LONDON — Chris Rea, the singer-songwriter best known for the beloved holiday classic “Driving Home for Christmas,” has died at the age of 74, his family confirmed Monday.
Rea passed away in hospital following a short illness, according to a statement shared with Britain’s Press Association news agency.
He rose to fame in the UK during the 1980s with hit songs including “Fool (If You Think It’s Over)” and “Let’s Dance.” His success continued into the following decade, with two studio albums — The Road to Hell in 1989 and Auberge in 1991 — both reaching number one on the British charts.
Although “Driving Home for Christmas” was first released in 1986 and did not immediately top the charts, the gentle, reflective song grew into a long-lasting favorite. Over the years, it became one of the UK’s most-loved festive tracks and was even featured in a Marks and Spencer television advertisement earlier this year.
Rea was born in 1951 in Middlesbrough, in northeast England, to an Italian father and an Irish mother. After leaving school, he held a number of jobs and helped out in his family’s ice cream business.
He picked up the guitar relatively late, at age 21, and played in bands before launching a solo career. Despite his late start, he went on to build a successful and enduring music career.
Rea faced serious health challenges in later life, including pancreatic cancer. In 2016, he also suffered a stroke. In recent years, he stepped away from mainstream pop music and focused on releasing blues-influenced albums.
He is survived by his wife and two daughters.
