Tony Wilson, founder of 70s group Hot Chocolate and co-writer of ‘You Sexy Thing’ has died
Tony Wilson, who along with lead vocalist Errol Brown co-founded the British soul group Hot Chocolate, has died. The cause of his death has not been revealed.
The bassist and songwriter (he co-wrote the band’s massive hit You Sexy Thing) passed away at the age of 89 at his home in Trinidad on April 24.
Wilson’s family confirmed his passing on social media.
“Dad left us today,” his daughter wrote on Facebook. “He left a lot of music behind…forever and ever. I am thankful that on Friday 17th, during our conscious talk time, he was led to the Lord with understanding. Some mornings later, he asked for prayers. He said that he was leaving. The peace that I have is knowing that his soul escaped. He is in and at peace.”
Wilson’s son Danny added, “It’s been an emotional weekend. On Friday, my dad, the one and only Tony Wilson passed away, aged 89, at his home in Trinidad. Words don’t do justice to the admiration I have for him as a human being or for his dedication to make his dream of getting the songs he wrote be heard. It wasn’t until my mum dug out some old diaries of his from 1970 and ’71 that I realised just how hard he had to work to achieve this dream. Trust me, it is truly staggering. The knockbacks, the interviews, the touring, the radio shows, the meticulous documenting of record sales. All the pressures of what was a cut throat music industry in the 70s. It’s all in those diaries.”
Wilson was born in Trinidad and played in bands including The Flames, The Souvenirs and The Corduroys before forming Hot Chocolate with his friend Errol Brown in the late 1960s. They got their break in 1969, after sending a reggae version of John Lennon’s Give Peace a Chance to its writer.
Their debut single, Love is Life, went to number six in 1970, and they had at least one hit song every year until 1984, making Hot Chocolate the first group in the UK to have a hit for 15 consecutive years.
Emma became their first American smash in 1975 — a year after it charted in the UK. Later that year, You Sexy Thing marked their career peak. The track went platinum in the United Kingdom and spent several weeks in the top 10 of the Billboard Hot 100 chart. In 1997, it charted again after being featured in the film The Full Monty.
Wilson left the band soon afterwards to resume a solo career that had started with a handful of singles for Decca Records in the 1960s. However, neither of the two albums he released — I Like Your Style (1976) and Catch One (1979) — made much of an impact on the charts.
Hot Chocolate is also best known for the hits Every 1’s A Winner and So You Win Again.
When Brown died in 2015 (he was born in Jamaica), Wilson paid tribute on his Facebook page, writing: “Rest in peace, Errol Brown. Heartfelt condolences to your family, friends and all fans.”
Hot Chocolate’s original guitarist, Franklyn Delano De Allie, who was born in Grenada, died in Bermuda in 2018.
