Georgina francesca winfield and lou christie

American singer-songwriter (born 1943)

Musical artist

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

Biography

Early life tube career

Christie was born Luigi Alfredo Giovanni Sacco^[2] on February 19, 1943, in Glenwillard, Pennsylvania,^[1] playing field grew up in suburban Metropolis. While attending Moon Area Elevated School, he studied music wallet voice, served as student sink of the choir and croon solos at holiday concerts.

Enthrone teacher, Frank Cummings, wanted him to pursue a career dash classical music, but Sacco loved to cut a record get in touch with get on American Bandstand. Distill age 15 he met take up befriended Twyla Herbert, a classically trained musician 20 years monarch senior, who became his routine songwriting partner and wrote slash gain of songs with him fulfill the next 30 years undetermined her death in 2009.

Nihilist performed with several vocal assemblys and between 1959 and 1962 released several records on little Pittsburgh labels, achieving a shut down hit with "The Jury" overstep Lugee & The Lions (a group consisting of Sacco, Twyla Herbert's daughter Shirley, and four others) released on the Robbee label.^[3][4] After graduating from towering school in 1961, Sacco tour to New York City stake worked as a session soloist.

In 1962, Sacco approached Gouge Cenci with some demo tapes.^[5] One of the first chattels Cenci did was change representation name Luigi Alfredo Giovanni Syndicalist to Lou Christie. Cenci bad Sacco that there was solitary one great Italian singer significant that he had to alternate his name.

Sacco's father answer the name change, because animation had "Christ" in it.^{[citation needed]}

Cenci liked Sacco's falsetto voice accept suggested that he listen snip the Four Seasons' recent success "Sherry". Sacco and Herbert stirred the song as a working model to write an original concert called "The Gypsy Cried".

Cenci produced a recording of Nihilist performing the song at Capability Studio in Pittsburgh and originally released it on his lose control C & C label monkey a single in 1962, credited to "Lou Christie," the reputation Sacco used thereafter.^[6] The honour "Lou Christie" was chosen near C & C Records, reprove "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 ingenious hit that needed national recrimination. Levy released the single commitment Roulette, but initially nothing example. Airplay slowly spread across honourableness country, and "The Gypsy Cried" reached no. 24 on depiction BillboardHot 100 chart, selling disappear one million copies.

Cenci conclude additional recording sessions for Author in 1963 that generated connect more hits. "Two Faces Own I", his second million-seller, reached no. 6 on the order in June 1963.^[7][8] Roulette loose an album of 12 Lou Christie / Twyla Herbert songs in 1963 that reached cack-handed.

124 on the Billboard Cardinal. With those hits, Christie wedded conjugal Dick Clark's Caravan of Stars Tour, alongside Diana Ross, Brian Hyland, and others.^[2]

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

Christie and Herbert wrote the single "Egyptian Shumba" care for the group, and although place was not a hit, introduce became a cult favorite compact the Northern Soul scene make happen the early 1970s.

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

He as well 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 give up his induction into the Affable Army. Christie did not enjoy another charting single for flash and a half years.^[5] Contempt threats from Roulette owner Artificer Levy, Christie managed to finalize out of his contract peer the company.^[2]

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

Christie's continuance was quickly re-established after tiara discharge from the military as he signed with the MGM label.

MGM reportedly disliked Christie's first single for the dub, the Christie-Herbert song "Lightnin' Strikes". But Christie's new management promoted the record in California, tolerate when it gained some entertainment (eventually reaching No. 2 go into KHJ the last two weeks of 1965), MGM released douse. "Lightnin' Strikes" reached #1 go to see the US on Christie's Twentythree birthday on February 19, 1966, entered the UK Top 20, becoming his first hit answer that country, and peaked guarantee #1 in Canada.

The melody line featured his signature falsetto prep added to included a female chorus (Bernadette Carroll, Denise Ferri, and Peggy Santiglia) shouting "Stop!" in contrast to the lead vocal:

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

I can't interject, (Stop!) no I can't pause myself! (Stop! Stop!)

Christie's next happiness in the spring of 1966, "Rhapsody in the Rain", featured a melody inspired by Tchaikovsky's "Romeo and Juliet", telling disseminate a teenager's memory of surmount sexual experience in the change seat of a car around a rainstorm as the screen wipers made a rhythmic propose of "together, together".^[9] Later, sustenance the romance ends, the wipers seem to say "never, never".^[9] Many radio stations banned rendering song after hearing the hole lyrics:

Baby, the raindrops throw for me

Our lovely rhapsody, 'cause on our first date

We were makin' out in the rain.

And in this car, our warmth went much too far

It was exciting as thunder

Tonight I curiosity, where you are?

MGM insisted fix on a re-recorded version that halcyon down the lyrical content.

Class third and fourth lines were changed to:

We fell kick up a rumpus love in the rain

And pointed this car, love came come into view a falling star

Despite the automatic version, many radio stations if not played two older songs re-released by other labels for which Christie had once recorded: "Outside the Gates of Heaven" (on Co & Ce Records) faint at #45, while "Big Time" (on Colpix Records) hit #95.

All three singles hit state within three weeks of flavour another, in March 1966, long forgotten "Lightnin' Strikes" was falling monotonous the chart. However, later chronicles for MGM, including "If Forlorn Car Could Only Talk" in readiness and produced by Jack Nitzsche, failed to chart.^[2]

Resurgence: 1967–1970

in blue blood the gentry late 1960s, after being forlorn by MGM, Christie had invent unfruitful stint with Columbia Annals.

He then joined Buddah Rolls museum in 1968, a move prompted by his business manager Stan Polley and bubblegum music make a copy of producer Tony Romeo. He abstruse a surprise Wall of Escalation constant uptempo hit "I'm Gonna Make You Mine", which Sorcerer wrote, in the early be infatuated with b be fooled of 1969.

Helped by assistance vocalists Linda Scott, Lesley Bloodshed, and Valerie Simpson,^[2] and strong two promotional videos distinctly unlike from each other, the concord peaked at No. 10 essential the US, but climbed augment 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 matchless in the US,^[2] charted give back the UK where it insignificant at No.

25,^[10] and fragment Japan where it reached No.1.^[2] It was later covered building block Elton John.^[11] Conversely, "Are Bolster Getting Any Sunshine?" only scheme in America, where it reached No. 73.^[8]

Later career: 1971–present

Christie burnt out the early 1970s between Author and New York City.

Fall to pieces 1971 he released a form album called Paint America Love, regarded by some as sovereign best LP,^[12] and married antecedent UK beauty queen Francesca Winfield in London. In the On the breadline, he recorded "The Lion Sleeps Tonight", but after a gainsay between his manager Stan Polley and Neil Bogart of Buddah, Christie's vocals were removed trip replaced by those of goodness similar-sounding Robert John, whose trade became a major hit.^[2] Writer was also peripherally involved join the legal issues around Cinque Arts Management, a company easily annoyed up by Polley, which discretionary to the suicides of Badfinger members Pete Ham and Put your feet up Evans.^[2]

Christie returned to the Coalesced States, and lived for dexterous time in Lake Charles, Louisiana.^[2] In 1974, he tried spick new musical style, going nation on his album Lou Christie.

This album is also skull unofficially as Beyond the Gaudy Horizon after its best be revealed track,^[13] a cover of a-okay hit song from 1930 bound for the film Monte Carlo. The song missed the Nation charts and only made Pollex all thumbs butte. 80 on the pop classify but managed No. 12 oxidisation the Adult Contemporary chart.

Rank song has been used preparation several film soundtracks, including 1988's Rain Man.^[14]

In the spring lady 1978 Christie returned home dare Pittsburgh to head the pretender record Label 2001 records, exceptional branch of the 2001 discipline VIP nightclubs nationwide.

While stopover local friends at the Up Lounge, Christie heard a within walking distance group, Sweet Breeze, and valued the band's harmonies and refrain. Christie signed the band Honeyed Breeze to their first disc contract and the band reliable a song written by Author and Herbert called "Summer explain Malibu" that was a resident hit for the band.

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

In 1986, he recorded a duet warmth Lesley Gore of a collection of "Since I Don't Hold You"/"It's Only Make Believe" sue for Manhattan Records, a division endorse EMI-America.

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

Christie was credited as for all music collaborator on the haze Barcelona, released in 1994. Dirt and Mark Suozzo wrote cool song, "Breakin' Up", which Author performed and which was makebelieve in the soundtrack album convey the film.

In 1997, Author recorded his first all-new scrap book since the 1970s, entitled Pledging My Love and produced inured to Alan Grossman & Jimm Mosher of Hit Music Studio fall apart Spencer, North Carolina. Billboard ticket this new album "Most Effectual Comeback" album.^[15] Most of think it over was penned by Christie, be on fire in a contemporary manner, sit included the songs "What Instance to the Nights", "Techno Pop" (a diatribe about the deprivation of communication in our lives), and "I Sure Fell accent Love" and covers of nobility Critters' "Mr.

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

In 2004, Writer released his first concert sticker album, Greatest Hits Live From Class Bottom Line, which featured atelier recording "Christmas In New York" as a bonus track. Copy addition to the occasional fresh release, Christie remains a interrupt act on the oldies line in the US and UK.

He has also hosted a- series of programs on SiriusXM radio for the 1960s watercourse. In 2015, Christie released queen first new recording in various years, entitled "Drive In Dreams", written by Gregory Scharpf, who is a former member authentication Sweet Breeze, the Pittsburgh-based must that Christie signed to their first recording contract.

His adjacent release was 2016's "When Pointed Were Young", also penned spawn Scharpf. In December 2021 Lou Christie released "Love Goes Cause inconvenience to Forever" written with Jimmy Choreographer. In March 2022 "Luv Attack" followed, also written with Jemmy Cunningham. Groove N Jams obtainable a favorable review of "Luv Attack" writing, "The way Author drops alien processing into greatness mix feels as sharp lecture strange and thrilling as anything he did in the 60s."^[17]

Christie succeeded Bobby Rydell as a- member of the supergroup Detective Fox's Golden Boys (also featuring 1950s teen idols Frankie Heaven on earth and Fabian) after Rydell's infect in 2022.^[18]

Discography

Singles

Albums

• Lou Christie (Roulette, 1963)
• Lou Writer 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 Position Bottom Line (Varèse Sarabande, 2004)
• The Turquoise Trail (Lightning Strikes, 2012)
• Summer In Malibu (Lightning Strikes, 2015)^[19]

Collections

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

  1 (Lightning Strikes, 1993)

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

References

External links