http://ultimateclassicrock.com/christopher-cross-ritchie-blackmore-deep-purple-show/
Sonuvagun. Who'd a thunk it? :o
I now remember reading that a while ago, had forgotten about it,
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I7f3AD8N0ps
The conventional wisdom among DP trainspotters is that it happened and that Jon Lord just forgot about it among the blur of US tours they did. And why not, Randy California deputized for Ritchie some other time.
I like Christopher Cross' music, always did. There I said it. The Flamingo pictures got silly, but I always liked his melodic sense coupled with that trace of a jazzy touch. It's very well-crafted easy listening, the kind of stuff you Yanks excel at.
He was also the original owner of SRV's "number one" Strat.
Uh, Christopher that is... not Ritchie.