Skip to main content

The Yankee Express

Justin Hayward and Christopher Cross to perform at Indian Ranch

Justin Hayward

Two of the most iconic voices in rock are coming to Indian Ranch. The voice of The Moody Blues Justin Hayward and five-time Grammy Award Winner Christopher Cross will perform at the Webster Sunday, July 7. Tickets are on sale now at www.indianranch.com. A limited number of Low Dough Early Bird General Admission tickets will be available for just $32.50 through March 8th, while supplies last.

Having chalked up over fifty years at the peak of the music and entertainment industry. Justin Hayward voice has been heard the world over.  Known principally as the vocalist, lead guitarist and composer for the Moody Blues, he is an enduring talent that has helped to define the times in which he worked. Over the years the band has sold more than fifty-five million albums and received numerous awards. In 2018, along with the other members of The Moody Blues, Justin was inducted into the legendary Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

Born and brought up in Swindon in the UK early when his grandfather bequeathed him his large collection of 78 rpm recordings. 

“It opened a world of imagination to me,” says Hayward.  Having taught himself to play the ukulele, he soon progressed to guitar and by his early teens he was playing in local groups.  Upon leaving school at 17 he answered an advertisement in Melody Maker newspaper and successfully auditioned for UK Rock and Roll hero Marty Wilde.

 “I got the job playing guitar for Marty – it was a dream come true for me,” he said. He credits Marty with encouraging him to become a songwriter; he made several recordings with Marty’s ‘Wilde Three’ and also appeared with them at the London Palladium.  They remain close friends to this day: “Marty is still my hero,” Hayward said.

Having released a couple of solo singles, he joined the Moody Blues in the summer of 1966. Hitting his stride immediately with the single “Fly Me High,” he followed it up with the classic hit songs “Nights in White Satin” and “Tuesday Afternoon” from the seminal album Days of Future Passed.” The album went on to become a favorite of the NASA astronauts and was taken aboard the Atlantis shuttle spacecraft by chief astronaut “Hoot” Gibson on many missions.

Hayward created other classic, era and genre-defining hits “Question,” “The Voice,” “The Story in Your Eyes,” “I Know You’re Out There Somewherei” and “Your Wildest Dreams.” These laid the foundation for the incredible success story of the Moody Blues – as well as his solo work – which continues to this day.

Christopher Cross burst onto the music scene with his 1980 self-titled debut album, winning five Grammy Awards, including—for the first time in Grammy history—the “Big Four” most prestigious awards: Record of the Year (for the single “Sailing”), Album of the Year, Song of the Year (also “Sailing”), and Best New Artist.

In a career spanning more than four decades, Cross has sold over 10 million albums. His music has garnered five Grammys, an Oscar, a Golden Globe, an Emmy nomination and five Top 10 singles.  

Within a year of the first album’s release, Cross joined music royalty Burt Bacharach to write “Arthur’s Theme,” for the movie Arthur, which won an Academy Award for Best Song. With his 1983 release, Another Page”, Cross was again in the Top 10 with the singles “All Right” and “Think of Laura.” His song, “Swept Away,” composed for the hit television series, Growing Pains, was nominated for an Emmy.

Cross started his own label and, since 2007, has released 8 albums of new material, including “A Christopher Cross Christmas” and “The Café Carlyle Sessions”, jazz treatments of hits and favorites born out of a residency at the famous Hotel Carlyle in New York City. “Take Me as I Am” released in 2018, features richly-crafted melodies and elegant guitar work.  The latest project for Christopher Cross Records is aptly titled “The Complete Works”. Released in 2020, it celebrates his 40th anniversary as a recording artist and is a collection of all 12 previously-released CDs, one CD of singles and bonus tracks, and a pink vinyl containing one track from each album chosen by Christopher.   

Indian Ranch offers music lovers a chance to see some of the greatest country, classic rock and pop bands steps from Lake Chargoggagoggmanchauggagoggchaubunagungamaugg. Nestled between pine trees, the amphitheater offers the ability to see the stage from anywhere in the audience. More than a concert venue, Indian Ranch opened Samuel Slater’s Restaurant and is also home to the Indian Princess paddlewheeler and Indian Ranch Campground. 

Tickets are on sale now for Justin Hayward and Christopher Cross on Sunday, July 7. A limited number of Early Bird GA tickets will be available for just $32.50, until March 8th. Gates open at 11:30 a.m. and show time is 1p.m.. Tickets are available online at indianranch.com, by calling 1-800-514-ETIX (3849) or at the Indian Ranch Box Office.  All events are rain or shine. No refunds. Indian Ranch is located at 200 Gore Road in Webster.