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

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.