Chris Rea, Driving Home for Christmas Singer, Dies at 74

British Music Legend Chris Rea Passes Away After Short Illness

Chris Rea, the beloved British singer-songwriter best known for his timeless Christmas classic Driving Home for Christmas, has died at the age of 74. His family announced that he passed away peacefully in hospital on December 22, 2025, following a short illness, surrounded by loved ones. The Middlesbrough-born musician leaves behind a remarkable legacy spanning five decades, 25 studio albums, and over 40 million records sold worldwide.

A Career Defined by Distinctive Voice and Slide Guitar

Born Christopher Anton Rea on March 4, 1951, in Middlesbrough, England, Rea came from a working-class Italian-Irish family that ran a local ice cream business. He famously joked that he was 'meant to be developing my father's ice-cream cafe into a global concern, but I spent my time playing slide guitar in the warehouse instead.' His distinctive gravelly voice and masterful slide guitar playing became his musical trademarks.

Rea's breakthrough came in 1978 with Fool (If You Think It's Over), which reached No. 12 on the Billboard Hot 100 in the United States and earned him a Grammy nomination for Best New Artist. However, it was in the 1980s that he achieved major European success with hits like Josephine, I Can Hear Your Heartbeat, and Let's Dance. His 1989 album The Road to Hell topped the UK charts, followed by Auberge in 1991.

The Christmas Classic That Almost Wasn't

Ironically, Rea's most enduring song, Driving Home for Christmas, had humble beginnings. Written in 1978 but not released until 1986 as the B-side to Hello Friend, the song initially failed to chart significantly. In a final interview before his death, Rea revealed to Bob Mortimer that he wrote the song during a difficult period when he was banned from driving and unemployed. 'We were stuck in traffic and I looked at all the other motorists who looked so miserable,' he told The Guardian in 2016. 'As a joke, I started singing: We're driving home for Christmas... And every time a streetlight shone into the car, I wrote down the lyrics.'

The song gained popularity after appearing on a 1988 compilation album and eventually became a Christmas staple, charting annually in the UK since 2007 and featuring prominently in the Dutch Top 2000. It was first performed live in 2014, nearly three decades after its release.

Decades-Long Health Battles

Rea faced significant health challenges throughout his life. At age 33 in 1994, he was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer and underwent a complex 14-hour 'Whipple procedure' that removed his pancreas, parts of his stomach, and other organs. This left him with type 1 diabetes requiring daily insulin. In 2016, he suffered a stroke that affected his speech and mobility, and in 2017 he collapsed on stage during a concert in Oxford.

Despite these challenges, Rea continued to create music, telling interviewers he wasn't afraid of death. In recent years, he reportedly took 34 pills daily to manage his health conditions. His health struggles inspired a return to his blues roots, with albums like Dancing Down the Stony Road (2002) reflecting his personal journey.

Legacy and Tributes

Rea is survived by his wife Joan Lesley, whom he met at age 17, and their two daughters, Josephine and Julia - both immortalized in his songs. Tributes have poured in from across the music world and his hometown of Middlesbrough. Local MP Andy McDonald praised his 'remarkable legacy' and music that 'transcends generations.'

Though he never toured the United States extensively, Rea remained a major star in Europe, particularly in the Netherlands where Josephine became his first major hit. His final album, One Fine Day, was released in 2019. As fans worldwide play Driving Home for Christmas this holiday season, they'll remember the man whose music became synonymous with Christmas travel and whose distinctive voice touched millions.

Sources: BBC News, CBS News, Mirror, Wikipedia