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Los Angeles Times
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Los Angeles Times
Lou Christie, singer-songwriter who hit No. 1 with ‘Lightnin' Strikes,' dies at 82
Lou Christie, the singer and songwriter who set teen fans screaming in the 1960s with hits like 'Lightnin' Strikes' and 'Two Faces Have I,' has died. He was 82. Christie died at his home in Pittsburgh after a short illness, his family said Wednesday in an announcement on social media. 'He was cherished not only by his family and close friends, but also by countless fans whose lives he touched with his kindness and generosity, artistic and musical talent, humor and spirit. His absence leaves a profound void in all our hearts. He will be greatly missed, always remembered, and forever loved,' the statement read. Christie was born Lugee Alfredo Giovanni Sacco on Feb. 19, 1943, in Glenwillard, Pa., and took on his stage name, courtesy of a local music producer, when he was a still a teen. Soon he would meet his decades-older songwriting collaborator Twyla Herbert, a classically trained but eccentric musician who died in 2009, and together they would write almost all of his songs and hundreds more for other artists. In Pennsylvania, Christie recorded and released a single, 'The Gypsy Cried,' that became a local hit in the Pittsburgh area. He moved to New York, got work as a backup singer and eventually wound up touring with Dick Clark's Cavalcade of Stars, sitting on a bus with Diana Ross and other standouts. 'I was with Gene Pitney and Johnny Tillotson, the Supremes, Paul and Paula, Dick and Dee Dee, the Crystals, the Ronettes, Fabian, Frankie Avalon,' the singer told writer Gary James for 'To me, this was my graduating class and still is today.' Christie's fans screamed over his signature falsetto when 'Two Faces Have I' made it to No. 6 on the Billboard 100 in 1963, the year he released his self-titled first album. He spent two years in the U.S. Army and upon his return released the single 'Lightnin' Strikes.' The song, off the 1965 album of the same name, hit No. 1 on that chart in 1966. He stirred up a bit of scandal with the 1966 song 'Rhapsody in Rain,' with lyrics that at the time were considered explicit: Baby the raindrops play for me / A lonely rhapsody 'cause on our first date / We were makin' out in the rain / And in this car our love went much too far / It was exciting as thunder / Tonight I wonder where you are' and 'Baby, I'm parked outside your door / Remember makin' love, makin' love, we were makin' love in the storm.' The tune topped out at No. 16 on the charts. His array of album releases grew with 'I'm Gonna Make You Mine' in 1969, 'Paint America Love' in 1971, 'Pledging My Love' in 1997 and more records over the years. The life of a teen idol in the early 1960s was a mix of dismissal and adulation, according to peer Fabian Forte, who performed as Fabian and toured with Christie in rock 'n' roll revival shows in the 1980s. 'They laughed at us. They wouldn't take us seriously as artists,' Forte told The Times in 1985, talking about music critics in the 1950s and early '60s. But, he added, 'Don't get me wrong. It wasn't all bad. For a teen-age boy, you can imagine what it was like having all those girls drooling over you. That was heaven.' The teen idols of that era faded with the British Invasion, but Christie didn't fade with them. 'I hit the end of that whole era,' Christie told writer James for 'I've always been between the cracks of rock 'n' roll, I felt. The missing link. ... We had the teenage idols. We had Frankie Avalon. We had Fabian. That thing was just about closing down when a lot of my records started hitting. ... They all disappeared, but my records kept going through that English Invasion.' In addition to releasing more music later in life, Christie would offer up his vocal talents to help raise money for causes including the Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation and a rock 'n' roll retirement home for artists from the '50s and '60s planned by the Starlight Starbright foundation. And in those years after his No. 1 spotlight had dimmed, Christie still knew how to put smiles on fans' faces, as evidenced after a performance at a festival at Magic Mountain in 1985. The event began late on one of the hottest days of the year after its lineup and schedule had switched around repeatedly leading up to the concert and the promoter had gone missing. Some acts that concert-goers expected to see wound up not performing — but Christie was not one of them. 'I'm really glad the show turned out well,' Christie told The Times in 1985, lounging in his trailer after his set at the 'Spirit of the '60s' festival. 'I tell you, I was going crazy with this thing — on, off, on again, off again. I had to cancel some dates I had arranged for after this was canceled the first time. But' — and a big smile crossed his face — 'they got their show, all right. The baby boomers really dug it. Even people backstage enjoyed it.' A representative for the singer did not immediately respond Thursday to The Times' request for comment.
Perth Now
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Perth Now
Legendary '60s star dead at 82
Lou Christie has died at the age of 82. The legendary '60s star - who is best known for the chart-topping 1966 hit Lightnin' Strikes - died on June 17, 2025, at his home in Pittsburgh after a brief illness, his wife, Francesca, confirmed to The Hollywood Reporter. Christie's other hits included The Gypsy Cried, Two Faces Have I, Rhapsody in the Rain, and I'm Gonna Make You Mine. Known for his towering falsetto, the singer-songwriter was born Lugee Alfredo Giovanni Sacco and worked as a session vocalist. His stage name was given to him by the producer of The Gypsy Cried, music executive Nick Cenci. At the age of 15, he became friends with Twyla Herbert, a classically trained musician 20 years his senior, who became his regular songwriting partner and wrote hundreds of songs with him over three decades, until her death in 2009. Christie made numerous TV appearances in the '60s, including on Where the Action Is, American Bandstand and The Buddy Deane Show. Christie's 1963 track How Many Teardrops only made it to No. 46 in the US, and his career was stalled by his induction into the Army. His next hit happened to be his biggest, Lightnin' Strikes, released in late 1965, it topped the Billboard Hot 100 in February 1966. Christie's hit Rhapsody in the Rain was infamously banned from radio for its racy lyrics, but later returned to the airwaves. Huge names including Sir Elton John and Billy Joel have cited Christie as an influence. Tributes have started rolling in for Christie, with Johnny Rock and Roll Radio writing: "It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Lou Christie, the unforgettable voice behind some of the most iconic soft-rock pop hits of the 1960s. Christie passed away on June 17, 2025, at the age of 82."
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Bad Bunny Slams ICE Over Raids in Puerto Rico: 'Those Motherf***ers'
Bad Bunny is slamming Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers for making arrests in Puerto Rico. The Grammy-winning rapper and singer, whose real name is Benito Antonio Martínez Ocasio, took to his Instagram Story to share a since-deleted video (due to Stories disappearing after 24 hours) of the ICE operation in Avenida Pontezuela, Carolina. More from The Hollywood Reporter Justin Bieber Addresses His Trauma: "My Anger Is a Response to Pain" BTS Is Back: K-pop Supergroup's Anniversary Ushers in Long-Awaited Reunion Lou Christie, "Lightnin' Strikes" and "Rhapsody in the Rain" Singer, Dies at 82 'Those motherfuckers are in these cars, RAV-4s,' Bad Bunny can be heard saying in Spanish over the footage. 'They're here in Pontezuela. Sons of bitches, instead of letting the people alone and working.' Since President Donald Trump's return to the White House earlier this year, his administration has prioritized cracking down on alleged immigration violations. The New York Times reported that more than 500 people have been detained by federal authorities in Puerto Rico, a U.S. territory, with nearly three-quarters of those arrested from the Dominican Republic. Ongoing protests have erupted across the nation, including New York and Los Angeles, against the unlawful immigration ICE raids. In response to the L.A. protests, Trump deployed California's National Guard to quell the demonstrations. However, California Gov. Gavin Newsom pushed back, formally requesting that the Trump Administration 'rescind their unlawful deployment of troops in Los Angeles County and return them to my command.' The case is currently making its way through the courts, with the appeals court temporarily blocking a federal judge's order that directed Trump to return control of National Guard troops back to the state. In a Tuesday hearing, the federal appeals court appeared inclined to side with Trump, the Times reported, though a ruling has yet to be made on the matter. Shakira also recently spoke out about the 'constant fear' that immigrants face in the United States today amid Trump's aggressive policies. 'It's painful to see,' the Colombian-born singer told BBC News. 'Now, more than ever, we have to remain united. Now, more than ever, we have to raise our voices and make it very clear that a country can change its immigration policies, but the treatment of all people must always be humane.' Best of The Hollywood Reporter Most Anticipated Concert Tours of 2025: Beyoncé, Billie Eilish, Kendrick Lamar & SZA, Sabrina Carpenter and More Hollywood's Most Notable Deaths of 2025 Hollywood's Highest-Profile Harris Endorsements: Taylor Swift, George Clooney, Bruce Springsteen and More
Scottish Sun
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Scottish Sun
Lou Christie dead: Lightnin' Strikes & Rhapsody in the Rain singer has died at 82 after battling short illness
STAR LOST Lou Christie dead: Lightnin' Strikes & Rhapsody in the Rain singer has died at 82 after battling short illness Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) ICONIC songwriter Lou Christie has died, aged 82. The Lightnin' Strikes & Rhapsody in the Rain singer passed away at his home in Pittsburgh after battling a short illness, his wife said. Sign up for the Entertainment newsletter Sign up 1 Lou Christie has died, aged 82 The artist reached number one of the Billboard Hot 100 in 1966 with the catchy single Lightin' Strikes. And he had another top 20 hit that year with 'Rhapsody in the Rain,' considered overly raunchy at the time. He died on Wednesday aged 82, his wife Francesca told The Hollywood Reporter. The renowned singer was known for his signature falsetto, and he broke onto the scene with two songs in 1963 with the two tunes The Gypsy Cried and Two Faces Have I. Both tracks were written in collaboration with the late Twyla Herbert - a long-time work partner. More to follow... For the latest news on this story, keep checking back at The U.S. Sun, your go-to destination for the best celebrity news, sports news, real-life stories, jaw-dropping pictures, and must-see videos. Like us on Facebook at TheSunUS and follow us on X at @TheUSSun
The Irish Sun
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Irish Sun
Lou Christie dead: Lightnin' Strikes & Rhapsody in the Rain singer has died at 82 after battling short illness
ICONIC songwriter Lou Christie has died, aged 82. The Lightnin' Strikes & Rhapsody in the Rain singer passed away at his home in Pittsburgh after battling a short illness, his wife said. Advertisement 1 Lou Christie has died, aged 82 The artist reached number one of the Billboard Hot 100 in 1966 with the catchy single Lightin' Strikes. And he had another top 20 hit that year with 'Rhapsody in the Rain,' considered overly raunchy at the time. He died on Wednesday aged 82, his wife Francesca told The Hollywood Reporter. The renowned singer was known for his signature falsetto, and he broke onto the scene with two songs in 1963 with the two tunes The Gypsy Cried and Two Faces Have I. Advertisement Both tracks were written in collaboration with the late Twyla Herbert - a long-time work partner. More to follow... For the latest news on this story, keep checking back at The U.S. Sun, your go-to destination for the best celebrity news, sports news, real-life stories, jaw-dropping pictures, and must-see videos . Like us on Facebook at
