Who is Chris Rea?

Chris Rea is an English singer-songwriter and musician who has written and recorded more than 20 studio albums in his long career. He is best known for his 1978 hit single “Fool (If You Think It's Over)”.

Early Life and Career Beginnings

Chris Rea was born Christopher Anton Rea on March 4, 1951 in Middlesbrough, North Yorkshire in England. He began playing guitar at age four and formed his first band, The Magnetics, at age fifteen.

Rise to Fame

Rea's first solo album was released in 1978, the self-titled “Chris Rea”. The album contained the hit single “Fool (If You Think It's Over)” which reached number 12 in the UK Singles Chart. This song later earned him a Silver Disc for 200,000 sales as well as a bronze for 100,000 sales. The success of this song propelled him to fame in the UK.

Albums and Later Career

Rea went on to release several more successful albums such as “The Road to Hell” (1989), “Auberge” (1991), “God's Great Banana Skin” (1992), and “The Blue Cafe” (1998). He also wrote and released the song “On the Beach” (1986) which became a top 10 hit in the UK. In 2002, he released the album “Dancing with Strangers” which became his most successful album to date.

Awards and Accomplishments

Throughout his career, Chris Rea has won multiple awards including two Brit Awards in 1989 for Best British Male Artist and Best British Video. He has also been nominated for three Grammy Awards. In 2003, he was awarded an MBE by Queen Elizabeth II in recognition of his services to music.

Personal Life

Rea married Joan Templeman in 1972 and they have three children together. He currently lives in Essex with his family. In 1998, he was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer but made a full recovery after undergoing surgery and chemotherapy. He is currently healthy and still performs live concerts around the world.