R.I.P. - Lou Christie, the Shining Light / Obituary

One must acknowledge with a sense of numbness... lightning has struck again...
Now it was the turn of Lou Christie, the shining light almost forgotten in the shadow of the great Beach Boys. "Lightning Strikes" topped the US charts in 1966 and was arguably his most famous hit, which continued with a continuous series of subsequent singles throughout the 1960s and into the 1970s.

Lou Christie, born with the equally impressive name Lugee Alfredo Giovanni Sacco in Glenwillard, Pennsylvania, became known for his mesmerizing, almost operatic voice and a falsetto that must have taught Brian's boys and Barry's brothers the fine art of singing. Tracks like "The Gypsy Cried," "Rhapsody in the Rain," "Two Faces Have I," and "I'm Gonna Make You Mine" not only cemented Christie's status in the pop and soft rock charts on both sides of the Atlantic, but also positioned the handsome heartthrob in Hollywood's calculus as a co-star in popular beach-party movies alongside teen idols of the time, such as Frankie Avalon.

But Lou had a mind of his own, saw show hype come and go, and always wanted to go somewhere else. Numerous collaborations testify to his keen curiosity and interest in musical sophistication and artistic exchange, even beyond the bubble-gum pop era. In 1971, Christie released his ambitious concept album "Paint America Love," which prompted an enthusiastic compliment from none other than Leonard Bernstein. It is widely considered his finest work, recorded with a critical yet benevolently distanced eye in London, where the classically trained singer had moved for several years for love.

Lou Christie wrote most of his songs himself or together with his longtime special friend and mentor, Twyla Herbert. In a 1974 country album, Christie successfully covered the classic "Beyond the Blue Horizon" in a style that once again demonstrates his unparalleled vocal abilities. The song later became part of the soundtrack to "Rain Man" and other films.

Anyone who wants to grasp the full extent of Lou Christie's charisma should be free from vertigo to internalize the seemingly endless list of incredibly illustrious names of this exceptional talent's friends, companions, and admirers: Ricky Nelson, Del Shannon, Lesley Gore, Valerie Simpson, Diana Ross, Brian Hyland, Tony Romeo, Bobby Rydell, Phil Spector, Mike Love, Billy J. Kramer, Pia Zadora, Bo Diddley, Gary U.S. Bonds, Jerry Lee Lewis, Wilson Picket, Ben E. King, Darlene Love, Leonard Bernstein, The Rolling Stones, The Who, John Lennon, Madonna, Elton John, Paul Schaffer...

'Cool Cat Lou' was appreciated by all for his down-to-earth manner and his warm, dry sense of humor. He remained active until the end and, in recent years, toured as a top act on the oldies circuit alongside stars such as Jay & The Americans, The Buckinghams, Peter Noone, and Herman's Hermits.
Lou died on June 18, 2025, at the age of 82.

Rest in peace, lightning legend.

Two Faces Have I - Lou Christie (1963)

Lou Christie - Lightning Strikes Hollywood A Gogo (1966)

LOU CHRISTIE - 10 song anthology - stereo and stereo mixes - original recordings