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Chris Rea, the British singer-songwriter known for his hit “Driving Home for Christmas,” has died at the age of 74, his family announced Monday.
“It is with immense sadness that we announce the passing of our beloved Chris,” said in a statement on behalf of his wife and two children, the BBC reported. “He passed away peacefully in hospital earlier today following a short illness, surrounded by his family.”
Additional details were not immediately available.
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Christopher Anton Rea was born in 1951 in Middlesbrough, in the north-east of England, to an Italian father and an Irish mother. He was one of seven children.
He took up the guitar late, at age 21, and played in groups before going solo.
Rea rose to fame in the 1980s in Britain with hits such as “Fool (If You Think It’s Over)” and “Let’s Dance.”
Throughout his career, Rea recorded 25 solo albums, two of which – “The Road to Hell” in 1989 and “Auberge” in 1991 – reached No. 1 in the country. The song for which he is probably best known in the United States, “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 this year featured in a Marks and Spencer television advert.
According to the BBC, the family was known locally for the Camillo ice cream factory and cafes, which his father owned.
Middlesbrough Mayor Chris Cooke 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 just as proud to call him one of their own,” he said, according to the BBC. “Millions of people around the world will listen to his music tonight. His songs helped put Middlesbrough on the map and he leaves behind a brilliant legacy.”
He had suffered health problems, including pancreatic cancer, and in 2016 he suffered a stroke. In recent years he has turned away from pop and released several bluesy records.
Rea is survived by his wife and two daughters.
