British Rock and Blues Singer Chris Rea Dies at 74
According to CinemaDrame News Agency, beloved British singer Chris Rea has passed away at the age of 74. A spokesperson for the Rea family confirmed in a statement that he died in hospital following a short illness.
Rea was best known for songs such as “Driving Home for Christmas” and several other popular tracks from his 1989 album The Road to Hell. Over the course of his career, he released 25 solo albums, selling more than 30 million copies worldwide.
He had long struggled with a number of health issues and was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer at the age of 33. In 2017, Rea collapsed while performing on stage at a concert in Oxford.
Chris Cooke, the mayor of Middlesbrough — Rea’s hometown — reacted to the singer’s death in a statement, saying: “Tonight, millions of people around the world are listening to his music.”
Rea also had acting roles in the films Parting Shots (1999) and La Passione (1996).
