Lou Christie, 1960s Teen Idol Behind “Lightnin’ Strikes,” Dies at 82

At 82, Lou Christie, the pop idol of the ’60s with his falsetto that could drive teenagers crazy, has left us. His famous tracks, such as “Lightnin’ Strikes” and “Two Faces Have I,” will always be remembered. However, the singer died from a short illness at his home in Pittsburgh, as his family announced on social media.

Lou Christie, formerly Lugee Alfredo Giovanni Sacco, the Glenwillard born on February 19, 1943, in Pennsylvania, was a teenager full of dreams and possessed of a voice whose power would soon be screened through the American airwaves. He adopted the stage name with the help of a local music producer and right away found a kindred creative spirit in Twyla Herbert – a much older, classically trained, and delightfully eccentric songwriter. Together, they wrote the songs that would be sang along endlessly by millions all over the world.

Christie’s rocket into the star-studded universe began with “The Gypsy Cried,” which became a local hit in Pittsburgh. As this first hit kept making him famous, he moved to New York City where he not only backed up but also traveled and performed with Dick Clark’s Cavalcade of Stars besides sharing concerts and buses with such stars as Diana Ross, the Supremes, Gene Pitney, and the Ronettes.
The man truly rose to fame with a hit called “Two Faces Have I”, which peaked at No. 6 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in 1963. After his return from the military, Christie relaunched his career with “Lightnin’ Strikes” in 1965, which reached No. 1 in 1966, and made him still a heartbeat for teenagers.

But Yes, Christie was not the first to flout the rules. His single “Rhapsody in the Rain” released in 1966 was controversial due to its lyrics, but still, it managed to stake its claim in the music industry by reaching the 16th on the chart.

Over the years, he worked on and unleashed even more music, such as albums like “I’m Gonna Make You Mine” (1969) and “Pledging My Love” (1997). These and others like “Paint America Love” (1971) were the tracks that he released for his fans to hear. He remained a very popular and endearing figure even as the music scene underwent transformations, never fully exiting the stage with the British Invasion, something only a couple of other singers accomplished.

It wasn’t that he just sang, he was also a showman. If it was for the baby-boomer generation him, then he would do the concerts, or he would sing the whole night for the cause, for example, for the Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation. Throughout his whole life, he was actively involved with the fans, as well as the good deeds and the artists of his own generation.

On several occasions, Christie revisited being involved in a period that defined the future of pop music, joyfully looking back at his stints being on tour with music legends. And despite everything, he was the one bringing energy and joy to the stage — such as during a chaotic festival at Magic Mountain in 1985 when he still knew how to inspire the crowd even with the scheduled events gone wrong and the excessive heat.

According to his family, it’s never the music, but the love, laughter, and positive nature that were the bond between Lou Christie and his fans, friends, and people at large that remain in our hearts and minds. As it is, no more is a voice to flesh, his high pitch and his every act are stories they would remember.