"Virtuoso guitar playing, trademark smoky vocals and excellent songs have paved the way to global success for Chris Rea. A man of few gestures and words, he plays his very own style of blues which has followed its own route separate from the mainstream and trends. Chris Rea did not pick up his first guitar until the age of 19. He was born in Middlesbrough (England). His father, an Italian immigrant, owned an ice cream shop and Chris grew up with an idealistic vision of Italy