Christopher Cross was by far the biggest new star of 1980, virtually defining adult
... Christopher Cross' 1980 self-titled debut album with the lead single “Ride ...
CHRISTOPHER CROSS
Press Kit
ACCOMPLISHMENTS
5 GRAMMY AWARDS 1 OSCAR AWARD 1 GOLDEN GLOBE AWARD 9 MILLION WORLDWIDE ALBUM SALES 4 #1 SINGLES 9 TOP 20/AC HITS
Biography
Christopher Cross was by far the biggest new star of 1980, virtually defining adult contemporary radio with a series of smoothly sophisticated ballads including the #1 hit, “Sailing.” Christopher Cross’ 1980 self-titled debut album with the lead single “Ride Like the Wind” rocketed to the #2 spot; the massive success of the second single “Sailing” made Cross a superstar, and in the wake of two more Top 20 hits, “Never Be the Same” and “Say You'll Be Mine,” he walked off with an unprecedented and record-setting five Grammys in 1981, including Best New Artist and Song of the Year for “Sailing.” He soon scored a second #1, as well as an Academy Award, with “Arthur's Theme (Best That You Can Do),” which he co-wrote with Burt Bacharach, Carole Bayer Sager, and Peter Allen for the smash Dudley Moore film comedy Arthur. (Excerpt from Jason Ankeny, All Music Guide) Christopher’s much-anticipated second album Another Page came out in 1983 and produced the hits “All Right,” “No Time for Talk,” and a Top Ten entry for “Think of Laura,” a song featured prominently in the daytime drama, General Hospital. Amazingly, he charted 8 songs into the Billboard Top-40 charts between 1980 and 1983. Four years, two albums, eight hit singles, several world tours, five Grammy's, and one Oscar marked Christopher’s meteoric rise to the top. At this writing, Christopher has released eight albums (not counting hits packages), a body of work revealing a steady, focused dedication to that oh-so-rare commodity of the latter-day popster – artistic growth. Eight albums. Those who have followed Cross have reaped the rewards of set after set of intelligently written and performed melodic pop. Throughout the years, he has remained a unique artist, replete with that confounding blend of sensitivity, determination and conviction of his own artistry. Beyond the Cross-mania years, Christopher co-wrote and sang the song that helped define the 1984 Summer Olympics, “A Chance for Heaven;” he co-wrote and sang the delightful “Loving Strangers” for the hit 1986 Tom Hanks movie, Nothing in Common; and the following year he presented “I Will (Take You Forever),” a lovely duet with international Les Miserables star Frances Ruffelle, which tune has graced many a wedding (and is still a staple of radio worldwide). Singles from most all of his albums charted in Japan and elsewhere in East; and the rollicking “In the Blink of an Eye” enjoyed a smashing top-ten success in Germany and surrounding territories in 1992.
Biography Christopher Cross’ string of post-megahit albums from the mid-1980s to the present represents, in a consistent manner, a hard-travelled road of integrity, a refusal to compromise: Every Turn of the World, Christopher’s foray into a harder rocking style which delighted fans; Back of My Mind, a collection of breezy pop perfection with a foreshadowing of the deeper range to come; Rendezvous, the insightful, landmark Cross set that found him tackling thoughtful subjects; Window, a heartfelt, acoustic-pop of the era; and Walking In Avalon / Red Room, arguably the very pinnacle of sophisticated, mature – and, lest we forget, fun – Christopher Cross music. Christopher continues to record and perform, averaging about 100 live shows per year. Every few years, the world has been gifted with a new set of songs, each of the albums growing innately from the last while resolutely advancing the state of his art. And he has continued to seek out his fans worldwide by regularly hitting the concert road, never depriving those fans of the early hits (played note-perfect), as well as a broad range of his latest work – the songs where his heart (and his art) truly lies. The audience response is never less than rapturous. That later work, much of it in collaboration with longtime cohort Rob Meurer, stands up to the best of better-known contemporary pop; some would say it stands a bit taller. It also stands as a testament to an artist who strives to deepen. Christopher Cross has many a laurel, none of which has ever been rested on.
Cross Statistics
ALBUM/Single CHRISTOPHER CROSS Ride Like the Wind Sailing Never Be the Same Say You’ll Be Mine Arthur’s Theme ANOTHER PAGE All Right No Time for Talk Think of Laura Chance for Heaven Charm the Snake Loving Strangers
Peak Position Billboard #6 Hot 100 #2 Hot 100 #1 Hot 100 #15 Hot 100 #20 Hot 100 #1 Billboard #10 Hot 100 #12 Hot 100 #33 Hot 100 #9 AC Chart #1 AC #16 Hot 100 #76 Hot 100 #68 AC Chart #27
Date of Peak 5/10/80 5/17/80 8/30/80 12/6/80 5/23/81 10/17/81 4/83 3/19/83 6/11/83 2/4/84 2/14/84 8/4/84 7/7/84 11/9/85 11/8/86
# weeks on Chart 21 weeks 21 weeks 19 weeks 14 weeks 24 weeks 10 weeks 10 weeks 11 weeks 9 weeks 8 weeks 5 weeks 8 weeks
AWARDS GRAMMY’S -1980 Album of the Year – Christopher Cross Song of the Year – Sailing Record of the Year – Sailing Best New Artist Best Arrangement Accompanying Vocalist – Sailing (Michael Omartian, arranger) ACADEMY AWARD – 1981 Best Song – Arthur’s Theme GOLDEN GLOBE – 1981 Best Song – Arthur’s Theme
Sailing ranked #1 of VH1’s 40 Most Softsational Soft-‐Rock Songs
Discography
Christopher Cross – Warner Brothers – 1979 Christopher’s landmark debut album, winner of five Grammy awards, including Best Album, Best Song (“Sailing”), and Best New Artist.
Another Page – Warner Brothers – 1983 A star-‐studded second release featuring Art Garfunkel, Carl Wilson, Karla Bonoff, Steve Gadd and members of Toto, Michael McDonald, Don Henley and J.D. Souther. It contains the hit “Think of Laura.”
Every Turn of the World – Warner Brothers – 1985 Enriched by new writing partnerships with renowned lyricists, Christopher’s third album sets forth an intriguing array of up-‐tempo styles and moods, and includes a couple of Cross ballads for good measure.
Discography
Back of My Mind – Reprise – 1988 Christopher’s fourth album features such songs as “Swept Away”, written for a special episode of the hit TV series Growing Pains, and “Never Stop Believing” with a fine vocal turn by Fleetwood Mac veteran Christine McVie, as well as the duet with Frances Ruffelle of Les Miserables fame, “I Will (Take You Forever).”
Rendezvous – BMG Records – 1991 Christopher’s fifth album is considered by many to be his finest collection of material to date. Chocked full of reflective, passionate songs standing as a shining labor of love, it features “Is There Something” and the rocking “In the Blink of an Eye,” both major hits abroad.
Window – Priority Records – 1994 At the time of release, this was surely Christopher’s most personal album. Its sparse production gives a deep sense of thematic definition to the songs and Christopher has never been in finer voice. It boasts the hit duet with Gigi Worth, “Open Up My Window” and a modern reworking of the old Spirit chestnut, “Nature’s Way.”
Discography
Walking in Avalon – CMC International – 1998 Christopher’s seventh album release is without a doubt his crowning achievement to date. The first CD of this two-‐set effort is a showcase for Cross’ formidable vocal, aggravation, love and lust. The second CD contains a 74-‐minute live concert in which Christopher performs virtually all of his hits including “Sailing,” “Ride Like the Wind” and “Arthur’s Theme.” Bonus guest performance by Michael McDonald.
The Very Best of Christopher Cross – Rhino/Warner Brothers – 2002 The Definitive Christopher Cross – WEA – 2001 (International version) Enjoy all the hits from Christopher Cross that are digitally re-‐mastered, as well as some of Christopher’s favorites from his non-‐Warners albums.
A Christopher Cross Christmas – U.S. 2007 and European Version 2009 Christopher sings the best that Christmas has to offer, including two original compositions.
Discography
The Café Carlyle Sessions – Edel Records – 2008 The concept for Christopher’s most recent release came out of his shows in April 2008 at the legendary and intimate Café Carlyle at the Carlyle Hotel in New York City. He presents the music in a more free, jazz-‐inflected style quite different from his traditional pop rhythm section format.
Video Links CHRISTOPHER CROSS PERFORMS "RIDE LIKE THE WIND" WITH THE ROOTS AND MICHAEL MCDONALD ON LATE NIGHT WITH JIMMY FALLON CHRISTOPHER CROSS PERFORMS "SAILING" ON LATE NIGHT WITH JIMMY FALLON CHRISTOPHER CROSS PERFORMS "ARTHUR'S THEME" CHRISTOPHER CROSS PERFORMS "NEVER BE THE SAME" Website:
christophercross.com
Contact Management:
21st Century Artists, Inc. 853 Broadway Suite 1214 New York, NY 10010 212.254.5500 T 212.254.4800 F 21stca.com
Press and Publicity: 21stca.com Booking Agency: APA Talent & Literary Agency 405 South Beverly Drive Beverly Hills, CA 90212 310.888.4200 Tour Advance & Production: Ross Pallone
[email protected]
