These interviews are unlike any other. Besides knowing his stuff Rick is easy to talk to. His enthusiasm for the music is infectious.

He is 72 as of this video, and he looks like he's in his 50s. His voice still sounds like you're listening to him from the 1980s. Amazing, song writer. Big fan.

“Sailing” is one of the greatest recorded songs in music history IMHO

When my girlfriend died when we were 17, I went through a huge suicidal depression. One day I heard him sing "Think of Laura" on the radio and it gave me a kind of comfort that I can't describe. It's been 30 years and I still cherish that song very much in my memory and heart. Love from Portugal. ♥

Chris Cross and I share a long history together, having grown up in San Antonio and played music during our high school days. Back then, Chris led a band called Flash, and I was fortunate enough to join him on this musical journey. In those early years of his career as Christopher Cross, I played the synthesizer, saxophone, and flute. However, it was always Chris's guitar solos that captivated me the most. I couldn't help but express my admiration for his skill and urged him to take even longer solos, as they were the highlight of every song for me. Chris's prowess as a guitarist was undeniable, even back in our Flash days. He was a true guitar hero in San Antonio, and I still carry immense respect for his work as a professor of music today. Every time I listen to his solos on his tunes, I eagerly anticipate the magic he creates. It's worth noting that Chris also showcased his talent on the 12-string acoustic guitar, adding another layer of artistry to his performances. What struck me about Chris's approach to his solos was his casual and effortless manner. He never seemed to give them much thought or attention; they simply flowed naturally and consistently. Perhaps it was this nonchalance that made them so magical and seemingly effortless. Watching Chris play, you would never guess the level of skill and precision involved. He made it look so easy, and yet the impact was profound. My fondest memories revolve around the sound checks before our shows. During those moments, we would indulge in spontaneous jam sessions, exploring grooves, riffs, and even jazz elements. However, it was always Chris who took center stage, captivating us with his guitar playing. One particular highlight was when we performed "Ride Like the Wind" on tour, and the band would enthusiastically urge Chris to extend his solo during the final chorus. The energy and excitement that flowed between us on stage were unforgettable, creating memories that still feel vivid after 43 years. Looking back on those gigs with Chris, hearing firsthand his remarkable talent , it was inevitable the impact he made on the music industry. His solos continue to inspire and mesmerize me. 🎸🎶

I am not a musician, just a listener. So much of this content went over my head but the sheer joy of Christoper and Rick is something you never ever see in interviews. Rick is not only supremely knowledgeable about his subject but has a talent for letting the interviewee bring that out. The real beauty of these interviews is that the artists don’t have to be on guard. There are no ‘celebrity’ gotcha questions. We are just listening to them talking about their passion, none of the personal stuff that every other interviewer in the world is seeking. For this reason I hope you get many more of these opportunities to talk to artists of Christopher’s calibre and that these interviews become an archive for future generations.

What a cool guy Christopher Cross is. He's like a walking musical encyclopedia. And those stories are priceless.

Besides Rick's first-rate guitar talent, encyclopedic knowledge of music theory and history, he's one of the greatest interviewers I've ever seen. He's like the Johnny Carson of music, and the guests he gets just shine because they know they're talking with someone who really understands them.

Sailing is simply one of the most beautiful songs I've ever heard to this day. Just a fantastic artist who knows how to play a song and its contents.

Dude looks and sounds like he’s in his 40’s. I had to look back at his discography to believe he’s in his 70’s. Unbelievable talent and career. We are blessed to be able to finally get a peek into worlds like these. Thank you Rick 🙌🏼🙏

WOW! What great stories. Christopher Cross is amazingly talented and was on the front lines of the music world.

My 6 year old was doing homework when Mr Christopher Cross started playing the guitar on this interview and my boy said: Oh wow! I could listen to that song forever. We love Christopher Cross. Love from Mexico.

Now THAT is how one conducts an interview. Once you hear the first few seconds, you can't possibly disengage from hearing the rest. A fifty minute interview that passes by as if time has temporarily paused. The process was as moving, dynamic, and enjoyable as Christopher's music. Bravo, Rick, Bravo!

Here is something I NEVER thought I would say...for 50 minutes I was COMPLETELY captivated by your interview with Christopher Cross. Is he potentially THE most underrated singer/songwriter ever? At 72 he is still amazing and his stories are awesome! Thank you for this video!

I got chills when he started playing "Sailing". Damn! Your own personal Christopher Cross concert.

He's 72 in this interview. MIND BLOWN.

I really love how Rick always brings something up, the guest starts answering/reacting, and Rick says: "Talk about that!" THIS is the most important thing about interviewing, let the guest share their opinions, knowledge, whatever. Rick ENCOURAGES them. I mean, look at the Nuno interview. That guy's is CONSTANTLY talking and Rick just sits there and lets him tell us his stories. This is priceless.

I suffered a good deal of physical abuse as a child. I would find comfort in a planetarium of all places. They would play Sailing as we watched the stars pass by. That song meant so much to me. I felt like I was being taken away to someplace better.

god dam......when he breaks out with sailing! wow!!!! tear shedding stuff...thank you Rick, once again an amazing interview

Love how he talks about everyone else and not too much about himself. Even though he's right up there with the best musicians of all time!! Great guy!

My father passed away in 2006 at the age of 46. I was 16 years old. During our time together, a major anchor point was music. I never realised it at the time, but this element would serve as a powerful emotional and spiritual connection to my father in later years. Since my dad was in his 20s during the '70s, he grew to love all of the greats everyone here is familair with. By the time I was 16, I was well versed in the works of Clapton, Hendrix, Dire Straits (my dad always made sure to inform me that Mark Knopfler was the singer and guitar player, ans that D/S was the band name), Chicago, ELO, the Beatles, Bob Dylan, and many many more. When I was 12, my father gifted me a candy apple red Fender Stratocaster, and signed me up for guitar lessons. He always wanted me to learn the songs we enjoyed listening to together (selfishly) as well as the modern "garbage" I was into haha. I'll never forget struggling my way through the Money for Nothing intro riff - with my dad encouraging me and exclaiming "one day you'll be able to play it exactly as it sounds on the album." Flash forward to 2 years ago, I discovered a photo of my dad in his 20s, and in the background was the iconic green album with the flamingo. I didn't recognize it and had to do some searching to figure out what it was. After finding out it was Christopher Cross, and listening to the album in it's entirely, I was disappointed I never found this earlier!! I dont remember listening to any of these songs with my father, but I know for a fact this was an album he would have worn out in the 70s. Listening to it today connects me with my father, the 20 something year old version of him who enjoyed the album with his friends and family when it was first released. I still play the guitar every day, and every song I play, I'm playing for my father wherever he is watching from. ❤ Great vid, Rick. Thanks as always for the tremendous content!

That solo for Ride Like the Wind is so effortless. He is a legendary guitar player drenched in modesty.

My husband and I met in 1979. We married in 1981. Chris Cross’ music was always such an integral part of our marriage. My dear husband passed away about 3 months ago, (Rest in Peace, Babe 😢) and Christopher Cross’ music will always be a beautiful part of my life. Thank you Rick Beto for this AwEsOmE interview!!!! ♥️

Hat's off to Christopher for revealing happy accidents in the creative process during Sailing mixing sessions.

Sir, this is by far the best interview series out there! Such great presentation, informative discussion, and genuinely chill with some of the biggest guests

If you were to ask me to guess which artist opened for Led Zeppelin 12 times and was the only person to ever sub for Ritchie Blackmore, I never would have guessed "Christopher Cross!!!" Wow! Great stories and great interview!!! I'm so happy you were able to interview him! ❤

If only we could have an interview every week of this caliber. Christopher is transparent, humble, sharing unique memories. This is as good as it gets to have an artist recount his history.

An interviewer who is serious about his job must know, even study, the person he is going to interview. Rick is the best example of how it should be done.

I played drums for him a few years ago in Hiroshima for a peace concert. Couldn’t have been a nicer guy and I was in heaven playing songs I loved for years. Thank you for the interviews Rick!

That was the fastest 50 minutes of my week. I could have listened to you both for hours. Thank you! Unexpected and delightful

These guys are legends. It’s great to see them speaking candidly, and humbly, about their music.

Humble. Thats the word that comes to mind. All Chris does throughout this incredible interview is give credit to everyone for making his dream happen! And yet, he deserves so much credit too for these incredible songs that define an era in music history that's so special for many of us boomers. To hear CC share some these experiences is truly priceless, especially the Jimmy Page story!

Usually when I see an artist that I've admired for decades I begin to feel old because they're so damn old! The opposite occurred here. Christopher looks so damn young I don't feel quite as old! Thank you Christopher for your contribution to the world with your artistic abilities and thank you for making me feel young if but for a day!

Rick, what you have created here for music fans is truly very special. The quality of the content on this channel is just unrivaled.

Love Chris! Can't believe he's in his 70's! Down to earth guys are always the best. Respect.

In 1978 when I was 18, the songs Sailing and Ride Like The Wind were the 2 songs I played on my Yamaha FG150 after school, on the weekend, and at every guitar lesson I took. I saw Christopher in a small concert in Halifax Nova Scotia and his show was amazing, the songs were as fresh in 2017 as they were in 1978. Truth be told, I stole the paper with his set list from the stage and I still have it. Sailing and Ride Like the Wind were the two Encore songs and I was in heaven. Christopher thank you for the music! Rick another fantastic interview!!!!

Rick is my Johnny Carson of musician interviews. I don’t understand a lot of the technical stuff, but I get carried away by his passion, so it doesn’t matter.💕

That intro to Sailing and then the opening guitar line that follows is one of the most ethereal things ever written and recorded! Never gets old.

Sailing had been my favourite song for over 40 years ❤

72 years young !!Energy of a 30 year old and a master of everything !!

This is such a casual, relaxed and hyper-informative interview, Rick. I noticed that my face was getting sore. It was because I was smiling for the whole interview. Well done and Christopher is an energetic treasure.

Fantastic interview! I bought CC's debut album when it was first released. "Sailing" still brings me to tears and "Ride" is still in my top 3 songs of all time.

This should be heard by younger musicians because they have no clue about what these senior musicians know, have experienced and can learn from them. A treasure you've done these interviews for everyone, Rick. You're a blessing to the history of music!

I loved Christopher Cross…..his voice was so mellow and soft.

Rick, your reputation and reach are obviously snowballing. This is due to your knowledge and your efforts here on YT. You are landing interviews that just keep bringing the hits. It's great to see. And, obviously, it's great to get all these wonderful insights straight from the artists!

I got goosebumps when he picked up Rick's Gibson acoustic and starts playing Sailing...it sounded absolutely perfect. Inspirational.

Christopher Cross is a perfect example of how the best musicians on the planet are quite often the most humble. Another great interview from Rick. Would definitely love to hear Luke take a shot at that outro

If you asked me, "Which artist once filled in on no notice for Ritchie Blackmore as a young man", the last person I would have guessed is Christopher Cross...and I would have been dead wrong. This is an awesome, fun interview with a lot of great history.

Every time I hear Ride Like the Wind, I always sing along to the Michael McDonald part in Michael's voice. Such a classic track. For 72 years old, Christopher seems like he's 40 years old and still loving what he's doing. Great interview Rick.

Christopher’s debut album is one of the best pop albums ever. Pure musicianship.

Not only does he have an astonishing history and resume’, he has a kind, humble and sweet disposition. Not a bad word to say about anyone. Thank you for this interesting Rick! It’s a privilege to get to know a little more about Christopher Cross.

That’s My Brotha Right There ✌🏾🧔🏾‍♂️✌🏾

I would not have guessed Mr Cross to be age 72. This man is living right! This man's music/life history is worthy of a movie. I still feel his artistry and genius yet, untapped! Truly a great interview, Rick!

There again, another interview from Rick where you get to see the most musically erudite fan asking our heroes all things we hadn't realised we wanted to know, and getting a whole map of the artist's world. Christopher, same as Metheny and Scofield, comes across as a terribly humble person, an outstanding musician, quite the gear geek, and a remnant of a bygone era which was is so many ways better than today. Subbing for Ritchie Blackmore, getting an amp by recommendation of Jimmy Page, having a tape of Frank Zappa covering your song sent to your place by Zappa himself... WHAT A NETWORK and what a bag of anecdotes! THIS IS CONTENT.

I’m only 1/2 way through, and this is already the best interview I’ve ever seen.

Christopher seems such an easy chap to talk to. Friendly, warm and natural. He seems really nice

I love this, i am not a singer, i cant play instrument WHAT so ever.. but i cant stay away from these videos Rick makes. So nice studio, feels so warm and full of respect to music and history. All his guests are nice people, he teaches us stuff for free and we can just sit back and relax and tag along. Greetings from Sweden.

Rick Beato is keeping good music alive. I love this channel.

I was 10 years old in 1978 and I am 56 today...what a beautiful and relaxing song it is...Every time I listen to it it's like the first time again!!! ❤

Love Christopher Cross. His music is timeless

What a time capsule moment! Zappa, Page, Joni, Lukather, Johnson, diMeola, Chick, Carleton, Fagen, …all converging on Cross. Rick, this conversation is priceless and incredibly relevant, demonstrating how talent and hard work can catapult a career. Hoping that its possible even for someone like me. Cross” energy is like he’s 30 yrs old; another effect of music in the soul. Rick, we need your work to continue.

The guitar solo on Ride Like The Wind, unbelievable! I still know where I was when I first heard Sailing..!

Rick, and Chris are class acts. This was just a captivating interview I almost feel like I’m in the corner of the room with them listening.

You have to acknowledge Michael Omartian's contribution to that first record. His connection to the players, his keyboard playing, his string arrangements, his amazing production skill. What a talented guy! The tidbit about the strings for SAILING, CC's former brother in-law. That's a great story.

“It was forty years ago”. Wow! Christopher was something special and he didn’t ever give me the impression that he knew that he was. Wonderful voice, wonderful songs. And Rick, great interview. Thank you.

Christopher is one of those criminally underappreciated talents - a great songwriter and musician. His debut album ranks right up there with Moving Pictures, Dark Side of the Moon and the debut Boston album as records anyone who claims to love music must own. Like the others, I could listen to it all the way through, over and over, without getting tired of it. Outstanding interview. Another feather in your cap, Rick!

THIS IS sooooo INCREDIBLE !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Thank you Rick and Cristopher Cross 💕

At 72, Christopher has not lost a thing. Great interview. I remember when the debut album dropped and had to get it. What a great production. Omartian produced a gem. Not a bad song on the entire album.

This dude is 72. 72!! Definitely young at heart for sure! Great interview. Love the resonance in his voice. Some nice 6 degree connections there also. Keep 'em coming!

This did not disappoint! I was absolutely struck by his down to earthiness and humility. I’ve been looking forward to this since the FB photo. Great interview, Rick. Thanks!

His first album is pure magic, a sound so unique and beautiful...

Hey Rick, you are absolutely right. Whenever I went shopping for new records, it wasn't just the artist who's name was on the album that attracted me, it was the list of players in the studio that impressed me more. Michael McDonald is certainly one of those artists that will always punch up anyone's music.

You are seriously one of the best interviewers alive today. You create rapport and never make it about yourself. Love these.

What an excellent conversation, Rick. It was over in a flash, and I learned how awesome Christopher Cross is. Just as telling is that I learned how awesome is everyone with whom he's worked. What a humble, gracious guy. I played Ride Like the Wind at my first bar gig in 1981. Loved it then; now I finally understand why the band sounds like Steely Dan.

I was 19 when sailing came on the radio in 1979/80 and I'm a huge hard rock fan but his songs are so beautiful with strings and horns, classic music period.

Christopher Cross is 72 but doesn't look a day over 40

Christopher Cross is an exceptional player, an accomplished songwriter, and generally a sweet guy. I love his interviews because he is able to play the line between the braggart and the humble guy with equal measure. He doesn't have any arrogance, and he realizes how fortunate he really is. What a treasure to have this interview.

I'm at work listening to this interview on my earbuds, and when he picked up the guitar and started playing 'Sailing', I started crying. My childhood came flooding back and I couldn't help it. It was embarrassing to cry at work, but it hit me out of the blue. Wow 😲

I grew up listening this music , and it makes me fly to my past, thx Rick for all this interviews God Bless you

Sailing ⛵️ is and has always been one of my all time favorite pieces of music. And I love Christopher Cross! Thank you so much!

I'm in a local band in Austin, TX where Chris lives. One of the first songs I remember hearing was Sailing. We were playing for a birthday party one night and low and behold I see Christopher Cross sitting in the back listening with a hug smile on his face. I was dumbstruck. He came up afterword and complimented the band. He just started talking music and trading stories. Like he was just a normal local musician. We spoke for like an hour just shooting the breeze. A few weeks later he showed up to a show we were doing. Just a straight up humble guy.

CC is actually a MONSTER player with a very humble demeanor.

I was 24 years old in 1979, and when I first heard his music I was blown away. Listening to his music brings back many good memories of that time in my life. Thank you.

What a great interview. You guys just clicked perfectly. Christopher is so humble, yet so talented. No wonder everyone wanted to play with him. That was fabulous!

Been looking forward to this interview for a while. Mad respect for Chris’ songwriting and musicianship. Love how quiet his hands are while he’s soloing away-very efficient. “Speak softly but carry a big stick” applies here. Cool guy, too. Impressive how he’s battled back from GBS in recent years.👏👏

Great interview. I was captivated throughout. Love Christopher's music.

Love the way Rick conducts an interview bring up a topic and then just let the guest start talking and let's them just keep on talking. Rick's The Best!!

One of the most prolific and successful singer/songwriters of the early 80s, which is even more incredible considering that decade of music, and dominated the 81 Grammy's. Always great to see him get more love after all these years. His music is timeless

Chris, I was in the audience in the summer of 1980 when you played Alpine Valley opening for the Eagles. Jackson Browne joined the Eagles on stage as well. Your music has blown me away from the beginning. Just a big thanks for the joy of it all.

Christopher Cross is very talented, I love his work!

Rick, please don’t ever stop making these great videos! It’s like hanging out with old friends listening to tunes like the good ol days. Great work!

Outstanding interview. Great guy. Super talented. Vastly underrated.

AWESOOOOOOME interview… it took me a while to get through it because I kept stopping to listen to the referenced songs… Chris is one of the greats

Rick has figured out a way to bottle pure joy. This and every other interview I have seen Team Beato do with remarkable musical humans is it.

This is amazing! I figured Chris Cross to be a nerd playing pop tunes in the rock era and yet he knew EVERYONE who was ANYONE back then. It really opened my eyes!

Interviewing has become Rick's super power. His guests appear to genuinely appreciate being interviewed, and Rick's knowledge gets them to open up.

That was Fantastic,He had great Stories,🎶🎸🎼

Christopher Cross is a true national treasure. Where would "Arthur" have been without that theme song? What would the 80s have been like without "Sailing" and "Ride Like the Wind" and "Never Be the Same" and "All Right"? A true master songwriter amd humble soul. We're so lucky to have him.

Ive seen him twice live and he is as good as ever. Absolutely brilliant and criminally underrated songwriter and singer (and guitar player). Love this so much. Amazing interview!

To echo what many have already said, this interview should have lasted hours. It was that good! You did a masterful job of conducting it, getting Chris to open up in ways I've never seen before. I learned so much about his life as a musician, including many fascinating tidbits of how he crafted some of his most legendary songs and albums. As a long-time Christopher Cross fan, I've been yearning for such an in-depth interview. You hit this one out of the park, Rick!