Christopher Anton “Chris” Rea, the British rock and blues singer-songwriter and guitarist, known for his husky, gravel-toned vocals and distinctive slide-guitar style, died at the age of 74. A spokesperson for his family confirmed that he passed away peacefully in the hospital following a short illness. Rea wrote one of the most enduring holiday songs ever recorded, Driving Home for Christmas.
Born in Middlesbrough in March 4, 1951, in a large Irish-Italian family, Chris Rea built a career that blended blues, soft rock, soul, and pop, selling more than 30 million albums worldwide. While his catalog includes major hits such as The Road to Hell, On the Beach, and Josephine, it is Driving Home for Christmas that cemented his place in popular culture.
Originally recorded in the mid-1980s and quietly released in 1986, the song gained little attention at first. Over time, however, its understated warmth and gentle sense of longing transformed it into a seasonal classic, resurfaces annually in charts across Europe, becoming a staple of holiday playlists across generations.
In one of his final interviews, given just days before his death, Rea spoke to The Independent about the enduring appeal of Driving Home for Christmas, describing its mix of “hope and warmth” as the key to its longevity. The song, he explained, was written during a low point in his career, when his record deal was close to ending and his manager had just quit. Unable to drive and refused a train ticket by his label, Rea was picked up from Abbey Road Studios by his wife in their battered Austin Mini, heading back to Middlesbrough through snow and traffic. Watching the equally weary faces of other drivers, he began jotting down lyrics on a notepad, half-jokingly singing the line that would become iconic. Reflecting on it shortly before his death, Rea said: “It has that hope and warmth to it, like all the classic Christmas songs. That and the frustration of being stuck in the motorway traffic – that’s what people relate to.”
His debut album Whatever Happened to Benny Santini? , released in 1978, brought him international attention. His hit single “Fool (If You Think It’s Over)” earned him a Grammy nomination for Best New Artist, a milestone that marked his arrival on the global stage. Rea’s career peaked commercially in the late 1980s and early 1990s, with a run of successful albums and sold-out tours, before he later returned to the blues influences that first inspired him.
Despite serious health challenges over the years, including pancreatic cancer and a stroke, Rea continued to make music and perform when possible. Rea is survived by his wife Joan, who he began dating aged 17, and their daughters Josephine and Julia, both of whom Rea named hit songs after.
As the holiday season approaches, Driving Home for Christmas will once again fill cars, radios, and living rooms – now carrying an added sense of poignancy, and serving as a lasting reminder of an artist whose quiet storytelling left a permanent mark on popular music.
