Chris Rea, a versatile British singer-songwriter whose hits included the sentimental ballad “Driving Home for Christmas” and “Fool (If You Think It’s Over),” died on Monday.

Singer and guitarist Chris Rea never forgot his Teesside routes, according to those who knew and met him.

However, in the lead-up to his sad death, Chris also had some happy family news as he became a grandfather following the recent birth of his first grandchild.