American singer-songwriter Lou Christie, a 1960s idol who soared to the top of the charts in the US and UK with songs including Lightnin’ Strikes, has died aged 82.
Christie died at home in Pittsburgh after a short illness his wife, Francesca, confirmed to The Hollywood Reporter on Wednesday night.
No further details were shared.
The singer, famous for his stunning four-octave range and distinctive falsetto, enjoyed his first success aged just 20 with the songs The Gypsy Cried and Two Faces Have I in 1963.
He then hit the big time in 1966 with Lightnin’ Strikes, which soared to number one on the US Billboard charts.
Later that year he courted controversy with the track Rhapsody in the Rain thanks to its suggestive lyrics about a teenager’s sexual encounter, which saw it banned from radio stations.
A re-recorded version with toned-down lyrics was later released at the insistence of his record label, MGM.
His 1969 song I’m Gonna Make You Mine subsequently topped the charts in the UK.
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