Christopher Anton Rea (4 March, 1951) is a successful British singer-songwriter, from Middlesbrough. He is best known for his 1989 album The Road to Hell.

Contents

1 Biography 1.1 Early career 1.2 European breakthrough 1.3 After Auberge 2 Discography 2.1 Albums 2.2 Compilations 3 External links

Biography

Early career

Rea took over from David Coverdale in the band Magdalene, going on to win a national talent contest in 1975 but never being able to sign a record contract. He left the band to persue a solo career achieving great success when he signed to the Magnet label and recorded the album Whatever Happened to Benny Santini? in 1978 ("Benny Santini" being rumoured to have been a stage name Rea considered). With the help of single Fool (If You Think It's Over) the album went gold in the U.S..

European breakthrough

Rea began to focus his attention on Europe, releasing eight albums in the 1980s. The New Light Through Old Windows compilation album in 1988 brought Rea great success but his next full album was to be his major breakthrough. The Road to Hell enjoyed massive success, not least of which was becoming the number one album in the UK. These such successes could not be mirrored in the U.S., however, where it failed to chart. The follow-up album, Auberge, also enjoyed massive European success.

After Auberge

Since 1991's Auberge album Rea has continued to release albums at least every other year. While not as successful as his two breakthrough albums he still records and tours.

In 2001 a remix of Rea's 1986 On The Beach single by York was released and enjoyed moderate dancefloor success.

Discography

Albums

• 1978 Whatever Happened to Benny Santini?
• 1979 Deltics
• 1980 Tennis
• 1982 Chris Rea
• 1983 Water Sign
• 1984 Wired to the Moon
• 1985 Shamrock Diaries
• 1986 On the Beach
• 1987 Dancing with Strangers
• 1989 Road to Hell
• 1991 Auberge
• 1993 God's Great Banana Skin
• 1994 Espresso Logic
• 1996 La Passione
• 1998 The Blue Cafe
• 1999 The Road to Hell: Part 2
• 2000 King of the Beach
• 2002 Stony Road
• 2004 Blue Street (Five Guitars)

Compilations

• 1988 New Light Through Old Windows
• 1995 The Very Best of Chris Rea

External links

• Official site (http://www.chrisrea.com)
• Biography page at FenderEurope.com (http://www.fendereurope.com/players/CHRISREA.asp)

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