Overview

• Lou Christie died at his Pittsburgh home on June 17 at age 82 after a brief illness, his wife Francesca said.
• He surged to the top of the Billboard Hot 100 in 1966 with "Lightnin' Strikes," a falsetto showcase that influenced artists from Elton John to Billy Joel.
• Born Lugee Alfredo Giovanni Sacco, he adopted his stage name from producer Nick Cenci and recorded early hits co-written with Twyla Herbert like "The Gypsy Cried."
• Despite being banned by some radio stations for suggestive lyrics, "Rhapsody in the Rain" reached No. 16, and he later scored a country crossover with "Beyond the Blue Horizon" in 1974.
• Christie continued to tour into his 80s and is survived by wife Francesca and daughter Bianca as fans and fellow musicians pay tribute to his legacy.