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http://www.goldminemag.com/article/theres-singer-songwriter-christopher-cross-meets-eye

Interesting that he said it was Carl who asked him to come to the studio to sing on "Night Time", kinda weird.

If you remove from the text all the names he drops, there's only seventeen-and-a-half word left :lol

Nice interview really, he comes across as a nice guy genuinely amazed at the spheres his hard-won career took him into.

Interesting article...but why would Jon Lord, Mick Fleetwood and Jimmy Page deny all the incidents Mr Cross mentions ?

Maybe, because they did thousands of shows over their career and can't remember every one. That Cross went by his real name Geppert, so nothing super monumental to remember. Do you really think Mick Fleetwood remembers every driver that ever drove him to and from venues and hotels?

Very cool to read about the love and respect that Cross holds for Carl & Brian, and that Michael McDonald listens to Surf's Up. :)

Oh yes, I agree - their memories may be fading over age and time, and they might not remember certain people and events, but surely Jon Lord would've remembered that Deep Purple played their 1st US show with a substitute guitarist ?

Interesting interview. That's the first time I'd ever seen anyone use the words "nice" or "humble" referring to Don Henley

Nice interview! Never knew about the Ritchie Blackmore thing.

Really interesting interview. He's still a huge fan of music, which is nice to see after you hear from people who are so jaded. His insights into the BB are pretty revealing, it just shows how highly regarded they were by other musicians.

I hope he records his Carl tribute album sometime. Really, year in year out, I think it's fair to say Carl was the best singer in the band. Not at all time, of course-early on Brian was unbeatable, but from the time that Brian drew away until he died, Carl was usually the man. Now it's Al.

 Now it's Al.


AGREED

Remember too, it may not have been put to Jon Lord as "substitute guitarist", but as "Christopher Cross as guest guitarist".

'Five time Grammy winner'  How come everyone except Brian seems to have won multiple Grammys?  How on earth did he not win any in his prime?  I would genuinely like to know.  I've seen people say before that the Grammys mean nothing, but Brian was acclaimed as a genius songwriter in his day, and was hugely popular - surely one or the other ought to have bagged him a Grammy at some time before Mrs O' Leary?
 

Christopher Cross had some big hits in the '80s. Brian has never had a really big hit as a solo, and when the Beach Boys were big in the '60s, the Grammy people were older folks from the Frank Sinatra era and didn't like giving awards to rock and contemporary Top 40 acts.

This one's always been my favorite:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=010KyIQjkTk

Really great interview. Thanks so much for posting the link.

I was at the Carl Wilson Walk in 2000 where Christopher Cross was a featured performer. I'll never forget the first thing he said when he came on stage. "Brian Wilson taught me how to write songs and Carl Wilson taught me how to sing." Just like he stated in the interview. I also got to hold one of the first Carl Wilson Rickenbacker 12-strings that Billy Hinsche had brought to the beach at Malibu. If I had been a guitarist  and had an extra $5000 (or whatever it was going for) I would have bought one.

He clearly loved and respected Carl and it's so nice to hear him remind everyone of not only what an incredible musical legacy he left us all with, but what an incredible human being he was.

I was listening to a "Dukes Of September" concert from 2010 from here in Atlanta, they are Michael McDonald, Donald Fagen and Boz Scaggs. One of the encores is "Help me Rhonda" don't know if it was McDonald's idea, Boz sings it!

Thanks for this response - that makes what seems incredible more understandable.

That's one of the most uplifting interviews I've ever read.  Cross obviously loved Carl (and Brian) and was truly humbled by being welcomed into their inner circle.  His recollections of Carl confirm what so many of us already know – that Carl Wilson wasn't just a great singer, he was truly a wonderful human being.