ARTIST · SOFT ROCK / POP

Christopher Cross

Silk-tie melodies and session-player precision—Southern California pop at its most pampered.

Soft rock
Pop

Updated 27 October 2026

Biography

Christopher Cross arrived with a debut that married jazz chords to FM radio friendliness, setting a template for early-80s polish.

Ballads breathe through tasteful sax and layered guitars, each part locked to a groove that never hurries the vocal.

His work rewards listeners who appreciate meticulous arrangements—the kind of detail-oriented soft rock adult formats still respect.

High-fidelity streams separate string pads, hi-hat shimmer, and vocal doubles that collapse together on muddy codecs.

Cross began in Texas bands and was signed by Warner Bros. for his self-titled debut, which included Ride Like the Wind, with Michael McDonald singing backing vocals, and the dreamy Sailing. At the 1981 Grammy Awards he won Record of the Year, Album of the Year, Song of the Year, and Best New Artist, a rare sweep of the main categories.

He co-wrote Arthur’s Theme (Best That You Can Do) with Burt Bacharach, Carole Bayer Sager, and Peter Allen, which won an Academy Award for Best Original Song. Though his chart presence faded, Cross has remained a steady touring act.

Interesting facts about Christopher Cross

01 American singer-songwriter born in San Antonio, Texas.
02 His self-titled 1979 debut album and its singles Sailing and Ride Like the Wind helped define late-70s soft rock.
03 Won multiple Grammy Awards in 1981, including Record of the Year for Sailing.
04 Won all four major Grammy categories in 1981.
05 Co-wrote Arthur’s Theme (Best That You Can Do), an Oscar-winning song.