Chris Rea, the popular singer-songwriter behind the holiday hit ‘Driving Home for Christmas‘, has passed away at 74 after a brief illness. His family announced the news with deep sadness.
We are deeply saddened to announce that Chris has passed away, according to a statement reported by Sky News. He died peacefully in hospital this morning after a brief illness, with his family by his side.
Rea, originally from Middlesbrough, was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in his thirties and underwent surgery to remove his pancreas in 2001. He later suffered a stroke in 2016, but thankfully recovered and went on to release two more studio albums.
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Chris Rea released his first studio album, Whatever Happened to Benny Santini?, in 1978. However, it wasn’t until 1989 with The Road to Hell that he first topped the charts. He followed this success with Auberge in 1991, which also reached the number one spot in the UK.
Although he’s known for many things, he’s probably most famous for his Christmas song ‘Driving Home for Christmas,’ first released in 1986. A re-recorded version climbed to number 53 on the UK singles chart in 1988.
Although the song wasn’t initially a big hit, it’s become a beloved Christmas classic over the years. It even climbed to number 10 in the charts in 2021. As of recently, following the passing of its singer, it’s currently at number 30 (according to the Official Charts Company).
Following the news of his death, many people have shared tributes to the singer and musician Chris Rea. Middlesbrough Football Club posted on Instagram, calling him a “Teesside icon” and offering their condolences.
Middlesbrough Mayor Chris Cooke expressed his sadness at the news, saying his thoughts were with Chris Rea’s family and friends. Cooke noted that Rea was very proud of his connection to Middlesbrough, according to a statement reported by BBC News.
Everyone in town felt a strong connection to him and was proud to call him one of their own. Tonight, millions worldwide will be enjoying his music. He really helped put Middlesbrough on the map, and he’ll be remembered for his incredible musical contributions.
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2025-12-22 19:19