Chris Rea had a more than five decades long career in music. But the real anchor of his life was his wife of 57 years, Chris Rea. Here's everything you might want to know about her.
Chris Rea's sudden passing at the age of 74 had left the music world in shock. The legendary British rock and blues singer-songwriter, Chris Rea, had passed away days before Christmas, a festival when his special songs used to light up up the season with his deep voice, emotional storytelling,, and catchy tunes. He was known for delivering timeless classics such as Driving Home for Christmas, The Road to Hell, and On the Beach, which made him a household name. The Rea family's spokesperson confirmed Chris's dismissal, which has even shifted the spotlight to his wife, Joan Chris Rea.
Chris Rea's life was centered around his marriage to Joan Lesley Rea, the love of his life and constant confidant. According to the BBC, the pair first met in her hometown of Middlesbrough at the age of 16 and fell in love as teenagers. They later tied the knot and had the longest and most admired marriages in the music world. Chris often described Joan as the person who grounded him through fame, financial ups and downs, illness, and artistic reinvention.
They had welcome daughters, Josephine and Julia, together, who helped shape the backend part of his musical legacy. The family used to live a private, grounded life near Windsor, away from the chaos of celebrity culture. But despite the fame, Chris Rea remained dedicated to home family dinners and simple life moments. According to Daily Mail, he lovingly described their relationship as still like "boyfriend and girlfriend' and himself as a "romantic at heart" person. In his words."
"The nice thing is that when it's just me and me, it's still boyfriend and girlfriend… My girls tell me I'm a romantic. I'm a soft touch."
Joan was not only Chris Rea's life partner but also his creative muse. One of the most emotional examples of this came when he recorded Driving Home for Christmas. During the dark period in 1978, when Chris did not have a work contract, and he was broke, banned from driving, and believed his career was over, Joan drove from London to bring him home. During their journey, snow fell, and traffic stalled, inspiring Chris Rea's song, Driving Home for Christmas, which has since become a world-famous Christmas classic. The couple also named their daughters Josephine and Julia, inspired by their hits. Overall, Joan was not just a partner or inspiration but someone who saved Chris from emotional despair on multiple occasions.
According to the BBC and The Guardian, Chris Rea passed away following a short illness. His family revealed that he died peacefully in the hospital. However, they did not disclose further details, citing concerns about privacy. Chris has passed away after dealing with years of health issues. He was initially diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in 1994 and underwent major surgery, which him diabetic in 2001. Later, he suffered a stroke in 2016 and collapsed on stage in 2017. Despite all these issues, he continued to create music with all his heart.
Chris Rea's career was defined by authenticity and uniqueness. He initially gained international recognition with Fool (If You Think It's Over) and earned a Grammy nomination for it. He rose to commercial success in the late 1980s and 1990s, delivering back-to-back UK top 10 albums, including chart-toppers such as The Road to Hell and Auberge. Eventually, he ended up spending nearly 50 years of his life creating music.
Rest in peace, Chris Rea.
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