Pop-rock singer and songwriter Lou Christie ("Lightnin' Strikes," "I'm Gonna Make You Mine"), 82, died on June 18, according to his Facebook page. Under producer Nick Cenci, Christie had his first hit with 1963’s “The Gypsy Cried,” and began appearing on teen dance shows. He had his first real hit with “Lightnin’ Strikes” in 1966, following up with “Rhapsody in the Rain,” “Since I Don't Have You," and “I’m Gonna Make You Mine.” His career slowed down in the 1970s, though Christie continued recording and performing into the 2010s. He told interviewer Gary James of touring with Dick Clark, “32 one-nighters in a row and a hotel room every other night. We'd sleep on the bus every other night. So, that was grueling. It was hard, but we were young. I had nothing to compare it to. They didn't have VCRs and televisions, even bathrooms on the bus the way they have today.” He added that “I loved those tours. I had a great time on them. Are you kidding? I was sitting on the bus with Diana Ross. She was sitting on the seat next to me. She and I were bus buddies.”
This is truly upsetting news.