Chris Rea, the singer behind the mammoth festive hit Driving Home For Christmas, has died. He was 74.
The musician died on Monday following a short illness, just three days before Christmas.
His family confirmed the news in a statement, writing: “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.”
An accompanying post on his official social media channels added: “Chris’s music has created the soundtrack to many lives, and his legacy will live on through the songs he leaves behind.”
Rea leaves behind his wife Joan and the couple’s daughters, Josephine and Julia Christina.
In a touching move, Rea shared a social media post in the hours before his death.
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https://www.instagram.com/p/DSiMoExCJIQ/?utm_source=ig_embed&
He posted a photo of a car on a snowy road, alongside a road sign that read: “Driving home for Christmas with a thousand memories.”
Rea added the caption: “Top to toe in tailbacks. If it’s a white Christmas, let’s hope the journey is a smooth one.”
The English musician had suffered a myriad of health conditions in the past.
He was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer and had his pancreas removed in 2001, and in 2016 he suffered from a stroke.
Rea was a talented musician, recording 25 solo albums across his career – two of which topped the UK albums chart.
He sold over 40 million records worldwide.
When he wrote his biggest anthem, ‘Driving Home for Christmas’, the singer was ironically serving a driving ban.
His wife had to pick him up from London to drive him home to Middlesbrough, and it was during that time he began writing the song.
The song became one of the most popular Christmas songs of all time after its release in 1986.
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