Stop Missing Shows

Christopher Cross in Tampa

359 users on tonedeaf are tracking Christopher Cross

Never miss another Christopher Cross show near Tampa.

Christopher Cross
MIDFLORIDA Credit Union Amphitheatre at the FL State Fairgrounds — Tampa, FL
Tickets+CalendarText Friend

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 in Tampa News

Live Music in Tampa

Tampa's music scene has always been friendly to soft rock and adult contemporary acts. The city's venues cater to touring musicians who've built their careers on craftsmanship rather than spectacle—the kind of artists who benefit from an audience that actually listens. Christopher Cross fits naturally into that landscape, alongside the Ybor City jazz lounges and the amphitheater circuit that keeps the city's midsize touring schedule steady. There's an appreciation here for songwriters over trends.

Tampa road trip to see Christopher Cross?

Skip the strip and head to Hyde Park, Tampa's most livable neighborhood with tree-lined streets, independent shops, and genuine character. Stay nearby and eat at The Bricks of Hyde Park for elevated Southern cuisine in a refurbished historic building. Spend an afternoon at the Dali Museum in nearby St. Petersburg—it's legitimately world-class and a solid hour drive but worth it. Walk along Bayshore Boulevard at sunset before the show. The whole vibe is understated enough that Johnson will feel like the most exciting thing happening all weekend.

Stop missing shows.

tonedeaf. reads your music library and emails you when artists you actually listen to have shows near Tampa. No app. No ads. No noise.

Sign Up Free