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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
2 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."
Metro
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Metro
Lou Christie, chart-topping singer and 1960s idol, dies aged 82
American singer-songwriter Lou Christie, a 1960s idol who soared to the top of the charts in the US and UK with songs including Lightnin' Strikes, has died aged 82. Christie died at home in Pittsburgh after a short illness his wife, Francesca, confirmed to The Hollywood Reporter on Wednesday night. No further details were shared. The singer, famous for his stunning four-octave range and distinctive falsetto, enjoyed his first success aged just 20 with the songs The Gypsy Cried and Two Faces Have I in 1963. More Trending He then hit the big time in 1966 with Lightnin' Strikes, which soared to number one on the US Billboard charts. Later that year he courted controversy with the track Rhapsody in the Rain thanks to its suggestive lyrics about a teenager's sexual encounter, which saw it banned from radio stations. A re-recorded version with toned-down lyrics was later released at the insistence of his record label, MGM. His 1969 song I'm Gonna Make You Mine subsequently topped the charts in the UK. This is a breaking news story, more to follow soon… Check back shortly for further updates. If you've got a celebrity story, video or pictures get in touch with the entertainment team by emailing us celebtips@ calling 020 3615 2145 or by visiting our Submit Stuff page – we'd love to hear from you. For more stories like this, check our entertainment page. Follow Entertainment on Twitter and Facebook for the latest celeb and entertainment updates. You can now also get articles sent straight to your device. Sign up for our daily push alerts here. MORE: Wincey Willis, ITV's first female weather presenter, dies aged 76 MORE: Doctor Who and Mind Your Language star Pik-Sen Lim dies aged 80 MORE: TV chef Anne Burrell's suspected cause of death aged 55 revealed
Express Tribune
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Express Tribune
Lou Christie, renowned ‘Lightnin' Strikes' singer, dies at 82
Lou Christie, the singer-songwriter behind the 1966 chart-topper "Lightnin' Strikes," has died at the age of 82. His representative, Mary Fox, confirmed his passing on June 17, though a cause of death was not disclosed. Born Lugee Alfredo Giovanni Sacco in Glenwillard, Pennsylvania, Christie rose to fame in the early 1960s with his falsetto vocals and heartfelt lyrics. His early hits like "The Gypsy Cried" and "Two Faces Have I" marked him as a teen idol, while "Rhapsody in the Rain" gained notoriety after being banned for suggestive lyrics. He reinvented himself through the decades, notably gaining renewed attention when his rendition of "Beyond the Blue Horizon" appeared in the film Rain Man (1988) and A Home of Our Own (1993). Even into his later years, Christie continued to perform for devoted audiences, touring and sharing his music well into his 80s. Christie began his career in a local studio with no formal musical training and never lost his passion for performance. Speaking to the Beaver County Times in 2016, he credited his longevity to living peacefully and connecting with fans who supported him throughout his journey.
