Now 75 years old, music icon Christopher Cross remains one of the most distinctive and quietly enduring voices in pop chart history. With memorable lyrics like “When you get caught between the moon and New York City,” from his “Big ’80s” hit “Arthur’s Theme (Best That You Can Do),” Cross is a craftsman of melody whose early success helped define an era of sophisticated, radio-friendly sound.
A Closer Look
Christopher Cross burst onto the national stage in 1980 with his self-titled debut album, a polished collection that blended soft rock, jazz, and adult contemporary influences. Anchored by hits like “Ride Like the Wind” and the wistful “Sailing,” Cross achieved a rare industry feat: sweeping the “Big Four” categories at the Grammy Awards: Record, Song, Album of the Year, and Best New Artist. It was a moment of arrival that few artists before or since have matched.…