CHRISTOPHER CROSS 
Christopher Cross – who had several hits in the early 1980’s including “Sailing” and got the Grammy in 1980 for Best New Artist – also had some involvement with the Homer album Grown in U.S.A. (Christopher Cross was born on May 3, 1951, same as me!). Chet Himes exited Homer in 1974 to become a recording engineer and worked with Christopher Cross as well as Ted Nugent. (September 2011) * * * Gary Crapster then left the band and was replaced on drums by Gene Coleman; Phil Bepko also joined as a second lead vocalist. By this point, “album rock” was looming large on the FM radio band, and Homer recognized that the old days of the 45 single were on their way out. Chet Himes and Chris Geppert set up a small recording studio in the back of Himes’ parents’ house and began working on the Homer LP. Chris Geppert later changed his name and gained considerable fame as Christopher Cross. The album was recorded in a little less than a year; most of the work was done at Himes’ studio, but some of the recording was done at other professional recording studios in Texas.
Past UARB Ultra was every bit as different from Homer as the Outcasts; this hard rock band grew out of the final line-up of Homer, with Galen Niles and Don Evans joining the new band. Chet Himes continued his career as a recording engineer, working with Ted Nugent, Carole King, Christopher Cross, and others. Van Wilks left to start a solo career.
(April 2014)
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