Chris Rea, the singer best known for the festive classic 'Driving Home For Christmas', has died peacefully at the age of 74 surrounded by his family. The musician passed away in hospital following a short illness, his family confirmed in a statement.
While the 1988 track has become a staple of Christmas playlists, Rea revealed in interviews that he was actually banned from driving when he wrote it. He described the song as 'frustrating but hopeful', capturing the universal desire to get home to loved ones during the holidays.
Originally written with Van Morrison in mind, the song was left forgotten for eight years before being placed on the B-side of his single 'Hello Friend'. A DJ then championed the track, and it gradually became the enduring hit it is today. Rea noted that streaming has helped the song enter the Top 40 annually in recent years.
The statement from Rea's wife Joan and daughters Josephine and Julia read: 'It is with immense sadness that we announce the death of our beloved Chris.' Hours before his death, a poignant Instagram post showed a snow-covered motorway with a sign reading 'Driving home for Christmas with a thousand memories.'
