Chris Rea, creator of the famous The Road to Hell, has passed away

British singer and guitarist Chris Rea, known for his numerous hits including “The Road to Hell,” has died at the age of 74.

The musician’s family announced the sad news, noting that he passed away peacefully in the hospital, surrounded by his loved ones, after a short battle with the disease.

Chris Rea was known for his deep lyrics, distinctive guitar sound, and emotional performances. His most famous song is The Road to Hell, which became the title track of the album of the same name, released in 1989.

Other popular compositions by the musician include the Christmas hit “Driving Home for Christmas,” which repeatedly appeared on the music charts and this year reached 30th place.

During his career, Chris Rea released 25 studio albums. His debut album, Whatever Happened to Benny Santini?, was released in 1978 and spawned the single “Fool (If You Think It’s Over),” which reached number 12 on the US Billboard Hot 100 and was nominated for a Grammy Award.

Chris Rea’s peak of popularity came in the late 1980s and early 1990s. Six of his albums since 1987 have reached the top 10 in the UK, including two that topped the national charts, The Road to Hell (1989) and Auberge (1991).