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Lou Christie | |
|---|---|
 Christie in 1966 | |
| Background information | |
| Born | Lugee Alfredo Giovanni Sacco[1] (1943-02-19)February 19, 1943 Glenwillard,Pennsylvania, U.S. |
| Died | June 18, 2025(2025-06-18) (aged 82) Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, U.S. |
| Genres | |
| Occupation | Singer-songwriter |
| Years active | 1962–2023 |
| Labels | |
Lugee Alfredo Giovanni Sacco (February 19, 1943 – June 18, 2025), known professionally by his stage nameLou Christie, was an Americanpop andsoft rock singer-songwriter widely known for hits in the 1960s, including his 1966 U.S. chart-topper "Lightnin' Strikes" and 1969 UK number two hit "I'm Gonna Make You Mine".
Christie was born Lugee Alfredo Giovanni Sacco[2] on February 19, 1943, inGlenwillard,Pennsylvania,[1] and grew up in suburbanPittsburgh. While attendingMoon Area High School, he studied music and voice, served as student conductor of the choir and sang solos at holiday concerts. His teacher, Frank Cummings, wanted him to pursue a career in classical music, but Sacco wanted to cut a record to get onAmerican Bandstand. At age 15 he met and befriendedTwyla Herbert, a classically trained musician 20 years his senior, who became his regular songwriting partner and wrote hundreds of songs with him over the next 30 years until her death in 2009.[citation needed] Sacco performed with several vocal groups and between 1959 and 1962 released several records on small Pittsburgh labels, achieving a local hit with "The Jury" by Lugee & The Lions (a group consisting of Sacco, Twyla Herbert's daughter Shirley, and two others) released on the Robbee label.[3][4] After graduating from high school in 1961, Sacco traveled to New York City and worked as asession vocalist.[citation needed]
In 1962, Sacco approached Nick Cenci with some demo tapes.[5] One of the first things Cenci did was change the name Lugee Alfredo Giovanni Sacco to Lou Christie. Sacco's father liked the name change, because it had "Christ" in it.[citation needed] The singer himself did not like the name, though he was open to using a stage name and was compiling a list of suggestions before Cenci unilaterally picked "Lou Christie" without asking him; he later recalled it taking him 20 years to get used to it.[6]
Cenci liked Sacco'sfalsetto voice and suggested that he listen tothe Four Seasons' recent hit "Sherry".[7] Sacco and Herbert used the song as a model to write an original song called "The Gypsy Cried".[7] (Christie did not acknowledge any inspiration from The Four Seasons in interviews, noting that he strove not to sound like other recording artists.)[8] Cenci produced a recording of Sacco performing the song at Gateway Studio in Pittsburgh and initially released it on his own C & C label as a single in 1962, credited to "Lou Christie", the name Sacco used thereafter.[6]
"The Gypsy Cried" became a regional hit, selling 30,000 copies in Pittsburgh. Cenci contactedMorris Levy ofRoulette Records, saying that he had a hit that needed national distribution. Levy released the single on Roulette, but initially nothing happened. Airplay slowly spread across the country, and "The Gypsy Cried" reached No. 24 on theBillboardHot 100 chart, selling over one million copies.[citation needed] Cenci produced additional recording sessions for Christie in 1963 that generated two more hits. "Two Faces Have I", his second million-seller, reached No. 6 on the chart in June 1963.[9][10] Roulette also released Christie's self-titled LP (where "The Gypsy Cried" and "Two Faces Have I" are included), which reached No. 124 on theBillboard 200. With those hits, Christie joinedDick Clark'sCaravan of Stars Tour, alongsideDiana Ross,Brian Hyland, and others.[11]
During this pre-Army phase of his career, the female vocalists featured on Christie's records wereThe Tammys, a trio fromPleasantville, Venango County, Pennsylvania.[citation needed] Christie and Herbert wrote the single "Egyptian Shumba" for the group, and although it was not a hit, it became a cult favorite in theNorthern Soul scene in the early 1970s.[citation needed]
Christie made numerous TV appearances onWhere the Action Is (1965–1967), and also appeared onAmerican Bandstand andThe Buddy Deane Show (1962–1964) inBaltimore.[citation needed] He also sang withDel Shannon.[citation needed]
Christie's third Roulette release, "How Many Teardrops" (written byMilan), stalled at No. 46 as Christie's career was temporarily derailed by his induction into theU.S. Army. Christie did not have another charting single for two and a half years.[5] Despite threats from Roulette ownerMorris Levy, Christie managed to get out of his contract with the company.[11]
Christie's career was quickly re-established after his discharge from the military when he signed with theMGM label. MGM reportedly disliked Christie's first single for the label, the Christie-Herbert song "Lightnin' Strikes". But Christie's new management promoted the record in California, and when it gained some traction (eventually reaching No. 2 onKHJ the last two weeks of 1965), MGM released it.[citation needed] "Lightnin' Strikes" reached number one in the U.S. on Christie's 23rd birthday on February 19, 1966, entered the UKTop 20, becoming his first hit in that country, and peaked atnumber one1 in Canada.[citation needed] The song featured his signature falsetto and included a female chorus (Bernadette Carroll, Denise Ferri, andPeggy Santiglia) shouting "Stop!" in counterpoint to the lead vocal:
Christie's next release in the spring of 1966, "Rhapsody in the Rain", featured a melody inspired byTchaikovsky's "Romeo and Juliet", telling of a teenager's memory of his sexual experience in the back seat of a car during a rainstorm as the windshield wipers made arhythmic sound of "together, together".[12] Later, after the romance ends, the wipers seem to say "never, never".[12] Many radio stations banned[13] the song after hearing the opening lyrics:
MGM insisted on a re-recorded version that toned down the lyrics. The third and fourth lines were changed to:
Despite the edited version, many radio stations instead played two older songs re-released by other labels for which Christie had once recorded: "Outside the Gates of Heaven" (on Co & Ce Records) peaked at No. 45, while "Big Time" (onColpix Records) hit No. 95.[citation needed] All three singles hit nationally within three weeks of one another, in March 1966, while "Lightnin' Strikes" was falling down the chart. After his follow-up "Painter" peaked at No. 81, Christie's later records for MGM, including "If My Car Could Only Talk" arranged and produced byJack Nitzsche, failed to chart.[11]
In the late 1960s, after being dropped by MGM, Christie had an unfruitful stint withColumbia Records. Christie recalled that Columbia was mainly interested in grooming Christie to be another "beach party" actor in the vein of Frankie Avalon, but Christie believed that the genre was going out of style and declined.[14] He then joinedBuddah Records in 1968,[citation needed] a move prompted by his business managerStan Polley andbubblegum music record producerTony Romeo. He had a surpriseWall of Sound constant uptempo hit "I'm Gonna Make You Mine", which Romeo wrote, in the early autumn of 1969. Helped by backing vocalistsLinda Scott,Lesley Gore, andValerie Simpson,[11] and by two promotional videos distinctly different from each other, the song peaked at No. 10 in the US, but climbed to No. 2 on theUK Singles Chart and thus became his biggest hit there.[citation needed]
A follow-up, "She Sold Me Magic", never released as a single in the United States,[11] charted in the UK where it peaked at No. 25,[15] and in Japan where it reached No.1.[11] It was latercovered byElton John.[16] Conversely, "Are You Getting Any Sunshine?" only charted in America, where it reached No. 73.[10]
Christie spent the early 1970s between London and New York City. In 1971 he released aconcept album calledPaint America Love, regarded by some (including Christie himself) as his best LP,[17][14] and married former UK beauty queen Francesca Winfield in London.[citation needed] In the U.S., he recorded "The Lion Sleeps Tonight", but after a dispute between his manager Stan Polley andNeil Bogart of Buddah, Christie's vocals were removed and replaced by those of the similar-soundingRobert John, whose version became a major hit.[11] Christie was also peripherally involved in the legal issues around Five Arts Management, a company set up by Polley, which contributed to the suicides ofBadfinger membersPete Ham andTom Evans.[11] By this time, Christie had grown tired of industry meddling in his career and of singing falsetto.[14]
Christie returned to the United States, and lived for a time inLake Charles, Louisiana.[11] In 1974, he tried a new musical style, goingcountry on his albumLou Christie. This album is also known unofficially asBeyond the Blue Horizon after its best known track,[18] a cover of ahit song from 1930 written for the filmMonte Carlo. The song missed the Country charts and only made No. 80 on the pop chart but managed No. 12 on theAdult Contemporary chart. The song has been used in several film soundtracks, including 1988'sRain Man.[19]
In the spring of 1978 Christie returned home to Pittsburgh to head the upstart record Label 2001 records, a branch of the 2001 and VIP nightclubs nationwide. While visiting local friends at the Staircase Lounge, Christie heard a local group, Sweet Breeze, and loved the band's harmonies and music. Christie signed the band Sweet Breeze to their first recording contract and the band recorded a song written by Christie and Herbert called "Summer in Malibu" that was a regional hit for the band. He supplemented his income during this period by taking a job as a truck driver.[14]
Christie became active on the oldies circuit starting in the early 1980s, scoring a final U.S. chart hit, credited as "Summer '81 Medley" by The Cantina Band (featuring Lou Christie), in 1981, performing amedley ofBeach Boys classics.[14]
In 1986, he recorded a duet withLesley Gore of a medley of "Since I Don't Have You"/"It's Only Make Believe" for Manhattan Records, a division of EMI-America. The two singers were touring together at the time, and the song was released only as a one-off single.[citation needed]
Christie was credited as special music collaborator on the movieBarcelona, released in 1994. He and Mark Suozzo wrote a song, "Breakin' Up", which Christie performed and which was included in the soundtrack album for the film.[citation needed]
In 1997, Christie recorded his first all-new album since the 1970s, entitledPledging My Love and produced by Alan Grossman & Jimm Mosher of Hit Music Studio inSpencer, North Carolina.Billboard labeled this new album "Most Impressive Comeback" album.[20] Most of it was penned by Christie, presented in a contemporary manner, and included the songs "What Happened to the Nights", "Techno Pop" (a diatribe about the loss of communication in our lives), and "I Sure Fell in Love" and covers of the Critters' "Mr. Dieingly Sad" and Johnny Ace's title tune.Cub Koda said it was "loaded with AOR hits".[21]
In 2004, Christie released his first concert album,Greatest Hits Live FromThe Bottom Line, which featured studio recording "Christmas In New York" as a bonus track.[citation needed] In addition to the occasional new release, Christie remained a concert act on the oldies circuit in the U.S. and UK. He also hosted a series of programs onSiriusXM radio for the 1960s channel.[citation needed] In 2015, Christie released his first new recording in several years, entitled "Drive In Dreams", written by Gregory Scharpf, who is a former member of Sweet Breeze, the Pittsburgh-based band that Christie signed to their first recording contract. His next release was 2016's "When You Were Young", also penned by Scharpf. In December 2021 Lou Christie released "Love Goes On Forever" written with Jimmy Cunningham. In March 2022 "Luv Attack" followed, also written with Jimmy Cunningham. Groove N Jams published a favorable review of "Luv Attack" writing, "The way Christie drops alien processing into the mix feels as sharp and strange and thrilling as anything he did in the 60s."[22]
Christie succeededBobby Rydell as a member of thesupergroup Dick Fox's Golden Boys (also featuring 1950s teen idolsFrankie Avalon andFabian) after Rydell's death in 2022. Christie maintained the ability to sing falsetto well into his 70s, which made him a popular act on the oldies circuit.[14][23]
Christie died from cancer in Pittsburgh, on June 18, 2025, at the age of 82.[14][24][25]
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| Year | Title | Peak chart positions | Record Label | B-side From same album as A-side except where indicated | Album | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| US BB [26] | US CB [27][28] | US AC [29] | US R&B [30] | UK [31] | CAN (CHUM) (RPM) | AUS | |||||
| 1962 | "The Gypsy Cried" | 24 | 18 | — | — | — | 3 | — | Roulette Records | "Red Sails in the Sunset" (Non-LP track) | Lou Christie |
| 1963 | "Two Faces Have I" | 6 | 3 | — | 11 | — | 3 | 20 | "All That Glitters Isn't Gold" | ||
| "How Many Teardrops" | 46 | 41 | — | — | — | 23 | 79 | "You and I (Have a Right to Cry)"(No. 119 US CB) | |||
| "Shy Boy" | 119 | 135 | — | — | — | — | — | "It Can Happen" | Non-LP tracks | ||
| 1964 | "Stay" | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | "There They Go" (Non-LP track) | Lou Christie | |
| "Guitars and Bongos" | 123 | 131 | — | — | — | 44 | — | Colpix Records | "Merry-Go-Round" (Non-LP track) | Lou Christie Strikes Again | |
| "Have I Sinned" | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | "Pot of Gold" | |||
| 1965 | "Why Did You Do It Baby" | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | "Make Summer Last Forever" | ||
| "A Teenager in Love" | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | "Back Track" | |||
| "Lightnin' Strikes" | 1 | 1 | — | — | 11 | 1 | 9 | MGM Records | "Cryin' in the Streets" | Lightnin' Strikes | |
| 1966 | "Outside the Gates of Heaven" | 45 | 59 | — | — | — | 32 | — | Co & Ce Records | "All That Glitters Isn't Gold" | Non-LP tracks |
| "Big Time" | 95 | — | — | — | — | — | — | Colpix Records | "Cryin' on My Knees" | Lou Christie Strikes Again | |
| "Rhapsody in the Rain" | 16 | 20 | — | — | 37 | 10 | 40 | MGM Records | "Trapeze"(fromLightnin' Strikes) | Painter of Hits | |
| "Painter" | 81 | 77 | — | — | — | 60 | — | "Du Ronda" | |||
| "If My Car Could Only Talk" | 118 | — | — | — | — | — | — | "Song of Lita" | Non-LP tracks | ||
| "Since I Don't Have You" | 118 | 101 | — | — | — | 71 | — | "Wild Life's in Season" | Painter of Hits | ||
| 1967 | "Shake Hands and Walk Away Cryin'" | 95 | — | — | — | — | — | — | Columbia Records | "Escape" | Non-LP tracks |
| "Self Expression (The Kids on the Street Will Never Give In)" | — | 127 | — | — | — | — | — | "Back to the Days of the Romans" | |||
| "I Remember Gina" | — | 139 | — | — | — | — | — | "Escape" | |||
| "Don't Stop Me (Jump Off the Edge of Love)" | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | "Back to the Days of the Romans" | |||
| 1968 | "Genesis and the Third Verse" | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | Buddah Records | "Rake Up the Leaves" | |
| "Canterbury Road" | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | "Saints of Aquarius" | |||
| 1969 | "I'm Gonna Make You Mine" | 10 | 7 | — | — | 2 | 5 | 28 | "I'm Gonna Get Married" | I'm Gonna Make You Mine | |
| "Are You Getting Any Sunshine?" | 73 | 84 | — | — | — | 56 | — | "It'll Take Time" | |||
| 1970 | "Love Is Over" | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | "She Sold Me Magic" (fromI'm Gonna Make You Mine) (No. 25 UK) (No. 1 JP) | Non-LP tracks | |
| "Indian Lady" | 106 | 75 | 39 | — | — | — | 89 | "Glory River" | |||
| 1971 | "Lighthouse" | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | Three Brothers Records | "Waco" | Paint America Love |
| 1972 | "Sing Me, Sing Me" | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | "Paper Song" | ||
| 1973 | "Blue Canadian Rocky Dream" | — | 102 | — | — | — | — | — | "Wilma Lee and Stoney" | Lou Christie | |
| 1974 | "Beyond the Blue Horizon" | 80 | 72 | 12 | — | — | 57 | — | "Saddle the Wind" | ||
| 1974 | "Good Mornin'/Zip-a-Dee-Doo-Dah" | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | "You Were the One" | ||
| 1975 | "Summer Days" | — | 120 | — | — | — | — | — | Slipped Disc Records | "The One and Only Original Sunshine Kid" | Non-LP tracks |
| 1976 | "Riding in My Van" | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | Epic Records | "Summer in Malibu" | |
| "You're Gonna Make Love to Me" | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | Midland International Records | "Fantasies" | ||
| 1977 | "Spanish Wine" | — | 95 | — | — | — | — | — | "Dancing in the Sand" | ||
| 1986 | Lou Christie/Lesley Gore "Since I Don't Have You"/"It's Only Make Believe" | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | Manhattan Records | "Our Love Was Meant To Be" | |
| 1990 | Lou Christie/Pia Zadora "Don't Knock My Love" (shortVersion) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | Midsong Records | "Don't Knock My Love" (LongVersion) | |
Sadly, his death from cancer at age 82 last week (June 18) comes just after two other 82-year-old icons from his era
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