Claire Sardina
Claire Sardina | |
|---|---|
Sardina in 2025 | |
| Born | Claire Therese Stingl December 23, 1961 Milwaukee, Wisconsin, U.S. |
| Occupation | Entertainer |
| Years active | 1989–2006; 2016–present |
| Spouses | |
| Children | 2 |
| Website | https://web.archive.org/web/20050212092245/http://members.aol.com/lightnn/index.htm |
Claire Sardina (née Stingl; born December 23, 1961) is an American entertainer, known for her partnership with her husband Mike Sardina and their Neil Diamond tribute band, Lightning and Thunder, and her work as a Patsy Cline tribute artist.[1] They have been the subjects of a documentary and feature film.
Early life and education
Claire Sardina was born Claire Stingl in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, the daughter of Frances (née Cafferty; 1924–2011) and Kenneth Stingl (1920–1971), both factory workers.[2] Her father died when she was nine years old from a sudden heart attack, and she was raised by a single mother, one of six children.[3][4] Her brother Jim Stingl is a journalist with the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. She graduated from Messmer High School, a private Catholic high school, where she sang in the choir, and then studied cosmetology at Milwaukee Area Technical College.[5]
In 1999, she lost her leg when a car ran her over in the front yard of her home. She continued to perform with a prosthetic leg. She has two children, Dayna and Rachel Cartwright,[6] with her first husband, as well as two grandchildren. As shown in the documentary, her daughter Rachel became pregnant at 20 and placed the baby (Evan) for adoption.
Lightning and Thunder
She met "Mike" Michael Henry Sardina (1951–2006) in 1987 when she auditioned for his band. A romance later began and they decided to start a band together titled Lightning and Thunder, with herself taking the nickname of "Thunder". The pair performed in the Milwaukee and Chicago area throughout the 1980s and 1990s, often at state fairs, including the Wisconsin State Fair, music festivals like Summerfest, or as an opening act for major bands (including Pearl Jam), touring through the area. The band ended in 2006 after the death of Mike due to a head injury.[7] Claire continues to perform as a solo act named Thunder After Lightning. In 2026, she was a special guest performer on the So Good! Neil Diamond Experience starring Robert Neary Tour, performing at the tour stops in Phoenix, Arizona and in Milwaukee.[8]
In 2025, the Wisconsin Area Music Industry Association (WAMI) awarded the band with a lifetime achievement award in recognition of "giving Wisconsin decades of music, heart, and inspiration".[9]
Discography
Albums
In 1996, Lightning and Thunder released a studio recording featuring four original songs, and six covers. The album features her cover of the Patsy Cline standard Crazy.[10]
| Year | Title | Formats |
|---|---|---|
| 1996 | Hold On: Clean Songs Thru The School of Hard Knocks | Enhanced CD/Download |
Portrayal in media
A documentary about her life was created and released in 2008 by Greg Kohs titled Song Sung Blue.
A feature film about her life, based on the documentary, was released in 2025 by Focus Features, also titled Song Sung Blue. In the film she was portrayed by Kate Hudson.[11] Hudson earned an Academy Award for Best Actress nomination for her performance as Sardina.
References
- ^ Staff, Shepherd Express (Mar 25, 2011). "The Lightning & Thunder Story". Shepherd Express.
- ^ Obituary information for Frances Mary Stingl
- ^ Hoekstra, Dave (Aug 19, 1999). "Thunder Struck".
- ^ "Living life on behalf of dad who didn't get this far". www.jsonline.com.
- ^ "Jim Stingl". Journal Sentinel.
- ^ "Milwaukee's "Thunder" shares more about new film with Hugh Jackman, Kate Hudson". OnMilwaukee. Oct 22, 2024.
- ^ Levy, Piet (2025-09-09). "The trailer is out for 'Song Sung Blue,' about Milwaukee band Lightning & Thunder". Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Retrieved 24 November 2025.
- ^ So Good The Neil Diamond Experience.Com Neil Diamond Experience Official Site and Tour Scheduleaccessed 01/25/206
- ^ "WAMI honors "Lightning & Thunder" with lifetime achievement award". OnMilwaukee. Apr 16, 2025.
- ^ archive.org Lighting and Thunder Original Website CD ORder and downloadaccessed 02/02/2026
- ^ "Hugh Jackman and Kate Hudson Make a Musical Dream Team in First Trailer for 'Song Sung Blue'". People.com.