Chris Rea

Biography

Beginnings

Chris Rea succeeds David Coverdale (future Deep Purple and Whitesnake) in the Magdalene group, and gains a national competition of young talents in 1975 but the group does not manage to sign a contract with a recording company. Chris Rea leaves it to start into 76 a career solo and sign then a contract with the recording company " Magnet". In 1978, it records the album Whatever Happened to Benny Santini? with the title Fool (Yew You Think It' S Over) written for one of his/her sisters, the album becomes gold disc to the USA.

The European opening

Rea starts by concentrating on the Europe, leaving 8 albums in the years 80. Compilation New Light Through Old Windows , going back to 1988 gathers its greater successes of then, but its next album will constitute its greater success to date. The Road to Hell obtains a success of mass until becoming n°1 in the English hits. These European successes do not cross the Atlantique where they are not classified in the American hits. The following album, Inn , meets to him also a great Européen success.

After Inn

Since 1991 and the album Inn , Chris Rea produces at least an album per annum. Even if it does not meet same success, it continues recording and rounds.

In 2001, a remix of the title of Chris Rea One The Beach (1986) meets a small success on the tracks of dance.

Fights against cancer and return to the blues

After a serious cancer (and only 50% of chance of survival after an operation), Chris Rea is promised to return to the roots of the blues, if its health allows him after its operation. It is what it does in 2002, with the album Dancing Down The Stony Road , result of meetings of recording in France and England. A shortened version of this album left later under the title Stony Road . The album is followed of a DVD of the same name including a " Making Of" and the recording in the concert given to the festival of Jazz of Montreux. In 2003, Chris Rea created its own label in order to release itself from the pressure from the recording companies and their constraints in creation. It since left the album blues entitled Blue Street (Five Guitars) , an album instrumental jazz-blues containing an impressive play of Guitare). More recently, The Blue Jukebox is another album jazz-blues. As a bluesman, Chris Rea is a musician faithful to his roots. He recently worked with David Knopfler on two albums, Wishbones in 2001 and Ship off Dreams in 2004. After the exit of a box of 11 new cds at the end of 2005 heading " Blue Guitars" , it starts in February 2006 the last round of its career.

Film

As one can see it on IMDb, Chris Rea was seriously invested in the film " Parting shots". It holds the main role of this comedy, with dimensions actors like John Cleese, Bob Hoskins and of fabulous and always délicieusement stamped the Joanna Lumley. Chris Rea plays the part of a man with whom one reveals that cancer leaves six weeks to living to him and who decides to kill those which made him evil during its life.

Discography

Albums

1978 Whatever Happened to Benny Santini?
1979 Deltics
1980 Tennis
1981 Chris Rea
1983 Toilets Sign
1984 Wired to the Moon
1985 Shamrock Diaries
1986 One the Beach
1987 Dance hall with Strangers
1989 Road to Hell
1991 Inn
1992 God' S Great Banana Skin
1993 Espresso Logic
1996
1998 The Blue Cafe
1999 Impassions The Road to Hell: Leaves 2 off
2000 King the Beach
2001 The Very Best off
2002 Stony Road
2003 Blue Street (Five Guitars)
2003 Hofner Blue Notes
2004 The Blue Jukebox
2007 Blue Guitars: With Collection off Songs

Compilations

1988 New Light Through Old Windows (year album off Re-recordings off his best known tracks)
1994 The Best off Chris Rea
2001 The Very Best off Chris Rea
2005 Blue Guitars
2006 The Road To Hell & Back (Live)

External bonds

Official site of the label '' JazzeeBlue ''
Official site
Site of fans
Biography on FenderEurope.com
Site of fans

Random links: