Tony Wilson, Hot Chocolate founder and “You Sexy Thing” co-writer, has sadly died at the age of 89, his family have confirmed.
The news was shared by Wilson’s family in a social media post, confirming the soul musician died on Friday at his home in Trinidad.
“Dad left us today,” the post read. “He left a lot of music behind… forever and ever.”
Over the course of his career, Wilson penned songs for acts including Herman’s Hermits and Mavis John, though he was most widely recognised for helping to start the British soul group Hot Chocolate.
Wilson met vocalist Errol Brown in 1968, and the pair soon began collaborating, eventually forming Hot Chocolate. Their early momentum grew into a major turning point when they recorded a fresh take on John Lennon’s “Give Peace a Chance.” Lennon was reportedly so impressed that the band were signed to Apple Records, the Beatles’ own label.
Although Wilson initially fronted the group as lead singer, an existing contractual obligation elsewhere meant he had to step aside, with Brown taking over vocal duties while Wilson moved into the role of bass guitarist. Together they wrote a string of standout tracks, including “Love Is Life,” “You Could Have Been a Lady,” “Emma,” and “Brother Louie,” which became some of the most successful songs of the band’s career. Their best-known release, however, was 1975’s “You Sexy Thing”, which reached number 3 on the Billboard chart and later gained further worldwide attention through its use in Boogie Nights and The Full Monty.
Not long after “You Sexy Thing” became a hit, Wilson departed Hot Chocolate to focus on solo work. He released his debut album, I Like Your Style, in 1976, and continued recording and performing for years as he pursued new musical ideas.
In a tribute shared on Facebook, Wilson’s son Danny reflected on his father’s determination and drive.
“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,” Wilson’s son Danny wrote in a Facebook tribute. “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.”
Danny also spoke about being able to revisit Wilson’s performances online.
Danny continued, “I am very lucky. I can open up YouTube and see him and hear his voice whenever I want. And this weekend, I’ve been doing that a lot.”