By Mary Simon. Originally published in The Magazine. Page 7,
October 1983.
republished in Entertaining Tucson Across the Decades, Volume 1, page 149
- Bonus photos of Crosswind from Entertainment Magazine's archives
- Updates from Crosswind Members
This page is from the 3-volume set of "Entertaining Tucson Across the Decades," Download a free,
100 page, special edition digital PDF sample of selections from all
three volumes, including the full Table of Contents, Indexes and a
samples of historical articles and photographs. "Entertaining Tucson Highlights.
Crosswind
in performance, September 1983. The Magazine photo by Mary Simon.
Entertainment Magazine archive. (Note: The photo published in Volume 1
of Entertaining Tucson Across the Decades is incorrect. The above photo
is correct.)
If talent, drive and determination are enough to make a local band
succeed, three local Santa Rita High alumni, Crosswind (that’s singular,
folks) are well on their way.
Bassist Charles Faucher, 23; vocalist/guitarist Terry Harper, 19, and percussionist Ross Smith,
18, are paying their dues in local clubs with covers of everything
you’ve heard on FM airwaves and a smattering of original songs written
by lyricist Harper. All of the members collaborate on the new music with
Harper providing the lead lines.
Both
Harper and Faucher agree they would like to include more original music
in their sets but feel that will come with time and exposure.
“Established bands have followings,” explains Smith, referring to the band’s preponderance of Top 40 covers, new and old.
“Groups
get stale real fast. We get together two or three times a week to
practice and learn new music,” says Faucher. This in itself supports the
professional attitude Crosswind displays on stage. Each band member
works or goes to school full time when not playing music.
Because
they play for the crowd, not just to it, Crosswind encourages–
practically begs– for requests. They clearly want to please their
audience. Judging from the small, but enthusiastic crowd recently at
Tequila Mockingbird, they do.
“I have the napkins people bring up with requests on them at home,”
says Faucher. “That way, we keep current with what people want to hear
what they are listening to.” If Faucher is the conscience of the group,
Harper is the heart, the diminutive drummer, Smith, is certainly the
soul. He flails away at his drum kit like there was no tomorrow. It is
in Smith’s Solid, kinetic push, coupled with the versatile, crystalline
voice of Harper, that makes the band so danceable.
From
Dan Fogelberg to .38 Special, the Kinks to Bryan Adams, these guys have
it and they give it. Their original songs, “Can’t Get You Off My Mind,”
“Catch a Dream” and “Suddenly” also pack power.
Updates of Crosswind Members
(2018) Charles Faucher, one
of the original three who continued playing music, up until about 5
years ago, when he decided to spend his extra time with Furious Slides www.FuriousSlides.com, producer of titanium guitar slides. "It
took me six years of countless hours of research and development to
come up with what I truly believe is a totally unique slide, and without
a doubt, one of the finest guitar slides on the planet, " says Charles.
(2018) Terry Harper went back to the U of A to get his computer engineer degree.
Bonus Photos of Crosswind from the Entertainment Magazine Archives:
Terry Harper of Crosswind, September 1983. Photo by Mary Simon, the Magazine. From the Entertainment Magazine archives.
Crosswind April 1986 performance schedule flier. Entertainment Magazine archives.
Crosswind, unknown performance. Entertainment Magazine archives.
Crosswind, unknown date. Entertainment Magazine archives.
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three volumes, including the full Table of Contents, Indexes and a
samples of historical articles and photographs. "Entertaining Tucson Highlights.
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