Remembering Chris Rea: Celebrated Singer of ‘Driving Home for Christmas’ and ‘The Road to Hell’ Passes Away at 74

Chris Rea in London in October 2015.
Credit: Joseph Branston/Guitarist Magazine/Future via Getty

NEED TO KNOW

• Blues and rock singer Chris Rea has died at the age of 74 following a short illness, his family confirmed on Monday, Dec. 22.
• The British singer is best known for the hit singles “Driving Home for Christmas,” “Road to Hell,” and “Josephine.”
• Rea suffered several health problems leading up to his death, including diabetes and cancer.

Chris Rea, renowned for classic hits such as “Driving Home for Christmas” and “The Road to Hell,” passed away on December 22 at the age of 74.

His family announced his death through an Instagram post, revealing that he died peacefully after a short illness. “It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of our beloved Chris,” they wrote, emphasizing his significant impact on music. “Chris’s music has created the soundtrack to many lives, and his legacy will live on through the songs he leaves behind.”

In the years leading up to his death, Rea faced multiple health challenges, including a diagnosis of pancreatic cancer in 1994, which required extensive surgery and resulted in diabetes. Further complicating his health, he suffered a stroke in 2016, as reported by the BBC and The Guardian.

Chris Rea performing in Paris in October 2017.
Credit: David Wolff – Patrick/Redferns

Born in North Yorkshire in 1951, Rea was one of six siblings. He began his music career at 22 with a band called Magdalene before joining the Beautiful Losers. It was in the early 1970s that he launched his solo career, eventually landing his first record deal in 1974. His debut single, “So Much Love,” marked the beginning of a series of successes.

Rea gained substantial recognition in the U.S. with his 1978 hit “Fool (If You Think It’s Over),” which earned him a Grammy nomination for Best New Artist. His holiday classic “Driving Home for Christmas” was released in 1986 as part of the compilation album New Light Through Old Windows. Although it did not achieve immediate success, the song became a perennial favorite and continues to appear on holiday charts worldwide.

Chris Rea performs in Berlin in October 2017.
Credit: Frank Hoensch/Redferns

Throughout the late 1980s, Rea solidified his status with albums like The Road to Hell (1989) and Auberge (1991), which featured popular tracks such as “The Road to Hell” and “Josephine,” dedicated to his daughter.

Following his stroke in 2016, Rea reflected on the experience, noting it was “a very scary moment” as he feared for his musical abilities. However, he made a comeback with his final album, Road Songs for Lovers, in 2017, although he faced health setbacks that led to the cancellation of several performances.

Chris Rea is survived by his wife, Joan, and their two daughters, Josephine and Julia.