A spokesperson for his family said Rea passed away peacefully in hospital following a short illness.
Rea enjoyed a long and successful music career that spanned more than four decades. He blended blues, pop, soul and soft rock across 25 studio albums and sold over 30 million records worldwide. Among his biggest hits were The Road to Hell, On the Beach and Josephine, songs that helped him build a loyal international fan base.
Born in 1951 in Middlesbrough to an Italian father and an Irish mother, Rea often spoke about feeling like an outsider growing up. Before music took over his life, he worked various labouring jobs, including at his father’s ice-cream factory, and even considered becoming a journalist.
He began his music journey seriously in his early twenties, joining local bands before launching a solo career in the mid-1970s. His early breakthrough came in the United States when his 1978 song Fool (If You Think It’s Over) reached the charts and earned him a Grammy nomination. Despite this success, Rea later admitted he struggled for several years with the pressures and politics of the music industry.
His fortunes changed in the mid to late 1980s. Albums such as Dancing With Strangers and The Road to Hell made him a major star in the UK, leading to a run of six top-10 albums. During this period, his career reached its commercial peak.
Driving Home for Christmas, first recorded in 1986, became his most famous song. Although it was not an immediate hit, it slowly grew into a seasonal classic and returned to the charts many years later. Rea once said he wrote the song during a difficult time in his life while being driven home by his wife because he could not afford a train ticket.
In later years, Rea moved away from pop music and returned to his roots in blues, releasing more personal and guitar-driven albums. Outside music, he was a passionate motor racing fan, racing cars himself and even working briefly as a pit mechanic in Formula One.
Rea faced serious health challenges throughout his life. He underwent major surgery for pancreatic cancer in 2001, suffered a stroke in 2016, and collapsed on stage during a concert the following year. Despite this, he continued to make music and perform when his health allowed.
He is survived by his wife Joan, his partner since his teenage years, and their two daughters, Josephine and Julia. Both were a constant source of inspiration in his life and music.
Chris Rea leaves behind a rich musical legacy, with songs that continue to resonate across generations — especially every winter, when millions still sing along as they drive home for Christmas.
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