Singer Chris Rea dies aged 74

The singer Chris Rea, known for hits including Driving Home for Christmas , has died at the age of 74, a spokesperson for his family has said. Chris Rea, pictured on stage in Berlin in October 2017 Chris Rea performing at Dublin's Olympia Theatre in April 2010 The statement issued on behalf of his wife and two children read: "It is with immense sadness that we announce the death of our beloved Chris. He passed away peacefully in hospital earlier today following a short illness, surrounded by his family." The Middlesbrough-born musician was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer and had his pancreas removed in 2001. In 2016, he suffered a stroke. Born to an Irish mother and Italian father in 1951, Rea took various labouring jobs after leaving school and helped out in his family's ice cream business. He found fame in the late Seventies and Eighties with hits such as Fool (If You Think It's Over) , Let's Dance , and The Road to Hell . Rea's debut album, titled Whatever Happened to Benny Santini? , a reference to the stage name his record label wanted him to adopt, was released in 1978. The track Fool (If You Think It's Over) went on to be nominated for a Grammy, and he developed a large fanbase in Ireland. By the time his eighth album, On the Beach , spawning a hit single of the same name, was released, Rea was a star in the UK and around Europe, with sporadic hits in the US. When Road to Hell was released in 1989, he became one of the biggest solo stars in the UK. His most famous song, Driving Home for Christmas , was first released in 1986. Source: Press Association

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