Hit evoked a thousand memories

HIS MUSIC was the soundtrack to our lives, including his much-loved festive smash hit Driving Home For Christmas.

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But reluctant star Chris Rea never wanted a festive hit. “I did everything I could to get them not to release that record,” he said, but “Thankfully they did.”

Rea was on the dole when he wrote the song - and he was banned from driving at the time.

Rea's other major chart successes included Fool (If You Think It's Over), Let's Dance and The Road To Hell.

Rea recorded 25 studio albums, two of which topped the UK Albums Chart: The Road To Hell in 1989 and its successor, Auberge, in 1991.

He was already becoming a major European star by the time he finally cracked the UK Top 10 with the single The Road To Hell (Part 2).