<\/p>\n
Chris Rea, the British rocker known for his distinctive voice and slide guitar playing, has died. He was 74.<\/p>\n
Rea\u2019s family announced the singer\u2019s death in a post on his official Instagram<\/a> on Monday morning, Dec. 22. <\/p>\n \u201cIt is with great sadness that we announce the passing of our beloved Chris, who died peacefully earlier today following a short illness,\u201d the post read. \u201cChris\u2019s music has created the soundtrack to many lives, and his legacy will live on through the songs he leaves behind.\u201d<\/p>\n Born in Middlesbrough, England on March 4, 1951, Rae sold an estimated 40 million records worldwide. <\/p>\n He released more than two dozen studio albums over his 50-year-long career, including 1989\u2019s \u201cThe Road to Hell\u201d and 1991\u2019s \u201cAuberge\u201d that both topped the U.K. albums chart. His many hits include \u201cThe Road to Hell (Part 2),\u201d \u201dI Can Hear Your Heartbeat,” \u201cStainsby Girls,\u201d \u201cJosephine,\u201d \u201cOn the Beach,\u201d \u201cTell Me There\u2019s a Heaven,\u201d \u201cAuberge\u201d and \u201dJulia.” <\/p>\n Rae was also known for his holiday song \u201cDriving Home for Christmas\u201d as well as \u201cIf You Were Me,\u201d a duet he recorded with Elton John. Additionally, the musician play guitar on the 1989 Band Aid II charity single re-recording \u201cDo They Know It\u2019s Christmas?,\u201d according to Billboard<\/a>. <\/p>\n Rae broke into the U.S. music market with his 1978 single \u201cFool (If You Think It\u2019s Over),\u201d which peaked<\/a> at No. 12 on the Billboard Hot 100. That same year, the rock star earned a Grammy nomination<\/a> for Best New Artist. <\/p>\n Rae charted several singles in the U.S. from \u201878 to 1989 including \u201cDiamonds,\u201d \u201cWhatever Happened To Benny Santini?,\u201d \u201cWorking On It\u201d and \u201cLet\u2019s Dance.\u201d He continued to release music throughout the 1990s and early 2000s before taking a break in 2001 when he had his pancreas removed along with parts of his stomach and small intestine, Billboard reported. Rae also suffered a stroke in 2016.<\/p>\n After releasing his 24th album \u201cRoad Songs For Lovers,\u201d Rae returned to touring in 2017. It was cut short, however, after the musician collapsed on stage during a U.K. show. The rest of his final shows were canceled as a result. <\/p>\n Rae\u2019s 25th and final album \u201cOne Fine Day,\u201d was released in 2019. The project contained never-before-released songs he had recorded nearly 30 years.<\/p>\n