Chris Rea, British singer and songwriter known for hits such as Driving Home for Christmasdied at the age of 74, his family reported this Monday. The musician passed away peacefully in hospital, after a short illness, surrounded by his closest family. «It is with immense sadness that we announce the death of our dear Chris. He left peacefully in the hospital, after a short illness", says the statement released on behalf of his wife and two children. Born in 1951, in Middlesbrough, Rea built a career marked by the fusion of blues, pop, soul and soft rock, spanning 25 studio albums. He has suffered several health problems over the years, including pancreatic cancer, which led to the removal of the organ in 2001, and a stroke in 2016. Fame arrived at the end of the 1970s, with Fool (If You Think It’s Over)a song that earned him a Grammy nomination and opened doors to the North American market. In the following years, he established himself as one of the most popular names in British music, especially in the 1980s, with highly successful albums such as The Road to Hell e Dancing With Strangers. Driving Home for Christmasreleased in 1986, has become a timeless holiday classic. Throughout his career, Chris Rea has sold more than 30 million records worldwide. Listen to the song Drive Home for Christmas here: