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Christopher Cross in Houston

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Christopher Cross
The Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion sponsored by Huntsman — The Woodlands, TX
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About Christopher Cross

Christopher Cross emerged in the late 1970s as the unlikely face of yacht rock, a genre that would define him completely. His 1979 debut album was a commercial juggernaut, anchored by the breezy sail-away fantasy of "Sailing," which became inescapable on AM radio and won the Academy Award for Best Original Song. That same album also spawned "Ride Like the Wind" and "Arthur's Theme," proving Cross had a genuine gift for melodic pop songwriting that felt effortless and expensive. His follow-up, "Another Page," maintained the soft-focus aesthetic but couldn't sustain the momentum. By the 1980s, yacht rock had become something to apologize for, and Cross's earnest, perfectly produced sound fell out of favor. He's spent decades existing in a strange cultural space—genuinely talented but permanently associated with a sound that became shorthand for excess and poor taste. His songs endure mostly as nostalgia and irony, though "Sailing" remains legitimately lovely.

Cross plays nostalgia crowds who know every word to "Sailing." The energy is polite, occasionally wistful. He's a competent performer without particular charisma, steady and professional. Audiences are older, here for the songs themselves rather than the man.

Known for Sailing, Arthur's Theme (Best That You Can Do), Ride Like the Wind, All Right, Think It Over

Christopher Cross + Houston

Christopher Cross has maintained a quiet presence in Houston over the years, the kind of artist who understands the room he's playing. His most recent visit was August 17, 2024 at House of Blues, where he worked through the catalog that made him a fixture on FM radio in the late '70s and early '80s. "Sailing" inevitably landed, that one song everyone knows even if they wouldn't admit to it. The show had the feel of someone comfortable revisiting his own history—no reinvention, just the songs doing what they've always done. An encore rounded out the evening, the kind of set that plays well in Houston, a city that never quite shook its affection for soft rock.

Christopher Cross in Houston News

Live Music in Houston

Houston's music DNA runs deep in country, rap, and R&B—genres that dominate the city's concert calendar. But there's a persistent undercurrent of adult contemporary and smooth rock that lingers from the '80s, the era when Christopher Cross's polished, introspective pop-rock found natural footing on radio and in rooms like House of Blues. The city's willing to accommodate artists from across the spectrum, even if they're not necessarily the ones drawing the biggest crowds anymore.

Houston road trip to see Christopher Cross?

Stay in Montrose, where tree-lined streets and mid-century charm give you walkable access to restaurants and bars without feeling touristy. Book a table at Le Colonial for Vietnamese-French fusion that's genuinely excellent. Spend an afternoon at the Museum of Fine Arts — underrated collection, manageable crowds. Grab coffee at Tout Suite before the show. If you've got time, the Buffalo Bayou trails offer a surprisingly green escape through the city. Skip the obvious stuff and just move through the neighborhoods like you live there.

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