Beloved Singer Known For Christmas Jingle Passes Away At 74

British rock singer Chris Rea, best known for the festive favorite “Driving Home for Christmas,” has died at 74.

Rea passed away Monday, Dec. 22, in a hospital following a short illness, his family said.

In a statement issued on behalf of his wife and two children, the family said: “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.”

Rea had battled serious health problems for years. He was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer and had his pancreas removed in 2001. He later suffered a stroke in 2016.

BREAKING: Singer-songwriter Chris Rea, best known for hits including Driving Home for Christmas, has died aged 74, his family says.https://t.co/Brokd59lfz

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Born in Middlesbrough, England, Rea rose to fame in the late 1970s and 1980s, carving out a blues-rock sound that delivered a string of hits. Among them were “Fool (If You Think It’s Over,” which earned a Grammy nomination, along with “Let’s Dance” and “The Road to Hell.”

His debut album, Whatever Happened to Benny Santini?, was released in 1978, a tongue-in-cheek nod to a stage name his record label once pushed him to use.

Rea’s enduring holiday anthem “Driving Home for Christmas” was first released in 1986 and has since become a seasonal staple, including a prominent spot in this year’s Marks & Spencer food Christmas advertisement.

With his gravelly voice and road-worn storytelling, Rea built a loyal following on both sides of the Atlantic, leaving behind a soundtrack that still hits hardest on long drives and winter nights.

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