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Chris Rea — the rock singer greatest identified for his 1986 his “Driving Home For Christmas” — has handed away.
He was 74 years previous.
British singer Chris Rea peforms throughout a live performance in theater Carre on November 24, 2014 in Amsterdam. (PAUL BERGEN/AFP through Getty Pictures)
“He passed away peacefully in hospital earlier today following a short illness, surrounded by his family.”
No official explanation for loss of life has been revealed, however Rea handled quite a few well being points in recent times
He had suffered from well being issues, together with pancreatic most cancers, and he suffered a stroke in 2016.
Music legend passes at poignant time of 12 months
Musician Chris Rea attends the Music Business Belief Awards 2005 on November 7, 2005 in London, England. Michael Parkinson is the 2005 recipient of the Music Business Belief Dinner Award, and is honoured at this night’s gala dinner. (Photograph by Jo Hale/Getty Pictures)
Although he scored quite a few hits over the course of his prolonged profession, Rea stays greatest remembered for “Driving Home For Christmas,” a festive favourite in his native UK for practically 40 years.
Although not a direct hit, music ultimately grew to become a vacation mainstay on British radio.
“Driving Home For Christmas” has been featured on quite a few movie and tv soundtracks, and it’s at the moment featured on a TV advert for the UK retailer Marks and Spencer.
Rea additionally hit the British charts with a number of different singles, together with “Fool (If You Think It’s Over)” and “Let’s Dance.”
In 2012, it ranked because the twelfth hottest Christmas music in a nationwide ballot.
UK singer Chris Rea performs on the Nationwide Stadium February 17, 2003 in Dublin, Eire. (Photograph by Getty Pictures)
Born in 1951 in Middlesbrough, in northeast England, to an Italian father and Irish mom, Rea didn’t start taking part in guitar till he was in his twenties, however he took to it immediately.
He performed in a number of regionally in style bands earlier than placing out and discovering success as a solo singer-songwriter.
In recent times, he shifted away from pop and rock right into a extra bluesy sound, and his latter albums acquired among the greatest critiques of his profession.
Our ideas exit to Chris Rea’s family members throughout this extremely tough time.
