| Born Lugee Alfredo Giovanni Sacco in Glen Willard, Pennsylvania on February 19, 1943, Lou Christie's shrieking falsetto is among the most distinctive voices in all of pop music, he is also one of the first solo performers of the rock era to compose his own material, generating some of the biggest and most memorable hits of the mid-1960's. It started with "The Gypsy Cried" in 1962 and "Two Faces Have I," "Lightnin' Strikes" and "Rhapsody In The Rain" followed. Scoring one last Top Ten hit in 1969 with "I'm Gonna Make You Mine" before his career faltered. Drug problems plagued Christie during the early 1970's, and after getting clean at a London rehab clinic, he dropped out of music, working variously as a ranch hand, offshore oil driller and carnival barker. With the onset of the disco music boom Lou ventured into the arena with two releases in 1978. Neither bore his moniker. The first was "Summer In Malibu" under the guise of Sweet Breeze. The 12" was released on his own 2001 records. The second 12" single was the "Theme From 'People' " released on the Lifesong imprint under the name Sacco. Both songs are pleasant enough and knowing that it's Lou's voice helps me appreciate them. Neither sold well and largely went unplayed in clubs or radio. One last 12" single was issued in 1981. This time he chose to use his own name on the "Guradian Angel" release. This record received minor exposure, more from the publicity that the G.A.'s generated than it's own merits. During the 1980's, he was making the occasional appearance on oldies package tours, mostly with Lesley Gore with whom he had recorded a duet with in 1982. In 1997 he issued "Pledging My Love," his first new material in over a decade. |
