Hot Chocolate co-founder Tony Wilson dies at 89
Tony Wilson, the bassist and co-founder of Hot Chocolate, passed away at the age of 89 at his residence in Trinidad, as confirmed by his family via social media on Friday. He was instrumental in writing popular songs such as "You Sexy Thing" and "Emma," which propelled Hot Chocolate to become the first predominantly black British band to achieve significant success on U.S. charts. Wilson, who was born in Trinidad, established Hot Chocolate in the late 1960s and gained fame after John Lennon endorsed their rendition of "Give Peace a Chance." Their first single, "Love is Life," climbed to number six in 1970, and they enjoyed annual hits until 1984. Following his departure from the band, Wilson pursued a solo career, releasing two albums. The cause of his death remains unspecified.
Key facts
- Tony Wilson died at age 89 at his home in Trinidad on Friday, confirmed by family on social media.
- He co-founded Hot Chocolate and co-wrote hits including 'You Sexy Thing' and 'Emma' with Errol Brown.
- Hot Chocolate was the first predominantly black British group to achieve major chart success in America.
- Their break came in 1969 when John Lennon approved their reggae cover of 'Give Peace a Chance' and signed them to Apple Records.
- They had a hit every year from 1970 to 1984, the first UK group to achieve 15 consecutive years of hits.
- 'You Sexy Thing' went platinum in the UK and re-charted in 1997 after appearing in 'The Full Monty'.
- Wilson released two solo albums: 'I Like Your Style' (1976) and 'Catch One' (1979), with little chart impact.
- A bass guitar owned by Wilson was restored on the BBC programme 'The Repair Shop' in 2022.
Entities
Artists
- Tony Wilson
- Errol Brown
- John Lennon
- Mickie Most
- Mary Hopkin
- Julie Felix
- Herman's Hermits
Institutions
- Hot Chocolate
- Apple Records
- Decca Records
- BBC
- The Repair Shop
Locations
- Trinidad
- United Kingdom
- United States