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Chris Rea is one of the most distinctive and successful artists in the history of British music. With his husky voice and slide guitar playing, he has created a unique sound that blends pop, rock, and blues influences. He has sold over 40 million records worldwide and has topped the UK charts with albums like The Road to Hell and Auberge1
Origins and Early Career
Chris Rea was born on 4 March 1951 in Middlesbrough, England, to an Italian father and an Irish mother. He grew up in a working-class family that ran an ice cream business. He was interested in journalism and art, but also developed a passion for music, especially the blues. He learned to play the guitar by listening to records by Charlie Patton, Blind Willie Johnson, and Elmore James2
He started his musical career in the 1970s with a local band called Magdalene, which later changed its name to the Beautiful Losers. He left the band in 1977 and signed a solo deal with Magnet Records. His debut album, Whatever Happened to Benny Santini?, was released in 1978 and featured the hit single “Fool (If You Think It’s Over)”, which reached No. 12 on the US Billboard Hot 100 and earned him a Grammy nomination for Best New Artist3
Breakthrough and Success
Rea continued to release albums throughout the 1980s, but his breakthrough came in 1989 with The Road to Hell, a concept album that reflected his personal and social views on modern life. The album was a critical and commercial success, reaching No. 1 on the UK Albums Chart and spawning the classic title track, which became his signature song4
He followed up with Auberge in 1991, another No. 1 album that featured the hit singles “Auberge” and “Looking for the Summer”. He also collaborated with Elton John on the duet “If You Were Me”, which appeared on John’s album Duets5
Rea’s popularity continued in the 1990s and 2000s, with albums such as Espresso Logic, La Passione, The Blue Cafe, King of the Beach, and Dancing Down the Stony Road. He also explored his blues roots with the Road to Hell and Back tour in 2006 and the ambitious Blue Guitars project in 2005, a 11-CD box set of original songs inspired by different styles of blues music6
Health Issues and Recent Work
Rea has faced several health challenges in his career, including a bout of pancreatic cancer in 2001, a stroke in 2016, and a heart attack in 2017. He has recovered from these setbacks and has continued to make music and perform live. His latest album, One Fine Day, was released in 2019 and featured songs from his early days that were re-recorded with his current band7
Rea is regarded as one of the most influential and respected musicians of his generation, with a loyal fan base and a legacy of timeless songs. He has been nominated for three Brit Awards and has received an Ivor Novello Award for his outstanding contribution to British music. He is also an avid painter and a racing car enthusiast.
