LONDON — Chris Rea, the singer-songwriter best known for the hit “Driving Home for Christmas,” has died at age 74, his family said Monday.
Rea died in hospital after a short illness, according to a statement from his family to the British Press Association news agency.
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”.
His two studio albums, “The Road to Hell” in 1989 and “Auberge” in 1991, reached number one in the country.
“On the Way Home for Christmas” wasn't an overnight hit when it was first released in 1986, but the gentle track has been a sustained success for decades and remains one of Britain's best-loved festive songs. Just this year he was featured in a television advert for retail chain Marks and Spencer.
The musician was born in 1951 in Middlesbrough, northeast England, to an Italian father and an Irish mother. After graduating from school, he took various jobs and helped his family in the ice cream business.
He came to the guitar late, picking it up at age 21, and played in bands before pursuing a solo career.
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.
