British singer-songwriter Chris Rea, best known for the enduring festive hit "Driving Home for Christmas", has died at the age of 74.
Rea passed away peacefully in hospital Monday following a short illness, surrounded by his family. A spokesperson for his wife Joan and their two children released a statement expressing immense sadness and confirming his death.
The Middlesbrough-born musician, whose distinctive gravelly voice and bluesy slide guitar defined his sound, recorded 25 studio albums over a career spanning decades. Hits like "Fool (If You Think It's Over)" (a Grammy-nominated track from 1978), "The Road to Hell", "Let's Dance", and "On the Beach" brought him widespread success, particularly in the UK and Europe, where albums such as The Road to Hell (1989) and Auberge (1991) topped the charts.His 1986 song "Driving Home for Christmas" — originally released as a B-side and later featured on the 1988 compilation New Light Through Old Windows — became a perennial holiday favorite.
Written during a snowy drive home with his wife while he was banned from driving, the track has charted in the UK every Christmas since 2007 and featured in this year's M&S Food advert.
Rea overcame significant health challenges, including a pancreatic cancer diagnosis in the 1990s (leading to the removal of his pancreas and development of diabetes) and a stroke in 2016. Despite these, he continued creating music, often drawing from his blues roots.
Tributes poured in from fans, fellow artists, and his hometown of Middlesbrough, where he was hailed as a "Teesside icon" who put the town on the map. His family noted that his music has been the soundtrack to many lives and his legacy will endure through his songs.