Overview

• Lou Christie died June 17, 2025, at age 82 at his Pittsburgh home following a short illness, his wife Francesca said.
• Born Lugee Alfredo Giovanni Sacco in Glenwillard, Pennsylvania, he first gained attention in 1963 with “The Gypsy Cried” and “Two Faces Have I.”
• His 1966 single “Lightnin’ Strikes” reached No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 and showcased his signature operatic falsetto.
• The follow-up “Rhapsody in the Rain” peaked at No. 16 despite bans from several radio stations over its suggestive lyrics.
• Christie continued recording and touring into his 80s—most recently with Dick Fox’s Golden Boys—and is survived by his wife, Francesca Winfield, and daughter, Bianca.