison Cross The Alan Parsons Project Deep Purple

Christopher Cross, born Christopher Charles Geppert on May 3, 1951, is a famous American singer, songwriter, and guitarist. He became very well-known after his first album, Christopher Cross, came out in 1979. This album helped him win five Grammy Awards!

Two of his songs, "Sailing" (1979) and "Arthur's Theme (Best That You Can Do)" (from the 1981 movie Arthur), both reached number one on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 chart. "Sailing" won three Grammys in 1980. "Arthur's Theme" won an Oscar for Best Original Song in 1982. He wrote this song with Burt Bacharach, Carole Bayer Sager, and Peter Allen.

Personal Life of Christopher Cross

Christopher Cross grew up as an "army brat" because his dad was a U.S. Army doctor. His father worked at Walter Reed Army Hospital in Washington, D.C., in the 1950s. He even helped care for President Dwight Eisenhower's grandchildren.

Cross went to Alamo Heights High School in San Antonio and finished in 1969. He was active in sports like football and track and field. He has two children named Madison and Rain.

In April 2020, Cross shared on his Facebook page that he had tested positive for the COVID-19 virus. He was ill but recovered. Doctors later told him that his illness caused a condition called Guillain–Barré syndrome. This condition affected the nerves in his legs. By October 2020, he was able to walk with a cane.

In 2021 and 2022, he went on his 40th-anniversary concert tour. This tour was originally planned for 2020 but was delayed. Cross was raised in the Catholic faith.

Christopher Cross's Music Career

Starting Out in Music

Christopher Geppert, bassist Andy Salmon, and keyboardist Rob Meurer met in San Antonio when they were teenagers. Geppert and Salmon played together in a band called Flash. Later, they formed a new band called Christopher Cross and moved to Austin. They added drummer Tommy Taylor to the group.

In Austin, they played cover songs to earn money. They also recorded demo versions of their own songs at a studio called Odyssey Sound. They sent these demos to different record labels. Even though they saw themselves as a band, Warner Bros. Records signed Christopher Cross as a solo artist in early 1979.

Christopher Cross is known for his singing and songwriting. But he is also a very skilled guitarist. Famous musicians Donald Fagen and Walter Becker from the band Steely Dan asked Cross to play on their albums, but he said no. Cross also filled in for Ritchie Blackmore during a Deep Purple concert in 1970 when Blackmore was sick.

Cross once owned Stevie Ray Vaughan's famous "Number One" guitar. This was a special 1962/1963 Fender Stratocaster. Vaughan bought the guitar in 1974, just one day after Cross had traded it for a Gibson Les Paul.

First Album and Big Success

Christopher Cross released his first album, Christopher Cross, on December 20, 1979. This album had several popular songs that made it into the top 20 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. These songs included "Ride Like the Wind" (with Michael McDonald singing backup), "Sailing", "Never Be the Same", and "Say You'll Be Mine".

"Ride Like the Wind" reached number two on the U.S. Hot 100. "Sailing" was number one for one week. "Never Be The Same" also hit number one on the Adult Contemporary chart.

The album Christopher Cross and the song "Sailing" were nominated for six Grammy Awards in 1980. They won five of them! Christopher Cross was the first artist ever to win all four main Grammy awards in one night. He won Record of the Year ("Sailing"), Album of the Year (Christopher Cross), Song of the Year ("Sailing"), and Best New Artist. This amazing achievement was not repeated for 39 years until Billie Eilish did it in 2020. The album Christopher Cross has sold over 5 million copies in the U.S.

Later in 1981, Cross released "Arthur's Theme (Best That You Can Do)". He wrote this song with Burt Bacharach, Carole Bayer Sager, and Peter Allen. It was the main song for the 1981 movie Arthur. The song won an Oscar for Best Original Song in 1981. It also reached number one on the Billboard Hot 100 and Adult Contemporary charts in October 1981. This song was Christopher Cross's second and last number-one hit in America.

Second Album and Beyond

Cross's second album, Another Page, came out in 1983. It included the songs "All Right", "No Time for Talk", and "Think of Laura". The song "All Right" was used by CBS Sports for highlights of the 1983 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament. "Think of Laura" became popular because it was used in the soap opera General Hospital. Cross wrote "Think of Laura" to honor a college student named Laura Carter, who sadly passed away. Another Page sold well and earned a Gold certification.

Cross also helped write and sang the song "A Chance For Heaven" for the 1984 Summer Olympics.

The 1980s and 1990s

After 1984, Christopher Cross's songs were not as popular. The music television channel MTV became very big in the United States. Cross's style of music, called adult contemporary music, did not fit well with MTV's focus on music videos.

His next two albums, Every Turn of the World (1985) and Back of My Mind (1988), did not have any top 40 hits. However, his song "Swept Away" was used in the TV show Growing Pains.

In the 1990s, Cross released three more albums. Even though some critics liked his new music, he did not reach the same large audience he once had. He often toured and opened for other musical acts during this time.

The 2000s and 2010s

Cross in 2008

In 2002, a "Very Best of..." album was released. In 2007, he finished a Christmas album called A Christopher Cross Christmas. In 2008, Cross recorded a new acoustic album of his hits called The Cafe Carlyle Sessions.

In 2011, Cross released a new studio album titled Doctor Faith. In 2013, he released A Night in Paris, which was a live album recorded in Paris, France, in 2012. The song "Ride Like the Wind" was also featured on the soundtrack for the movie Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues in 2013.

In September 2014, he released Secret Ladder. This was followed by Take Me as I Am in November 2017. In 2017, he played a concert in his hometown of San Antonio, Texas.

In late 2019, Cross toured with other musicians like Todd Rundgren and Micky Dolenz. They celebrated the Beatles' White Album on a tour called "It Was Fifty Years Ago Today – A Tribute to the Beatles' White Album". Cross performed his songs "Sailing" and "Ride Like the Wind" during this tour.

The 2020s

During 2021 and 2022, Cross continued his 40th-anniversary tour. This tour had been rescheduled because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

In early 2025, Christopher Cross joined the band Toto as a special guest on their Dogz of Oz tour. They performed across the U.K. and Europe. Cross and Toto had also performed together at the Hollywood Bowl in September 2024.

Freedonia

In 2018, Christopher Cross formed a band called Freedonia with other musicians in Austin. With Freedonia, he has released two full-length albums: "Freedonia" (2018) and "Firefly" (2019). They also released an EP (a shorter album) called "Bring Back The Dinosaurs" (2021).

The Flamingo Symbol

A common sight on Christopher Cross's album covers is a flamingo. Cross has said there is no deep meaning behind it. The first painting chosen for his debut album cover simply featured the bird. Since then, the flamingo has been used as a symbol for his music.

Christopher Cross's Music Albums

Studio Albums

Compilation Albums

• 1991: The Best of Christopher Cross
• 1999: Greatest Hits Live
• 2002: The Very Best of Christopher Cross
• 2011: Crosswords: The Best of Christopher Cross

Songs from Movies and TV Shows

• 1981: Arthur (Movie 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 (Movie soundtrack) "Loving Strangers (David's Theme)"
• 2010: 30 Rock (TV series soundtrack) "Lemon's Theme"

Singles (Popular Songs)

Awards and Nominations

Christopher Cross has won many awards for his music:

See also

In Spanish: Christopher Cross para niños