The English musician was also the gravelly voice behind such hits as “Auberge,” “Road to Hell,” and “Fool (If You Think It’s Over).”

Chris Rea, ‘Driving Home for Christmas’ singer songwriter, dies at 74

The English musician was also the gravelly voice behind such hits as "Auberge," "Road to Hell," and "Fool (If You Think It's Over)."

By Shania Russell

Shania Russell

Shania Russell is a news writer at *, *with five years of experience. Her work has previously appeared in SlashFilm and Paste Magazine.

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December 22, 2025 11:30 a.m. ET

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Chris Rea performs at Salle Pleyel on Oct. 9, 2017, in Paris. Credit:

David Wolff - Patrick/Redferns

Chris Rea, the rock and blues singer-songwriter behind the holiday classic "Driving Home for Christmas" has died. He was 74.

In a statement issued on behalf of his wife and two children, a spokesperson for Rea's family confirmed his Monday, Dec. 22, death to BBC.

"It is with immense sadness that we announce the death of our beloved Chris," the statement began. "He passed away peacefully in hospital earlier today following a short illness, surrounded by his family."

Representatives for Rea did not immediately respond to **'s request for comment.

Chris Rea performs in Rotterdam, Netherlands, in November 1986.

Rob Verhorst/Redferns

Born Christopher Anton Rea in Middlesbrough, England, on March 4, 1951, the rock and blues singer was well known for his distinctive gravelly voice and slide guitar playing. Rea recorded 25 solo albums throughout his career, two of which topped the U.K. albums chart. He also enjoyed a string of hits including "Auberge," "On the Beach," and "Road to Hell." Though he never toured in the United States, his 1978 single "Fool (If You Think It's Over)" reached No. 12 on the Billboard Hot 100 and earned him a Grammy nod for Best New Artist.

Rea additionally cemented himself in the holiday music pantheon with his 1986 release, "Driving Home for Christmas," which tracks a weary traveller making his way home in the midst of heavy traffic.

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In the aftermath of the song's success, Rea revealed that he wrote the festive tune many years before its final recording, when his wife, Joan, was driving him home to Middlesbrough from a London recording studio in 1978. As the snow intensified, the couple — and many others — kept getting stuck in traffic.

Chris Rea performs in Birmingham, England, in 2014.

Steve Thorne/WireImage

"I'd look across at the other drivers, who all looked so miserable," Rea told* The Guardian *in 2016. "Jokingly, I started singing — We're driving home for Christmas... then, whenever the street lights shone inside the car, I started writing down the lyrics."

Rea initially had no interest in releasing the song, but was encouraged to do so by his record company.

"I didn't need a Christmas song hanging around at that point. I did everything I could to get them not to release that record," he admitted. "Thankfully they did!"

Rea faced a number of health issues throughout his career. In 1994, at 33, he was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, which led to the removal of part of his pancreas, the duodenum, the gall bladder and part of his liver. He was also a type 1 diabetic who faced lifelong kidney problems. In 2016, Rea suffered a stroke, but by the following year, he recovered enough to produce and tour his 24th album, *Road Songs for Lovers*.**

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