In a surprising turn of events during a Deep Purple concert, Ritchie Blackmore fell ill with food poisoning, necessitating an unexpected substitute guitarist, which provided Eric Johnson the unique opportunity to cross paths with Christopher Cross.
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In the vibrant music scene of the 1970s, two talented musicians, Eric Johnson and Christopher Cross, crossed paths. Their collaboration on Cross' debut album, released in 1979, marked the beginning of a fruitful friendship and a significant milestone in both their careers.
Before embarking on his solo journey, Eric Johnson was a member of the band Mariani. The band even had the opportunity to open for Deep Purple, during which Johnson met Cross for the first time. It was this shared connection in the music industry that laid the foundation for their future collaboration.
Christopher Cross' self-titled debut album, which includes the track "Minstrel Gigolo," was a resounding success, establishing Cross in the soft rock/yacht rock genre. Johnson's guitar work on the song added a distinctive flavour to Cross' smooth melodic style, merging Johnson’s virtuosic technique with Cross’ polished songwriting and vocal style. This partnership showcased Johnson’s skill on a broader platform during the rise of Cross’ career, reflecting their mutual respect.
Johnson played guitar on several tracks of Cross's debut album, including "Minstrel Gigolo," which helped launch Cross' career with the hit song Sailing. After this collaboration, Cross and Johnson developed a friendship that continued to flourish.
Johnson's solo career began a couple of years later, after doing session work and the disbandment of the Electromagnets. He released his debut solo album, Tones, in 1986.
In recent times, Johnson has discussed his G3 reunion with Joe Satriani and Steve Vai in an interview with Guitarist. Johnson, known for his belief that the limits of the guitar have yet to be reached, continues to push the boundaries of his craft.
In the early days, Cross was often seen with a Gibson Flying V and long hair. Despite their initial meeting being rooted in professional circles, their interaction led to a creative friendship that has been celebrated as a key example of the interplay between accomplished session musicians and emerging solo artists during that era.
The collaboration between Eric Johnson and Christopher Cross on "Minstrel Gigolo" remains a memorable moment in the history of music, showcasing the power of mutual respect and shared talent in fostering creative partnerships.
- During his time with the band Mariani, Eric Johnson met Christopher Cross for the first time, as they shared the stage opening for Deep Purple.
- Johnson's unique guitar work added a distinctive flavor to Cross' smooth melodic style on the song "Minstrel Gigolo," from Cross' debut album.
- Prior to embarking on his solo career, Cross was often seen with a Gibson Flying V and long hair, embodying the spirit of pop-culture in the music industry.
- Achieving significant success with his debut album, Cross established himself in the soft rock/yacht rock genre, with the hit song "Sailing."
- After their initial collaboration, Cross and Johnson developed a friendship that continued to flourish over the years, reflecting their mutual respect for each other's skills.
- Today, Eric Johnson continues to push the boundaries of his craft as he discusses his G3 reunion and the endless possibilities of guitar technique in interviews, contributing to the ongoing evolution of music and pop-culture.
