British singer‑songwriter Chris Rea, famed for the 1986 hit “Driving Home for Christmas,” died at a hospital in July 2025 at age 74, according to his family.
Family Confirms Death
A family spokesperson, speaking with deep sadness, announced that Rea had passed away peacefully in the hospital today after a brief illness, surrounded by his wife and two children.
Global Career Highlights
Rea rose to prominence in the 1970s and 1980s with a distinct, gritty voice and slide‑guitar sound, releasing 25 studio albums, two of which topped the UK charts. His debut, “Whatever Happened To Benny Santini?” (1978), earned a Grammy nomination for the single “Fool (If You Think It’s Over)” and launched an international career. He achieved a UK number‑one in 1989 with “The Road to Hell” and repeated the feat with “Auberge” (1991).
Holiday Icon
Despite an extensive catalogue of hits, Rea’s “Driving Home for Christmas” (1986) remains a December staple, re‑entering the charts each holiday season. In 2025 the song peaked at number 30 and received frequent radio and television play, including a spot in a Marks & Spencer Christmas advertising campaign.
Life on the Road
Roads and cars were central themes in Rea’s music; he spent countless hours touring, translating those experiences into tracks like “The Road to Hell,” “Auberge,” “On the Beach,” and “Driving Home for Christmas.” Born in 1951 in Middlesbrough, he worked in his father Camillo Rea’s ice‑cream shops as a teenager, driving a family van before turning professional.
Early Life and Polish Debut
Rea first performed in Poland in 1978. Over a forty‑year career, he sold tens of millions of records worldwide and also pursued film and painting.
