LUGEE ALFREDO GIOVANNI SACCO TAKES THE STAGE AT THE LARAMAR FOR A NIGHT OF MUSIC MEMORIES

lette Records and went to #24 on the Billboard Top 40 charts, selling over one million records. Not bad for a first effort.

Cenci took Christie back into the studio and that effort was rewarded with the incredible, “Two Faces Have I/All That Glitters Isn’t Gold” (Roulette #4481) that reached #6 on the Billboard charts and again sold over one million records. Soon Christie was invited to go on numerous Dick Clark tours (Summer Shower of Stars Tour). He had just reached his two music goals. Having a hit record and at getting on a Dick Clark tour. Bandstand was next.

quickly picked up by Buddah Records. Buddah produced a new record for Christie with a big sound to it and the next hit was “I’m Gonna Make You Mine/I’m Gonna Get Married” (Buddah #116). This release rose to #10 on the U.S. charts and went to #2 in England.

During the late ‘70s through the ‘90s, there not a more successful artist on the “oldies circuit.” Christie built an amazing career. At one point, Christie helped headline a grandstand show at the Iowa State Fair in Des Moines, IA for eight consecutive years.

This month we’ll be going back to 1963 when the talented Lugee Alfredo Giovanni Sacco came to our Laramar Ballroom as a part of the Summer Shower Of Stars Tour that played the ballroom in August of 1963.

Young Lugee was born in Glenwillard, PA, a suburb of Pittsburgh. When in high school Sacco was a part of every singing group that his high school offered. In addition, if there was an upstart vocal group forming, Sacco would find his way into the group. The kid loved to sing! After graduation from High School, he set two goals. 1) to appear on American Bandstand and 2) to have a hit record.

In 1961 he moved to New York and quickly found work as a session and back-up vocalist. In 1962 he met music producer and arranger, Nick Cenci. Soon he was doing demo vocal sessions for Cenci. Cenci liked Sacco’s falsetto vocals and used the falsetto concept to write for his first hit, “The Gypsy Cried.” Cenci said it was time for a name change for the young Sacco, to one that had more of a contemporary feel to it, that name.....LOU CHRISTIE!

Under his new name, Christie’s “The Gypsy Cried/Red Sails in The Sunset” (Roulette #4457)” was picked up by New York’s Rou-

Soon Christie was appearing on American Bandstand, Where The Action Is and various local teen shows along the East Coast. Christie’s next release, “How Many Teardrops/You & I” (Roulette #4504) got stalled at #46 on the charts as Christie was drafted into the Army and all touring and recording ended abruptly.

Christie was discharged from the Army in early 1965. He was quickly signed to MGM Records; a good move and the biggest was yet to come. Shortly after he signed with MGM, Christie entered the studio with a song he wrote and soon would record “Lightnin’ Strikes/ Cryin’ In The Streets (MGM #13412). That song became the biggest selling single of Christie’s career selling over 3 million copies and reaching #1 in the U. S, #2 in Canada and #20 in England. He followed that up with another monster, “Rhapsody in The Rain/Trapeze” (MGM #13473). This was an amazing run of hits for Christie. It was Christie’s signature falsetto that set all these records apart.

In 1969 MGM dropped Christie from his contract, but that contract was

It must have been an amazing night when the Dick Clark backed show arrived at the Laramar Ballroom in August of 1963 with the Summer Shower of Stars show with an incredible lineup, it included: the Kasuals from Pittsburgh, PA who backed all the artists, Lou Christie as the headliner along with Brian Hyland and Ronnie Cochran. Lou still performs today in 2023.

The Laramar Ballroom was such an incredible place to see and experience real deal rock and roll.

Let the fun begin. The mayhem, the chaos, the incredible challenge of corralling close to 100 kids filled with the spirit of the wild on stage. “Madagascar, a Musical Adventure, Jr.”, is coming to Fort Dodge. There will be lions and giraffes, penguins, and interesting animals of all sorts of persuasion.

In short, expect a wildly good time when Stage Door Productions brings this rollicking musical known simply as “Madagascar” to the local stage this summer. Performances are slated for 7 p.m. July 20 22, plus a 2 p.m. on July 22. All shows will be at the Fort Dodge Middle School, 800 N. 32nd St.

But before the curtain can rise, organizers are putting out the word for kids of all ages to get involved. Whether they are seasoned performers or first-timers, there is something fun for everyone.

“We usually get around 100 kids and everybody gets involved one way or another,” said Shelly Bottorff, co-founder of Stage Door Productions.

Auditions are set for 6 p.m. May 21, and May 22, at First United Methodist Church, 127 N. 10th St. The show is under the direction of Alyssa Sparks, with Megan Cassady as musical director and Emily Eastwood for choreography.

Sparks is looking forward to a fun musical that welcomes kids to gain experience and make new friends. “Theater is a great way to make life-long friends,” Sparks said. “We love seeing as many kids as we can participate in these shows.”

Stage Door Productions is open to kids from ages 5 to 18, kindergarten through 12th grade. “Madagascar” was chosen, at least in part, because of the variety of roles and the way that kids of any experience or ability can be welcomed in with a fun part to play.

by lori berglund