Benny Sings celebrates Christopher Cross’ catalog with a laid-back, groove-heavy take on Cross’ #1 single, “Sailing” | Shore Fire Media

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11 October, 2023Print

Benny Sings celebrates Christopher Cross’ catalog with a laid-back, groove-heavy take on Cross’ #1 single, “Sailing”

Benny Sings celebrates Christopher Cross’ catalog with a laid-back, groove-heavy take on Cross’ #1 single, “Sailing”

B-side features Cross’ early demo of the tune

Available on streaming HERE

Benny Sings (Photo Credit: Yaz Dinaully)

Seeker Music, the music company founded by hit songwriter Evan Bogart, is releasing a cover of Christopher Cross’ career-making hit “Sailing” by Benny Sings today, 10/11, alongside Cross’ rare original demo of the song. Seeker acquired Christopher Cross’ catalog earlier this year and is introducing a new generation of listeners to his music. Oozing with understated funk, Benny’s version of “Sailing” shines a new light on this classic track; Cross’ early demo of the song is also available on streaming platforms for the first time ever.

Watch the music video for Benny’s rendition HERE

“Sailing”, the 2nd single from Christopher Cross, catapulted his career to immediate success and is to this day considered one of the greatest soft-rock songs of all time. Upon its release in 1979, “Sailing” hit #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart and played a pivotal role in Cross being the first artist ever to win the “Big Four” Grammy Awards in a single year in 1980 (to be matched only by Billie Eilish and Adele).

Benny Sings, who released his latest album “Young Hearts” earlier this year, has collaborated with the likes of Mayer Hawthorn, The Free Nationals, Mac DeMarco, and more and is currently on a headline tour across the US and EU through to November. Sings is not the first artist to take on “Sailing” with ‘N Sync releasing their cover alongside a performance at the 1999 Blockbuster Awards, and notable covers/samples by Puff Daddy, and R&B singer Avant.

Sings said, "Christopher Cross’ debut album “Christopher Cross” has always been on high rotation at my place. This brand of music is rare. To hear a man sing like this and come so close to what I feel pop music should be, has always inspired my own journey as an artist. Having this opportunity to rework not just one of his songs, but the ultimate classic “Sailing,” is very exciting."

Seeker's 2023 celebration campaign for Christopher Cross exemplifies the unique approach the company employs in catalog marketing. Seeker stands out by taking rights they've acquired and revitalizing them for modern audiences through fresh, inventive means. Unlike companies that merely amass catalogs, Seeker treats their catalog artists like new artists and tries to back them with unique and imaginative marketing strategies. Established in 2020, this distinctive approach has allowed Seeker to amass an impressive catalog of 14,000 copyrights and master recordings in just three years.

“Every day at Seeker we dream up ways that we can continuously celebrate the genius that is Christopher Cross”, proclaims Bogart. “‘Sailing’ is one of the most timeless songs of the last half-century. The way that Benny has reimagined and breathed new life into it is so authentic and effortless, it's like it was always supposed to sound this way." 

About Seeker:

Seeker Music is a modern-day music company bringing a creator-led business model and perspective to the worlds of publishing, records and management. Founded in 2020 in Los Angeles by chart-topping songwriter Evan “Kidd” Bogart (“Halo”), Seeker follows a creative-first focus in everything it does, focusing on catalogs and music creators that most inspire Bogart and his creative team.

After three years in business, Seeker has already amassed a catalog of over 14,000 highly-curated copyrights and recordings, including the full works of Charlotte Caffey (The Go-Gos, “We Got the Beat”) and Christopher Cross (“Sailing”, “Ride Like The Wind”), Run the Jewels’ first three albums, the catalogs of modern day hitmakers Jon Belllion, Mozella, John Ryan, Future Cut, RuthAnne, Sam Watters and Teddy Geiger (via the Bunettas’ Family Affair), and classic copyrights performed by the likes of Miley Cyrus, Beyoncé, Rihanna, Drake, Eminem, SWV, One Direction, DMX, Nelly, 2Pac and many more.

Alongside Bogart, the company is led by an executive team consisting of CFO Jennifer Scher, COO Rob Guthrie, CRO Jennifer Blakeman, Global Head of Creative Steven Melrose, and General Counsel Dan Stuart, and works with a Board chaired by John Smith (BBC, Burberry), representing key investors M&G.

 

For more information, contact Hannah Schwartz at Shore Fire Media (hschwartz@shorefire.com)