Chris Rea Death: ‘Driving Home for Christmas’ Singer Dies

For a pop rock singer, Chris Rea became known in an unfortunate phase. As pub rock and punk gradually replaced glam and progressive rock, the son of an Italian father and an Irish mother emancipated himself from his first band, Beautiful Losers. But even though he didn’t capture the spirit of the times, he achieved chart success with his first single “Fool (If You Think It’s Over),” which was followed by his first Grammy nomination.

Stylistically, Rea remained undecided for a long time between the soft rock of Chris de Burgh and the sophisticated pop of Dire Straits, until he was fully convincing for the first time on an album length with the gripping “Road To Hell” in 1989. He then denounced social injustices in detail and described the consequences of global environmental pollution. It is hailed as his most compelling recording. Like the equally successful follow-up album “Auberge” two years later, it landed at number 1 in the British album charts.

Since his youth he had a relationship with Joan Lesley, whom he later married. The couple had two daughters. For “Josephine” and “Julia” he wrote two of his best-known and most popular songs, which lovingly reflect his relationship with them. Despite his preference for guitar-driven blues, he hasn’t shied away from incorporating danceable rhythms and radio-friendly sounds into his songs.

As a result, the guitarist was probably too normal for the American market. In the motherland of the blues, which greatly influenced him, he remained comparatively unknown and did not undertake a single tour. He later regretted that he had not focused enough energy on the local market. In Europe, on the other hand, he had a dozen hits with “Driving Home For Christmas”, “Josephine”, “On the Beach” and others, which are still played up and down on mainstream radio stations to this day. His grating voice made him famous and ensured full concert arenas.

The recordings in the early 1990s were brilliant achievements in which the pendulum clearly swung towards Dire Straits, and later successful blues recordings he will remain known for his many melodic radio hits. He died two days before Christmas after a short illness at the age of 74. The title of one of his most famous songs takes on a new meaning: Chris Rea went home this Monday before Christmas.