Chris Rea: the hits made in Cookham by a musician who 'could do the lot'

Chris Rea, the Driving Home for Christmas mastermind and long-time Cookham resident, has been remembered as a musician who ‘could do the lot’.

The star, who died aged 74 on Monday, leaves behind a string of hits spanning decades – and whose early successes were captured on tape in the River Thames village.

Stuart Epps, from Cookham, a sound engineer on several of Rea’s early records, reflected on how the Middlesbrough-born artist rose to fame.

Reflecting on those recording sessions, Mr Epps said Rea had been an ‘amazing musician’ whose success was born from his own ‘passion and determination’.

Chris Rea recording at The Mill studio in Cookham (credit: Stuart Epps)

“He made himself into this success,” said Mr Epps, 73.

He added: “When I first heard his demos, he was playing everything and that was when he was only 23.

“He was doing the drums, bass, guitar, singing – he could do the lot.”

Mr Epps helped record Rea’s 1978 debut album Whatever Happened to Benny Santini? as well as his follow-up record Deltics in 1979 at the Mill Studio in Cookham.

Those early albums were produced by Gus Dudgeon, who worked with Elton John as well as David Bowie on Space Oddity.

Rea and John would later record the 1993 duet If You Were Me together at The Mill.

“He was very similar to Elton in some respects,” Mr Epps said.

“I often compare the two because of their passion and their determination, which is why, in my opinion, they succeeded.

“Not just because of their musicianship, but because of their drive.”

Chris Rea and Stuart Epps at The Kings Arms pub in Cookham High Street

Rea’s distinctive vocals, instrumental ability, and ‘drive’ were a combination for success – even if his demands for perfection in the studio were sometimes hard to meet.

“Chris was very definite about what he wanted, but what you want to achieve in the studio isn’t always that easy,” he said, adding: “We probably got on better as mates than in the studio.”

While recording in Cookham, Rea grew to ‘just love’ the village and would live there for decades, Mr Epps said.

He recorded his Christmas radio classic at his home near the Mill studio in 1986, Mr Epps said. The song was inspired by a snowy drive Rea took from Abbey Road to Middlesbrough.

Despite Rea initially wanting to avoid its release as a stand-alone single, Driving Home for Christmas would become the star’s biggest hit.

Rea would also go on to purchase The Mill in the 1990s after it had been owned by Led Zeppelin rocker Jimmy Page.

Mr Epps said he had remained friends with Rea and would still ‘bump into him’ around Cookham, though meetings became more infrequent as the star’s health declined.

On Monday, a statement was released on Rea’s Facebook page, which paid a short tribute to him.

“It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of our beloved Chris, who died peacefully earlier today following a short illness,” the statement said.

“Chris’s music has created the soundtrack to many lives, and his legacy will live on through the songs he leaves behind.”