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Seattle-based author and journalist Charles R. Cross passed away on August 9. Cross, who was 67, died due to natural causes. He was a renowned music writer and the biographer of American musician Kurt Cobain. The journalist also served as the editor of the student-run newspaper The Rocket.
The news was shared by Cross’s family. Sharing pictures of both of them, his son took to his father’s Facebook page to disclose the news.
“Hey folks, Ashland here. Sorry to confirm such terrible news – my dad passed away peacefully in his sleep of natural causes early Friday morning, August 9. Thank you all for your outpouring of love and support at this time. Dad, long may you run.”
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Charles R. Cross also founded Backstreet Magazine, a periodical that covered the music of Bruce Springsteen. Kurt Cobain’s biography, written by Cross, was published in 2001. The biography provides an insight into the late musician’s heart and mind.
It was compiled after more than 400 interviews and includes quotes from the musician's diaries and suicide notes which put some of the myths associated with Kurt Cobain to rest. The Los Angeles Times called it one of the most moving books ever written about a rock star. It also won the 2002 ASCAP Award for Outstanding Musical Biography.
Fans of Charles R. Cross mourn his death
Soon after the news of his death broke out, his fans took to social media to pay their tributes. Charles R. Cross was an influential figure in the music community of Seattle. His work for The Rocket has been crucial. He was a well-read person and had a deeper understanding of music.
“It's impossible to imagine the music or community of seattle in the 80s and 90s without charles r. cross. he influenced or enabled practically every story, relationship, and musicians wanted ad in the city for decades. i'm eternally grateful. may his name be a blessing”, wrote one X user.
“Charley Cross.. Charles Cross. Whadda one of a kind guy. His passion and purpose was to make it his life’s work to celebrate and chronicle the beautiful global renaissance that started with our local Seattle music scene..”, wrote rock musician and Heart vocalist Nancy Wilson.
“Very sad to hear Charles Cross died. Heavier Than Heaven is a fantastic book. can’t believe the same guy wrote that, founded Backstreets, edited The Rocket (& lots more). browsing The Rocket this cover caught my eye, would have come out just after I moved to Seattle. RIP”, an X user wrote.
Charles R. Cross has published nine books in his lifetime. Some of his works include Room Full of Mirrors: The Biography of Jimi Hendrix; Backstreets: Springsteen, the Man and His Music; and We Each Get a Turn. The first book was a bestselling one in 2005. He was an alumnus of the University of Washington, where he studied creative writing.
