Lou Christie, the falsetto-voiced pop singer who reached No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 with “Lightnin’ Strikes” in 1966, died June 18 at his home in Pittsburgh following a brief illness. He was 82.
Christie’s wife, Francesca, confirmed his death to The Hollywood Reporter. His family announced the news in a social media statement, noting that Christie 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.
Born Lugee Alfredo Giovanni Sacco on February 19, 1943, in Glenwillard, Pennsylvania, near Pittsburgh, Christie grew up in Crescent Township, Allegheny County, and graduated from Moon Area High School. At age 15, while in ninth grade, he befriended Twyla Herbert, a classically trained pianist who was nearly 22 years older. Herbert became his longtime songwriting collaborator, and together they would write hundreds of songs over the decades.
Christie told Goldmine magazine in 2005 that he never worked with anyone else who was that talented, that original, or that exciting. He described Herbert as bizarre, adding that he was twice as bizarre as her. Herbert died in 2009.
After graduating from high school in 1961, Christie moved to New York and worked as a session vocalist. Pittsburgh music executive Nick Cenci gave him his stage name and produced his first single, “The Gypsy Cried,” which reached No. 24 on the Hot 100 in March 1963. Three months later, “Two Faces Have I” peaked at No. 6, establishing Christie as a rising star.
Christie’s success earned him a coveted place on Dick Clark’s Caravan of Stars tours alongside Diana Ross and other prominent artists. He performed 32 consecutive one-nighters, often sleeping on the tour bus. Christie later reflected that he was traveling with Gene Pitney, Johnny Tillotson, the Supremes, Paul and Paula, the Crystals, the Ronettes, Fabian, and Frankie Avalon, describing them as his graduating class.
His career was interrupted by two years of military service in the U.S. Army. Upon his return, Christie and Herbert presented MGM Records with “Lightnin’ Strikes,” though the label initially rejected it. Christie recalled that label head Lenny Shear threw the song in the wastebasket and called it a piece of crap, forcing Christie and Herbert to use their own money to promote it.
Released in December 1965, “Lightnin’ Strikes” climbed to No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 in February 1966, coinciding with Christie’s 23rd birthday. The song, arranged, conducted and produced by Charles Calello and featuring backing vocals from Bernadette Carroll, Peggy Santiglia and Denise Ferri of The Delicates, showcased Christie’s distinctive operatic falsetto and sold over one million copies.
Christie followed up with “Rhapsody in the Rain” in spring 1966, a moody orchestral piece that included the controversial lyric about making love in a car during a rainstorm. The song reached No. 16 on the Billboard Hot 100 despite being banned by many radio stations for its sexually suggestive content. MGM Records later issued a cleaner version with tamer lyrics.
In 1969, Christie returned to the top 10 with “I’m Gonna Make You Mine,” which reached No. 10 in the United States and No. 2 in the United Kingdom. The song featured backing vocals by Lesley Gore and others. Christie later ventured into country music, scoring a hit in 1974 with “Beyond the Blue Horizon,” which reached the top 20 on the Adult Contemporary chart and was later featured in the movie soundtrack for “Rain Man.”
Christie believed he represented a transitional figure in popular music, arriving at the end of the teen idol era just as the British Invasion was beginning. He noted that while other teen idols like Frankie Avalon and Fabian disappeared, his records continued to chart through the English Invasion period.
Throughout his career, Christie continued recording and performing, releasing albums into the 2000s. His final album was recorded in 2004. He remained active on the oldies circuit for decades, touring with Frankie Avalon and Fabian as part of Dick Fox’s Golden Boys shows.
Christie is survived by his wife Francesca, whom he married in 1971, and their daughter Bianca. Their son Christopher died in 2014 at age 46 in a motorcycle accident.
