Chris Rea, the British singer-songwriter known for the perennial holiday favorite “Driving Home for Christmas,” died Monday at 74 years old.
The musician died in the hospital after a short illness, surrounded by family, his wife and two daughters confirmed in a statement.
Rea found fame in the 1980s with a distinctive raspy voice and blend of blues-influenced rock that produced hits including “Fool (If You Think It’s Over),” “Let’s Dance” and “The Road to Hell.” Throughout his career, he recorded 25 solo albums and sold over 30 million albums worldwide.
Born in Middlesbrough, England, in 1951 to an Italian father and Irish mother, Rea came to music relatively late. He was 21 years old when he started playing guitar, a delayed beginning that didn’t prevent him from building a remarkable musical legacy.
Before pursuing music full-time, Rea worked in his family’s ice cream business. He played in bands before eventually going solo, releasing his debut album “Whatever Happened to Benny Santini?” in 1978. The record featured “Fool (If You Think It’s Over),” which earned him a Grammy nomination for best new artist in 1979.
His commercial peak came in 1989 with “The Road to Hell,” which reached number one in the United Kingdom. The album “Auberge” followed in 1991, also topping the UK charts. These successes cemented his status as one of Britain’s most enduring rock artists.
Despite numerous hits, Rea became most widely recognized for “Driving Home for Christmas,” first released in 1986. The gentle, sentimental track about the journey home for the holidays initially made little impact but grew into one of Britain’s most beloved festive songs. The track featured in a Marks and Spencer advertisement in 2025.
Ironically, Rea was banned from driving when he wrote the song. “I was on the dole when I wrote that,” he later revealed, explaining that his wife Joan had to drive him home from London because he couldn’t afford the rail fare.
Rea’s career was marked by significant health challenges. He was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer and had major surgery in 2001, when doctors removed his pancreas. The procedure had lasting effects on his health and daily life.
In 2016, Rea suffered a stroke, adding to his medical difficulties. The following year, he collapsed on stage during a concert in Oxford in 2017, requiring hospitalization.
“Chris’s music has created the soundtrack to many lives, and his legacy will live on through the songs he leaves behind,” his family said in their statement announcing his death on December 22, 2025.
Beyond his musical career, Rea was known as a passionate automotive enthusiast. His love of cars and driving influenced many of his songs, particularly “The Road to Hell,” which drew on observations about Britain’s congested motorways and modern life’s frustrations.
Throughout his later career, Rea moved away from mainstream pop toward the Delta blues that had originally inspired him. This shift reflected his longtime admiration for traditional American blues music and allowed him to explore a more personal artistic direction.
Rea’s success came despite what he described as arriving at music as an outsider. Growing up in an Irish-Italian household in Middlesbrough gave him a unique perspective that influenced his songwriting and musical approach.
The musician maintained a notably private personal life throughout his decades in the spotlight. He married Joan, whom he began dating at age 17, and remained with her throughout his life. The couple had two daughters, Josephine and Julia, both of whom became the subjects of hit songs bearing their names.
Rea is survived by Joan, Josephine, and Julia. The family requested privacy as they mourned his passing during the holiday season, a particularly poignant time given his association with one of Christmas music’s most enduring anthems.
His death came just days before Christmas, during the season when “Driving Home for Christmas” reaches millions of listeners each year. The song’s themes of homecoming, family reunion, and holiday anticipation continue to resonate with audiences nearly four decades after its creation.
From his working-class origins in northeast England to international stardom, Rea’s career spanned more than four decades and left an indelible mark on British popular music. His distinctive voice, guitar work, and songwriting created a body of work that transcended temporary trends and connected with multiple generations of listeners.