Chris Rea, Renowned Rock and Blues Singer-Songwriter, Dies Aged 74
Chris Rea, the celebrated rock and blues singer-songwriter, has died aged 74, according to a family spokesperson. Born in 1951 in Middlesbrough to an Italian father and Irish mother, Rea described himself as an outsider in his hometown. Over his career, he sold more than 30 million albums across 25 studio releases. His notable hits include "The Road to Hell," "Driving Home for Christmas," "On the Beach," and "Josephine."
Rea achieved his US breakthrough with the single "Fool (If You Think It’s Over)," which reached No. 12 in 1978 and earned him a Grammy nomination for Best New Artist. His late 1980s peak saw a run of six UK top 10 albums after 1987’s "Dancing With Strangers," two of which reached No. 1. "Driving Home for Christmas" later became a perennial seasonal hit. In the 2000s, he shifted back toward blues music, starting with the 2002 album "Dancing Down the Stony Road."
Aside from music, Rea was a motor racing enthusiast. He competed in the 1993 British Touring Car Championship and worked as a pit mechanic for Jordan F1 in 1995. His health struggles included a diagnosis of pancreatic cancer in 2001, which led to pancreatic removal and diabetes. He also suffered a stroke in 2016 and collapsed on stage in 2017.
