Lou Christie, 'Lightnin' Strikes' and 'I'm Gonna Make You Mine' singer, dies aged 82

19 June 2025, 13:32

Lou Christie scored hits on both sides of the Atlantic in the 1960s.

Lou Christie has died at the age of 82.

The singer, famed for a number of hit singles in the 1960s, died in his home city of Pittsburgh after a short illness, his wife Francesca told The Hollywood Reporter.

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Born Lugee Alfredo Giovanni Sacco in Pennsylvania in 1943, Christie launched his career in 1962 with 'The Gypsy Cried', which reached number 24 in the US singles charts.

Follow-up 'Two Faces Have I' did even better, reaching number six, but while his next new singles failed to match that success, he returned in 1965 with the massive 'Lightnin' Strikes'.

Lightnin' Strikes - Lou Christie | The Midnight Special

That song topped the US charts and reached number 11 in the UK.

Another of his major hits was 'Rhapsody in the Rain', which caused controversy at the time for its steamy lyrics ("And in this car our love went much too far") and had had to be re-recorded for radio.

Many of Christie's songs were written by the man himself in collaboration Twyla Herbert, a self-described mystic 20 years his senior with whom he formed an unlikely musical partnership after they met when he was 15.

NEW * I'm Gonna Make You Mine - Lou Christie {Stereo} 1969

Christie's biggest UK hit came towards the end of the decade, with 'I'm Gonna Make You Mine'.

The Tony Romero-penned track reached number two in the UK and went top ten in the US.

Lou is survived by his wife Francesca and their daughter Bianca. Francesca and Lou married in 1971.