Chris Rea, British singer of “Driving Home for Christmas,” dies at 74

Chris Rea, the British singer-songwriter best known for the hit “Driving Home for Christmas,” has died at age 74, his family said Monday.

“It is with great sadness that we announce the death of our beloved Chris,” said a statement on behalf of his wife and two children. BBC reported. “He passed away peacefully today in hospital after a short illness, surrounded by his family.”

Additional information was not immediately available.

Christopher Anton Rea was born in 1951 in Middlesbrough, northeast England, to an Italian father and an Irish mother. He was one of seven children.

He came to the guitar late, picking it up at age 21, and played in bands before pursuing a solo career.

Rea rose to fame in the 1980s in the UK with hits such as “Fool (If You Think It's Over)” and “Let's Dance”.

During his career, Rea recorded 25 solo albums, two of which – “The Road to Hell” in 1989 and “Auberge” in 1991 – reached number one in the country. The song for which he is probably best known in the US, “Fool (If You Think It's Over)”, earned Rea a Grammy nomination for Best New Artist in 1979.

“Driving Home for Christmas”, first released in 1986, has become one of the UK's best-loved festive songs and was featured in a Marks and Spencer TV advert this year.

According to the BBC, the family was famous locally for Camillo's ice cream factory and cafe, which his father owned.

Middlesbrough Mayor Chris Cook paid tribute to Rea on Monday, saying the singer “leaves behind a brilliant legacy”.

“Chris Rea was deeply proud of his Middlesbrough roots and the people of our town were equally proud to call him theirs,” he said, according to the BBC. “Tonight millions of people around the world will listen to his music. His songs helped put Middlesbrough on the map and he leaves behind a brilliant legacy.”

He had health problems, including pancreatic cancer, and suffered a stroke in 2016. In recent years he has turned away from pop music and released several blues records.

Rea is survived by his wife and two daughters.