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Lou Christie, singer-songwriter who hit No. 1 with ‘Lightnin’ Strikes,’ dies at 82

BBG News

82-year-old Lou Christie, a renowned singer-songwriter who sent teenagers into a frenzy in the ’60s with popular songs like “Lightnin’ Strikes” and “Two Faces Have I,” has passed away.

On a Wednesday post via social media, Christie’s family announced that he passed away at his Pittsburgh residence following a brief illness.

Television

Actor Chris Robinson, known for his role on ‘General Hospital’, may not have been a real-life physician, but he portrayed one convincingly on the screen. This man who brought that famous phrase into our cultural lexicon has sadly passed away at the age of 86.

He was deeply appreciated not just by his immediate family and intimate friends, but also by numerous admirers who felt inspired by his kindness, generosity, and artistic skill, as well as his wit and vibrant personality. His departure has left a deep emptiness in everyone’s hearts. He will be dearly missed, fondly remembered, and eternally cherished.

Christie, originally known as Lugee Alfredo Giovanni Sacco, was born on February 19, 1943, in Glenwillard, Pennsylvania. A local music producer later gave him his stage name during his teenage years. This change would pave the way for him to meet his songwriting partner, Twyla Herbert, who was significantly older and possessed a unique blend of classical training and eccentricity. Together, they wrote nearly all of his songs and hundreds more for other artists throughout their collaboration, which ended with Twyla’s passing in 2009.

In the state of Pennsylvania, Christie produced and shared a popular song titled “The Gypsy Cried” within the Pittsburgh region. Afterward, he relocated to New York City, found employment as a backup singer, eventually joining Dick Clark’s traveling show, Cavalcade of Stars. During this time, he spent hours on a bus alongside Diana Ross and other notable performers.

The singer shared with writer Gary James for ClassicBands.com that he was in the company of Gene Pitney, Johnny Tillotson, the Supremes, Paul and Paula, Dick and Dee Dee, the Crystals, the Ronettes, Fabian, and Frankie Avalon. To him, these artists represented his graduating class, a group he still identifies with today.

Music

The renowned musical genius, Brian Wilson, known for penning an iconic Southern California soundtrack through his series of popular hits with the Beach Boys, has passed away at the age of 82.

In 1963, when “Two Faces Have I” reached No. 6 on the Billboard 100 – a year after he debuted with his self-titled first album – Christie’s fans would go wild over his distinctive falsetto. After serving in the U.S. Army for two years, upon his return, he released the single “Lightnin’ Strikes.” This song from the 1965 album of the same name climbed to No. 1 on the charts in 1966.

In a somewhat controversial move, he caused a stir with his 1966 song “Rhapsody in Rain,” which had lyrics deemed as risqué at the time: “Baby, the raindrops serenade me / A solitary melody because our first date was interrupted by a passionate rainstorm in the car / Our love affair escalated beyond bounds / It was electrifying like thunder / Tonight I ponder where you are.” This song peaked at number 16 on the charts.

Over the years, his discography expanded to include “I’m Gonna Make You Mine” (released in 1969), “Paint America Love” (1971), and “Pledging My Love” (1997), along with numerous other albums throughout this period.

In the early 1960s, the life of a teen idol was a blend of rejection and admiration, as reported by peer Fabian Forte (who went by Fabian during his career), who teamed up with Christie for rock ‘n’ roll revival tours in the 1980s.

Music

On Wednesday, when the news of Brian Wilson’s passing sent shockwaves through the music industry, John Stamos was standing beside Beach Boys founding member Mike Love. According to the actor, Love’s expression turned pale in that moment.

In an interview with The Times in 1985, Forte shared that music critics in the 1950s and early ’60s often laughed at him and didn’t take him seriously as an artist. However, he quickly clarified that it wasn’t all negative; for a young boy, he explained, the attention from girls made it feel like heaven.

The teen idols of that era faded with the British Invasion, but Christie didn’t fade with them.

Christie explained to James from ClassicBands.com, “I marked the end of that entire period. I’ve always felt like I didn’t quite fit into rock ‘n’ roll, more like a bridge between eras. … As the teen idols were fading out – names like Frankie Avalon and Fabian – my records began to gain popularity. … While those stars vanished, my music continued to thrive even during the English Invasion.

Beyond producing additional music in later years, Christie would also utilize his vocal abilities to support charitable causes such as the Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation, as well as a rock ‘n’ roll retirement home for artists from the ’50s and ’60s, which was being developed by the Starlight Starbright foundation.

Music

Stone skillfully captured the spirit of an evolving America, moving from widespread jubilation to efforts towards racial unity, and from pursuits of spiritual elevation to the disillusionment that marked the conclusion of the 1960s.

During the years when his limelight was no longer the brightest, Christie continued to bring joy to his fans, as demonstrated following a show at Magic Mountain Festival in 1985.

The show started later than planned on one of the year’s sweltering hot days, with its lineup and schedule changing frequently prior to the event. The promoter mysteriously disappeared, causing some acts not to perform as scheduled. However, Christie managed to make it to the stage.

1985 saw me immensely relieved and thrilled when our show went smoothly, as I shared with The Times from the comfort of my trailer post-performance at the “Spirit of the ‘60s” festival. Let me tell you, this production had me on a rollercoaster – constantly switching between ‘on’ and ‘off’, only to start again when it seemed over. I even had to forfeit some scheduled performances following initial cancellations. However, my efforts were rewarded! The baby boomers absolutely loved the show, and even those behind-the-scenes couldn’t help but appreciate it too.

On Thursday, a spokesperson for the singer failed to provide an immediate response to The Times’ request for a statement.

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2025-06-19 21:01

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