Lou Christie was born on this day in 1943 and on the same day in 1966 scored a No.1 with “Lightnin’ Strikes”
A double celebration for Christie
Lou Christie was born on this day in 1943 and on the same day in 1966 scored a No.1 with “Lightnin’ Strikes”
Lou Christie was born on February 19, 1943, in Glenwillard, Pennsylvania. On his 23rd Birthday, in 1966, his song “Lightnin’ Strikes” went No 1 in the U.S Hot 100. Written by Christie and Twyla Herbert, the song became a 1960’s classic and Christie’s best-known song. Lou Christie celebrates double today.
The American singer-songwriter Lou Christie, best known for his soaring falsetto and dramatic pop hits of the 1960s, was born Lugee Alfredo Giovanni Sacco on February 19, 1943, in Glenwillard, Pennsylvania. His career took off in the early ‘60s when he partnered with songwriter and collaborator Twyla Herbert, a classically trained pianist 30 years his senior. Together, they crafted Christie’s signature sound—a blend of doo-wop, rock, and orchestral pop.
Christie first found success with the 1962 hit “The Gypsy Cried,” which led to his rise in the music industry. However, it was his 1966 smash “Lightnin’ Strikes” that cemented his place in pop history. The song, with its unique structure and dramatic shifts between deep baritone and falsetto, became a No. 1 hit on the Billboard Hot 100.
Following his early success, Christie’s career faced turbulence when he was drafted into the military, temporarily halting his momentum. He returned in 1969 with the hauntingly orchestrated “I’m Gonna Make You Mine,” another Top 10 hit. While his mainstream popularity faded with the arrival of the 1970s, he remained a beloved figure in the oldies and nostalgia circuit, continuing to perform well into the 21st century.
Watch a music video for the 1966 hit “Lightnin’ Strikes” by Lou Christie
Watch more 1960’s related videos
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