Lightnin' Strikes Lightnin' Strikes "Lightnin' Strikes" is a song written by Lou Christie and Twyla Herbert, and recorded by Christie on the MGM label. It was a hit in 1966, making it first to No. 1 in Canada in January 1966 on the "RPM" Top Singles chart, then to No. 1 in the U.S. on the "Billboard" Hot 100 in February, No. 3 on the New Zealand "Listener" chart in May, and No. 11 on the UK "Record Retailer" chart. RIAA certification on March 3, 1966, garnering gold status for selling over one million copies. The song was arranged, conducted, and produced
Lightnin' Willie & the Poorboys at the end of their tour in Europe in that year, which finished in Nottingham, England. The band was also an International Blues Challenge finalist. At the Topanga Canyon Blues Festival in 2012, some of the acts that appeared at the festival were Jimmy Johnson, Chris James and Patrick Rynn, and Lightnin' Willie & the Poorboys. By now the Poorboys were self-billed as "the Biggest Little Band on Earth", and consisted of Lightnin’ Willie on guitar and vocals, plus Michael Murphy on keyboards, Skip Edwards on keyboards and accordion, Jesper Kristensen or Jerry Olsen on drums, with Ron Dzubla playing