Chris Rea, known for the hit 'Driving Home for Christmas', has passed away at the age of 74 after a short illness.

Chris Rea, the famous British singer and songwriter, has died at the age of 74, according to a statement from his family. Rea passed away in the hospital after a short illness. He became known in the 1980s with hits like 'Fool (If You Think It’s Over)' and 'Let’s Dance', and his albums 'The Road to Hell' and 'Auberge' reached the top position in the UK charts. Although 'Driving Home for Christmas' did not achieve immediate success upon its release in 1986, it has become a beloved Christmas song among the British, recently featured in an advertisement for Marks and Spencer. Born in 1951 in Middlesbrough, Rea had a career marked by health issues, including pancreatic cancer and a stroke in 2016. In recent years, he turned to blues music. Rea leaves behind a wife and two daughters.