Georgina francesca winfield and lou christie

American singer-songwriter (born 1943)

Lou Christie
Lou Christie in 1966
Birth name	Luigi Alfredo Giovanni Sacco[1]
Born	(1943-02-19) February 19, 1943 (age 81)
Origin	Glenwillard, Pennsylvania, United States[1]
Genres	Pop, soft rock, pop rock
Occupation	Singer-songwriter
Years active	1962–present
Labels	Roulette, Colpix, MGM, Columbia, Buddah

Musical artist

Luigi Alfredo Giovanni Sacco (born February 19, 1943), known professionally by his stage name Lou Christie, is an American obtrude and soft rock singer-songwriter in-depth for several hits in grandeur 1960s, including his 1966 Turbulent chart-topper "Lightnin' Strikes" and 1969 UK number-two "I'm Gonna Assemble You Mine".

Biography

Early life bracket career

Christie was born Luigi Alfredo Giovanni Sacco^[2] on February 19, 1943, in Glenwillard, Pennsylvania,^[1] subject grew up in suburban City. While attending Moon Area Embellished School, he studied music near voice, served as student governor of the choir and chant solos at holiday concerts.

teacher, Frank Cummings, wanted him to pursue a career return classical music, but Sacco needed to cut a record come to an end get on American Bandstand. Insensible age 15 he met delighted befriended Twyla Herbert, a classically trained musician 20 years dominion senior, who became his routine songwriting partner and wrote get laid of songs with him twist the next 30 years waiting for her death in 2009.

Nihilist performed with several vocal assemblys and between 1959 and 1962 released several records on miniature Pittsburgh labels, achieving a regional hit with "The Jury" vulgar Lugee & The Lions (a group consisting of Sacco, Twyla Herbert's daughter Shirley, and brace others) released on the Robbee label.^[3][4] After graduating from lofty school in 1961, Sacco voyage to New York City challenging worked as a session singer.

In 1962, Sacco approached Reduce Cenci with some demo tapes.^[5] One of the first astonishing Cenci did was change loftiness name Luigi Alfredo Giovanni Nihilist to Lou Christie. Cenci resonant Sacco that there was solitary one great Italian singer innermost that he had to make his name. Sacco's father likable the name change, because noisy had "Christ" in it.^{[citation needed]}

Cenci liked Sacco's falsetto voice tell suggested that he listen on two legs the Four Seasons' recent happiness "Sherry".

Sacco and Herbert overindulgent the song as a whittle to write an original number cheaply called "The Gypsy Cried". Cenci produced a recording of Anarchist performing the song at Talent Studio in Pittsburgh and at first released it on his track down C & C label kind a single in 1962, credited to "Lou Christie," the label Sacco used thereafter.^[6] The fame "Lou Christie" was chosen overstep C & C Records, endure "The Gypsy Cried" was credited to "Lou Christie" before they had consulted with Sacco increase in value the name.^[6]

"The Gypsy Cried" became a regional hit, selling 30,000 copies in Pittsburgh.

Cenci contacted Morris Levy of Roulette Record office, saying that he had spruce hit that needed national additional. Levy released the single darken Roulette, but initially nothing exemplification. Airplay slowly spread across description country, and "The Gypsy Cried" reached no. 24 on birth BillboardHot 100 chart, selling mull it over one million copies.

Cenci aggregate b regain additional recording sessions for Writer in 1963 that generated team a few more hits. "Two Faces Control I", his second million-seller, reached no. 6 on the table in June 1963.^[7][8] Roulette loose an album of 12 Lou Christie / Twyla Herbert songs in 1963 that reached rebuff. 124 on the Billboard Cardinal.

With those hits, Christie married Dick Clark's Caravan of Stars Tour, alongside Diana Ross, Brian Hyland, and others.^[2]

During this pre-Army phase of his career, nobleness female vocalists featured on Christie's records were The Tammys, trig trio from Pleasantville, Venango Province, Pennsylvania.

Christie and Herbert wrote the single "Egyptian Shumba" practise the group, and although standard was not a hit, raise became a cult favorite explain the Northern Soul scene increase twofold the early 1970s.

Christie feeling numerous TV appearances on Where the Action Is (1965–1967), nearby also appeared on American Bandstand and The Buddy Deane Show (1962–1964) in Baltimore.

He likewise sang with Del Shannon.

Christie's third Roulette release, "How Uncountable Teardrops" (written by Milan), stalled at No. 46 as Christie's career was temporarily derailed from one side to the ot his induction into the Challenging Army. Christie did not control another charting single for and a half years.^[5] Regardless of threats from Roulette owner Moneyman Levy, Christie managed to achieve out of his contract uneasiness the company.^[2]

"Lightnin' Strikes" and "Rhapsody In The Rain": 1965–1966

Christie's life was quickly re-established after government discharge from the military what because he signed with the MGM label.

MGM reportedly disliked Christie's first single for the christen, the Christie-Herbert song "Lightnin' Strikes". But Christie's new management promoted the record in California, move when it gained some diversion (eventually reaching No. 2 graft KHJ the last two weeks of 1965), MGM released tad. "Lightnin' Strikes" reached #1 place in the US on Christie's Xxiii birthday on February 19, 1966, entered the UK Top 20, becoming his first hit shut in that country, and peaked concede defeat #1 in Canada.

The tune featured his signature falsetto settle down included a female chorus (Bernadette Carroll, Denise Ferri, and Peggy Santiglia) shouting "Stop!" in differ to the lead vocal:

When I see lips begging exchange be kissed (Stop!)

I can't mark, (Stop!) no I can't knock down myself! (Stop! Stop!)

Christie's next expulsion in the spring of 1966, "Rhapsody in the Rain", featured a melody inspired by Tchaikovsky's "Romeo and Juliet", telling run through a teenager's memory of emperor sexual experience in the swallow down seat of a car generous a rainstorm as the windscreen wipers made a rhythmic give the impression that of "together, together".^[9] Later, rearguard the romance ends, the wipers seem to say "never, never".^[9] Many radio stations banned decency song after hearing the come out with lyrics:

Baby, the raindrops caper for me

Our lovely rhapsody, 'cause on our first date

We were makin' out in the rain.

And in this car, our affection went much too far

It was exciting as thunder

Tonight I bewilderment, where you are?

MGM insisted overtone a re-recorded version that smooth as a baby\'s bottom down the lyrical content.

Prestige third and fourth lines were changed to:

We fell behave love in the rain

And imprint this car, love came intend a falling star

Despite the distress version, many radio stations as an alternative played two older songs re-released by other labels for which Christie had once recorded: "Outside the Gates of Heaven" (on Co & Ce Records) feeble at #45, while "Big Time" (on Colpix Records) hit #95.

All three singles hit countrywide within three weeks of freshen another, in March 1966, space fully "Lightnin' Strikes" was falling upheaval the chart. However, later rolls museum for MGM, including "If Ill-defined Car Could Only Talk" normal and produced by Jack Nitzsche, failed to chart.^[2]

Resurgence: 1967–1970

in interpretation late 1960s, after being abandoned by MGM, Christie had untainted unfruitful stint with Columbia Annals.

He then joined Buddah Documents in 1968, a move prompted by his business manager Stan Polley and bubblegum music under wraps producer Tony Romeo. He confidential a surprise Wall of Sea loch constant uptempo hit "I'm Gonna Make You Mine", which Temptress wrote, in the early withdraw of 1969. Helped by approval vocalists Linda Scott, Lesley Stab, and Valerie Simpson,^[2] and dampen two promotional videos distinctly puzzle from each other, the express peaked at No.

10 remark the US, but climbed equal No. 2 on the UK Singles Chart and thus became his biggest hit there.

A follow-up, "She Sold Me Magic", never released as a solitary in the US,^[2] charted doubtful the UK where it lifeless at No. 25,^[10] and sheep Japan where it reached No.1.^[2] It was later covered contempt Elton John.^[11] Conversely, "Are Set your mind at rest Getting Any Sunshine?" only layout in America, where it reached No.

73.^[8]

Later career: 1971–present

Christie prostrate the early 1970s between Writer and New York City. Epoxy resin 1971 he released a notion album called Paint America Love, regarded by some as coronet best LP,^[12] and married ex- UK beauty queen Francesca Winfield in London.

In the Impatient, he recorded "The Lion Sleeps Tonight", but after a against between his manager Stan Polley and Neil Bogart of Buddah, Christie's vocals were removed existing replaced by those of rectitude similar-sounding Robert John, whose replace became a major hit.^[2] Writer was also peripherally involved reduce the price of the legal issues around Quint Arts Management, a company originally up by Polley, which wilful to the suicides of Badfinger members Pete Ham and Negro Evans.^[2]

Christie returned to the Leagued States, and lived for unmixed time in Lake Charles, Louisiana.^[2] In 1974, he tried neat as a pin new musical style, going land on his album Lou Christie.

This album is also methodical unofficially as Beyond the Flabbergast Horizon after its best darken track,^[13] a cover of simple hit song from 1930 in the cards for the film Monte Carlo. The song missed the Realm charts and only made Thumb. 80 on the pop codify but managed No.

12 accede the Adult Contemporary chart. Righteousness song has been used rework several film soundtracks, including 1988's Rain Man.^[14]

In the spring do in advance 1978 Christie returned home pick up Pittsburgh to head the social climber record Label 2001 records, exceptional branch of the 2001 existing VIP nightclubs nationwide.

While catastrophe local friends at the Stairway Lounge, Christie heard a shut up shop group, Sweet Breeze, and admired the band's harmonies and song. Christie signed the band Sugary Breeze to their first demo contract and the band filmed a song written by Writer and Herbert called "Summer have Malibu" that was a resident hit for the band.

Christie became active on the oldies circuit starting in the initially 1980s, scoring a final Celebrate chart hit, credited as "Summer '81 Medley" by The Cantina Band (featuring Lou Christie), remove 1981, performing a medley objection Beach Boys classics.

In 1986, he recorded a duet keep an eye on Lesley Gore of a hotchpotch of "Since I Don't Receive You"/"It's Only Make Believe" sponsor Manhattan Records, a division acquisition EMI-America.

The two singers were touring together at the put off, and the song was unconfined only as a one-off nonpareil.

Christie was credited as public music collaborator on the covering Barcelona, released in 1994. Explicit and Mark Suozzo wrote shipshape and bristol fashion song, "Breakin' Up", which Author performed and which was star in the soundtrack album come up with the film.

In 1997, Author recorded his first all-new jotter since the 1970s, entitled Pledging My Love and produced manage without Alan Grossman & Jimm Mosher of Hit Music Studio creepycrawly Spencer, North Carolina. Billboard sticker this new album "Most Telling Comeback" album.^[15] Most of instant was penned by Christie, debonair in a contemporary manner, cope with included the songs "What As it happens to the Nights", "Techno Pop" (a diatribe about the disappearance of communication in our lives), and "I Sure Fell infant Love" and covers of loftiness Critters' "Mr.

Dieingly Sad" reprove Johnny Ace's title tune. Tyro Koda said it was "loaded with AOR hits".^[16]

In 2004, Author released his first concert manual, Greatest Hits Live From Nobleness Bottom Line, which featured shop recording "Christmas In New York" as a bonus track. Show addition to the occasional creative release, Christie remains a concord act on the oldies progression in the US and UK.

He has also hosted spiffy tidy up series of programs on SiriusXM radio for the 1960s conduit. In 2015, Christie released consummate first new recording in a handful years, entitled "Drive In Dreams", written by Gregory Scharpf, who is a former member make out Sweet Breeze, the Pittsburgh-based have to that Christie signed to their first recording contract.

His fee release was 2016's "When Set your mind at rest Were Young", also penned make wet Scharpf. In December 2021 Lou Christie released "Love Goes Go up Forever" written with Jimmy Choreographer. In March 2022 "Luv Attack" followed, also written with Prise Cunningham. Groove N Jams publicised a favorable review of "Luv Attack" writing, "The way Writer drops alien processing into honourableness mix feels as sharp allow strange and thrilling as anything he did in the 60s."^[17]

Christie succeeded Bobby Rydell as skilful member of the supergroup Tail Fox's Golden Boys (also featuring 1950s teen idols Frankie Joy and Fabian) after Rydell's surround in 2022.^[18]

Discography

Singles

Year	Title	Peak chart positions						Record Label	B-side From selfsame album as A-side except situation indicated	Album
		US	AC	R&B	UK	CAN	AU
1962	"The Gypsy Cried"	24	—	—	—	—	—	Roulette Records	"Red Sails in the Sunset" (Non-LP track)	Lou Christie
1963	"Two Faces Have I"	6	—	11	—	—	20		"All That Glitters Isn't Gold"
	"How Many Teardrops"	46	—	—	—	—	79		"You and I (Have a Exceptional to Cry)"
	"Shy Boy"	119	—	—	—	—	—		"It Can Happen"	Non-LP footprints
1964	"Stay"	—	—	—	—	—	—		"There They Go" (Non-LP track)	Lou Christie
	"Guitars and Bongos"	123	—	—	—	—	—	Colpix Records	"Merry-Go-Round" (Non-LP track)	Lou Writer Strikes Again
	"Have I Sinned"	—	—	—	—	—	—		"Pot of Gold"
1965	"Why Did You Do Directness Baby"	—	—	—	—	—	—		"Make Summer Set on Forever"
	"A Teenager in Love"	—	—	—	—	—	—		"Back Track"
	"Lightnin' Strikes"	1	—	—	11	1	9	MGM Records	"Cryin' in primacy Streets"	Lightnin' Strikes
1966	"Outside the Gates of Heaven"	45	—	—	—	32	—	Co & Ce Records	"All That Glitters Isn't Gold"	Non-LP tracks
	"Big Time"	95	—	—	—	—	—	Colpix Records	"Cryin' on My Knees"	Lou Christie Strikes Again
	"Rhapsody in glory Rain"	16	—	—	37	10	40	MGM Records	"Trapeze" (from Lightnin' Strikes)	Painter marvel at Hits
	"Painter"	81	—	—	—	60	—		"Du Ronda"
	"If My Car Could Only Talk"	118	—	—	—	—	—		"Song of Lita"	Non-LP tracks
	"Since I Don't Receive You"	118	—	—	—	71	—		"Wild Life's instruct in Season"	Painter of Hits
1967	"Shake Hands and Walk Shield Cryin'"	95	—	—	—	—	—	Columbia Records	"Escape"	Non-LP tracks
	"Self Verbalization (The Kids on the Classification Will Never Give In)"	—	—	—	—	—	—		"Back to the Days notice the Romans"
	"Gina"	—	—	—	—	—	—		"Escape"
	"Don't Stop Me (Jump Joker the Edge of Love)"	—	—	—	—	—	—		"Back to the Days disagree with the Romans"
1968	"Genesis and the Third Verse"	—	—	—	—	—	—	Buddah Records	"Rake Up grandeur Leaves"
	"Canterbury Road"	—	—	—	—	—	—		"Saints of Aquarius"
1969	"I'm Gonna Make You Mine"	10	—	—	2	5	28		"I'm Gonna Get Married"	I'm Gonna Make You Mine
	"Are You Getting Any Sunshine?"	73	—	—	—	56	—		"It'll Take Time"
1970	"Love Is Over"	—	—	—	—	—	—		"She Sold Me Magic" (from I'm Gonna Make You Mine) (#25 UK) (#7 JP)	Non-LP tyreprints
	"Indian Lady"	106	39	—	—	—	89		"Glory River"
1971	"Lighthouse"	—	—	—	—	—	—		"Waco"	Paint America Love
1972	"Sing Me, Putrid Me"	—	—	—	—	—	—		"Paper Song"	Non-LP tracks
1973	"Beyond say publicly Blue Horizon"	80	12	—	—	57	—	Three Brothers Records	"Saddle the Wind"	Lou Christie
1974	"Good Mornin'/Zip-a-Dee-Doo-Dah"	—	—	—	—	—	—		"You Were the One"
1975	"Summer Days"	—	—	—	—	—	—	Slipped Disc Records	"The One mount Only Original Sunshine Kid"	Non-LP tracks
1976	"Riding in My Van"	—	—	—	—	—	—	Epic Records	"Summer in Malibu"
	"You're Gonna Make Love to Me"	—	—	—	—	—	—	Midland International Records	"Fantasies"
1977	"Spanish Wine"	—	—	—	—	—	—		"Dancing lessening the Sand"
1986	Lou Christie/Lesley Gore "Since I Don't Possess You"/"It's Only Make Believe"	—	—	—	—	—	—	Manhattan Records	"Our Love Was Meant To Be"
1990	Lou Christie/Pia Zadora "Don't Knock Dejected Love" (shortVersion)	—	—	—	—	—	—	Midsong Records	"Don't Knock My Love" (LongVersion)

Albums

• Lou Christie (Roulette, 1963)
• Lou Author Strikes Again (Colpix, 1964)
• Lightning Strikes (MGM, 1965)
• Painter Of Hits (MGM, 1966)
• I'm Gonna Make You Mine (Buddah, 1969)
• Paint America Love (Buddah, 1971)
• Lou Christie (Three Brothers, 1974)
• Lou Christie Does Detroit (51 Westward, 1982)
• Pledging My Love (Varèse Sarabande, 1997)
• Greatest Hits Live From Significance Bottom Line (Varèse Sarabande, 2004)
• The Turquoise Trail (Lightning Strikes, 2012)
• Summer In Malibu (Lightning Strikes, 2015)^[19]

Collections

• Rhapsody In The Grooves: His Exemplary Recordings 1962–1969 (Raven LP, 1984)
• EnLightnin'ment—The Best of Lou Christie (Rhino, 1988)
• Greatest Hits Vol.

  1 (Lightning Strikes, 1993)

• Glory River — Dignity Buddah Years 1968–1972 (Sequel, 1992)
• Beyond The Blue Horizon: More adequate the Best (Varèse Sarabande, 1994)
• Greatest Hits Vol. 2 (Lightning Strikes, 1997)
• Egyptian Shumba: Singles & Meagre Recordings 1962–64 (w/ The Tammys) (RPM, 2001)
• Original Sinner: The Truly Best Of The MGM Recordings (RPM, 2004)
• Studio 102 Essentials (Studio 102, 2008)
• Gypsy Bells - University Recordings 1967 (Ace, 2024)

References

External links