British singer-songwriter Chris Rea, widely celebrated for the festive classic Driving Home for Christmas, has died at the age of 74, his family announced on Monday.
In a statement released to UK media, a spokesperson for his wife and two children said the musician passed away peacefully in hospital after a brief illness, surrounded by his family.
“It is with immense sadness that we announce the death of our beloved Chris,” the statement read.
A message shared on his official social media platforms described his enduring impact, noting that his music had become “the soundtrack to many lives” and that his legacy would continue through the songs he left behind. No further details were disclosed.
Born in 1951 in Middlesbrough, northeast England, Rea rose to prominence in the late 1970s with the hit single Fool (If You Think It’s Over). He went on to achieve major success in the 1980s with tracks such as Let’s Dance and The Road to Hell, earning a reputation for his distinctive gravelly voice and masterful slide guitar style.
Over the course of his career, Rea released 25 solo albums, two of which reached number one on the UK albums chart. He also received a Grammy nomination early in his career.
Despite ongoing health challenges, including a pancreatic cancer diagnosis that led to the removal of his pancreas in 2001 and a stroke in 2016, Rea remained a respected figure in the music industry.
His 1986 song Driving Home for Christmas became a staple of the festive season in the UK, regularly re-entering the singles chart every December. In recent weeks, the track climbed to number 30 and featured prominently in a Christmas advertisement for Marks & Spencer.
According to his official website, the song captures the experience of a tired traveller heading home, blending warmth, humour and holiday spirit. Rea had previously revealed that he wrote the song during a challenging period in his life, while being driven by his wife after facing personal and professional setbacks.
Chris Rea is remembered as one of Britain’s most distinctive and enduring musical voices, whose work continues to resonate across generations.
British Music Icon Chris Rea Dies at 74
