British Singer Chris Rea Passes Away at 74

British singer Chris Rea has passed away at the age of 74, his family announced on Monday.

"It is with immense sadness that we announce the passing of our dear Chris," his family said in a statement shared with British media, adding that he "passed away peacefully today (Monday) in the hospital after a short illness."

A similar message was posted on the singer's official Instagram account beneath a photo of him playing guitar.

Born in 1951 in Middlesbrough, North England, to Italian and Irish heritage, Chris Rea began his career in the 1970s.

His debut album, "Whatever Happened to Benny Santini?" brought him recognition in the UK and the US, where the track "Fool (If You Think It's Over)" earned him a Grammy nomination.

Fusing blues and rock with intricate melodies, Chris Rea's smoky voice delivered hits like "The Road to Hell," "Josephine," and the 1986 Christmas classic, "Driving Home for Christmas."

A star in the English rock scene, he recorded more than twenty original albums over a forty-year career, with two - "The Road to Hell" (1989) and "Auberge" (1991) - reaching number one in the UK.

Struggling with cancer, he underwent pancreatic surgery in 2001 and suffered a stroke in 2016.

Media-shy and a motorsport enthusiast, he released a Christmas compilation album this year titled "The Christmas Album."

"Chris's music has composed the soundtrack of many lives, and his legacy will endure through the songs he leaves behind," his team noted in a message on the singer's social media.

He often spoke about his difficult relationship with fame.

"Showbiz doesn't interest me; in fact, if it were up to me, I'd prefer to stay in the shadows to play guitar and compose for others rather than be under the spotlight," he stated back in 1990.

Chris Rea had been married to his wife Joan for many years, whom he met at the age of 16. The couple had two children.