R.I.P.: Lou Christie, Singer, 60s Hitmaker

Lou Christie, born Lugee Alfredo Giovanni Sacco, passed away on Wednesday, at the age of 82 after a brief illness, as confirmed by his family and wife, Francesca Winfield. 

Known for his distinctive falsetto and chart-topping hits in the 1960s, including "Lightnin' Strikes" (No. 1 in the US in 1966), "Rhapsody in the Rain," "The Gypsy Cried," "Two Faces Have I," and "I'm Gonna Make You Mine," Christie was a prominent pop and soft-rock singer-songwriter. 

Born in Glenwillard, Pennsylvania, he grew up on a farm near Pittsburgh, discovering his love for music singing with his family. 

He moved to New York in the early 1960s, adopting the stage name Lou Christie, and became a teen idol, touring with acts like Diana Ross on Dick Clark’s Caravan of Stars. 

His music, marked by heartfelt lyrics and a unique vocal style, remained popular, with renewed interest in the 1980s due to a hits collection and a "Rain Man" soundtrack feature.