The singer, whose hits include Driving Home For Christmas, passed away following a short illness
Chris Rea, whose hits include the festive favourite Driving Home For Christmas, has died at the age of 74.
A statement on the Official Chris Rea Facebook page said: “It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of our beloved Chris, who died peacefully earlier today following a short illness. Chris’s music has created the soundtrack to many lives, and his legacy will live on through the songs he leaves behind.”
In a poignant Instagram post shared just hours before his death was announced, a photograph showed a car on a busy snowy motorway beneath a road sign reading, “Driving home for Christmas with a thousand memories.” The image was accompanied by a caption that said: “Top to toe in tailbacks… If it’s a white Christmas, let’s hope the journey’s a smooth one.”
The Middlesbrough-born musician achieved 13 UK Top 40 singles, including two Top 10 hits: Driving Home For Christmas and The Road To Hell (Part 2).
Originally recorded as the B-side to his 1986 single Hello Friend, Driving Home For Christmas attracted little attention when it was first released but has become increasingly popular over the years. A re-recorded version appeared as one of two new songs on Rea’s first compilation album, New Light Through Old Windows, and peaked at No.10 in 2021. Now regarded as a perennial festive favourite, the track was placed at No.30 in the current chart listing and features in an M&S Food Christmas advert starring Dawn French.
Prolific Artist
Born Christopher Anton Rea on 4 March 1951 to an Italian father, Camillo, and an Irish mother, Winifred K. Slee, he was one of seven children. Inspired by the likes of Charlie Patton, Blind Willie Johnson and Sister Rosetta Tharpe, Rea was a passionate disciple of the blues.
His debut studio album, Whatever Happened To Benny Santini?, was released in 1978 and the lead single, Fool (If You Think It’s Over), was his biggest Stateside hit, reaching No.1 on the Adult Contemporary Singles chart and No.12 on the Billboard Hot 100.
During a long and prolific career, Rea recorded 25 studio albums, two of which topped the Official UK Albums Chart: The Road To Hell in 1989 and its follow-up, Auberge, in 1991. He secured a total of nine UK Top 20 LPs, including Dancing With Strangers (No.2), God’s Great Banana Skin (No.4), Espresso Logic (No.8), The Blue Café (No.10), as well as the compilation collections New Light Through Old Windows (No.5), The Best Of Chris Rea (No.3) and Still So Far To Go – The Best Of Chris Rea (No.8).
Rea faced serious health challenges during his life. At 33 he was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer and in 2001 underwent surgery to remove his pancreas along with parts of his stomach and small intestine. Fifteen years later he suffered a stroke in 2016. Reflecting on his health in a 2020 appearance on Gone Fishing with Bob Mortimer and Paul Whitehouse, he revealed that he “never really got over it.”
Among the first to share tributes on social media was Middlesbrough Football Club, who posted: “We’re deeply saddened to learn of the passing of Chris Rea. A Teesside icon. Rest in peace, Chris.”
He is survived by his wife, Joan, and their daughters, Josephine and Julia.
Classic Pop extends its condolences to his family, friends, and fans.
Featured image credit: Richard Ecclestone/Redferns/Getty Images
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