LONDON — Chris Rea, the singer and songwriter greatest recognized for the hit “Driving Dwelling for Christmas,” has died at 74, his household mentioned Monday.
Rea died within the hospital following a brief sickness, in keeping with a press release from his household to Britain’s Press Affiliation information company.
Rea discovered fame within the Nineteen Eighties in Britain with hits reminiscent of “Idiot (If You Suppose It’s Over)” and “Let’s Dance.”
Two of his studio albums, “The Highway to Hell” in 1989 and “Auberge” in 1991, went to primary within the nation.
“Driving Home for Christmas,” didn’t turn out to be an in a single day hit when it was first launched in 1986, however the mild observe proved to be a permanent success over the a long time and stays one of many U.Okay.’s most-loved festive songs. It featured in a TV commercial for the retailer Marks and Spencer simply this yr.
The musician was born in 1951 in Middlesbrough, in northeast England, to an Italian father and Irish mom. He took varied jobs after leaving faculty and helped out in his household’s ice cream enterprise.
He got here late to the guitar, selecting one up at 21, and performed in bands earlier than going solo.
He had suffered from well being issues together with pancreatic most cancers, and in 2016 he suffered a stroke. In newer years he turned away from pop and launched a number of bluesy information.
Rea is survived by his spouse and two daughters.
