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.
"Sailing" earned three Grammys in 1980. "Arthur's Theme" won in 1982 the Oscar for Best Original Song, with co-writers Burt Bacharach, Carole Bayer Sager, and Peter Allen.
Early life
A self-described "army brat", Cross is the son of a U.S. Army pediatrician who was stationed at Walter Reed Army Hospital in Washington, D.C., in the mid-1950s and acted as a physician for President Dwight Eisenhower's grandchildren. He attended Alamo Heights High School in San Antonio, graduating in 1969. He played football and participated in track and field. Cross was raised Catholic.
Career
Early musical career
Geppert developed an early interest in music, citing the influence of Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens, and Dave Brubeck during childhood. As a seventh grader, he received a drum kit and began performing in a band called the Psychos, which played local church events and junior high school dances.
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." Cross also substituted for Ritchie Blackmore during a Deep Purple concert in 1970 when Blackmore fell ill.
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.
First album and immediate success
Cross released his self-titled debut album, Christopher Cross, on December 27, 1979. 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.
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.