Chris Rea

Christopher Anton Rea was born on March 4, 1951 in Middlesbrough (North Yorkshire), England. The son of an artisan ice-cream maker, he grew up in a family of Italian and Irish descent, and worked in a number of odd jobs before developing a passion for music. He took up the guitar late, at the age of 21, but quickly developed his distinctive slide style, influenced by the blues. After playing in several local bands, he embarked on a solo career, releasing his acclaimed debut album Whatever Happened to Benny Santini? in 1978, propelled by the single "Fool (If You Think It's Over)", which became a hit in the U.S. (#12 on the Billboard Hot 100) and earned him a Grammy nomination. Despite this early American success, Chris Rea struggled to make an immediate impact in the UK, but continued to record and tour. He fine-tuned his sound between rock, pop and blues, and returned to the limelight with the albums Shamrock Diaries (1985), On the Beach (1986) and Dancing with Strangers (1987). This international success is underpinned by soft rock classics such as "I Can Hear Your Heartbeat" (1983), "Josephine" (1985), "On the Beach" (1986) and "Driving Home for Christmas", a 1978 song that has become a festive standard over the years through compilations. In 1989, Chris Rea is at the peak of his career with The Road to Hell, which reaches #1 in the UK charts and is home to the hit "The Road to Hell (Pt. 2)". In 1991, its successor Auberge also reached #1 in the UK. In the 1990s and 2000s, his career was disrupted by serious health problems. Diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, the musician underwent surgery in 2001 and concentrated on studio work. His style became more blues-oriented, as evidenced by the ambitious box set Blue Guitars (2005). In 2016, a stroke affected his speech and hand mobility, but he managed to continue recording and touring for a few more years, notably with the album Road Songs for Lovers (2017). On December 22, 2025, Chris Rea died after a short illness at the age of 74.