David Cross (musician)

David Cross (born 23 April 1949 in Turnchapel near Plymouth, England) is an English electric violinist and keyboardist best known for playing with progressive rock band King Crimson from 1972 to 1974.[1] Cross appears on their studio albums Larks' Tongues in Aspic (1973) and Starless and Bible Black (1974), as well as “Providence”, a live track on Red (1974), in addition to numerous concert recordings that have been released by Robert Fripp's Discipline Global Mobile label in the decades since, including USA (1975) and The Night Watch (1997).

After his time with King Crimson, Cross travelled extensively, eventually returning to music through his work in theatre. In 1987 he formed an ensemble called Low Flying Aircraft with Keith Tippett on piano. In 1988, he was invited by keyboardist Geoff Serle to join Radius, with whom he has recorded five studio albums.

Since the late 1980s, he has toured and recorded with his own eponymous band (see below). Over a 30 year period, the group has included saxophonist Pete McPhail, guitarists Paul Clark and Peter Claridge, bassists Simon Murrell, John Dillon (who also sang lead vocals) and Mick Paul, drummers Dan Maurer, Lloyd, Craig Blundell, Steve Roberts and Pat Garvey, keyboardists Sheila Maloney and Alex Hall, and lead singers Arch Stanton and Jinian Wilde. Former King Crimson musicians Robert Fripp, Pat Mastelotto and the late John Wetton, as well as former Crimson lyricists Peter Sinfield and Richard Palmer-James have all contributed to David’s albums.

Prominent session work includes recordings with Clearlight, Jade Warrior and Tony Levin’s Stick Men (with whom Cross toured).

Recently, Cross has released a series of duo recordings with Robert Fripp, Andrew Keeling, Andrew Booker (of No-Man), David Jackson (formerly of Van der Graaf Generator) and the late Peter Banks (formerly of Yes), the latter two including a full band.

Cross has composed music for theatre and also worked as an actor. He runs his own record label, Noisy Records.