Chris Rea, the singer and songwriter celebrated for the enduringly popular Christmas song “Driving Home for Christmas,” has died at the age of 74, his family announced today.
Rea passed away in a hospital following a brief illness, according to a statement released by his family to Britain’s Press Association news agency. The gentle, nostalgic tune “Driving Home for Christmas” has become a staple of the holiday season in the United Kingdom.
Rea rose to prominence in the 1980s with hits including “Fool (If You Think It’s Over)” and “Let’s Dance.”
The ‘Driving Home for Christmas’ hit-maker has died age 74
His studio albums, The Road to Hell in 1989 and Auberge in 1991, both reached number one on the UK charts. While “Driving Home for Christmas” wasn’t an immediate sensation upon its 1986 release, the song steadily gained popularity over the years and is now considered one of the UK’s most beloved festive songs, even appearing in a recent television advertisement for Marks and Spencer.
Born in 1951 in Middlesbrough, northeast England, Rea came from an Italian father and an Irish mother. After leaving school, he worked various jobs and assisted in his family’s ice cream business.
He discovered his passion for the guitar relatively late, picking one up at the age of 21, and honed his skills playing in bands before embarking on a successful solo career.
Rea faced several health challenges throughout his life, including a battle with pancreatic cancer and a stroke in 2016. In later years, he shifted his musical focus, releasing a series of blues-influenced albums.
He is survived by his wife and two daughters.
