Tony Wilson, the bassist and co-writer of classic hits such as You Sexy Thing and Brother Louie with the band Hot Chocolate, has died at the age of 89. Wilson, who together with frontman Errol Brown formed the group in London in 1968, was a key creative force behind their string of 1970s successes.
Early Life and Musical Beginnings
Born Anthony Nathaniel Wilson on 8 October 1936 in Port of Spain, Trinidad, he was one of four children of Gladys (nee Hernandez), a French polisher, and Wilfred Wilson. He attended Tranquillity Boys and Belmont Modern secondary schools, where his passion for sport initially outweighed any interest in music. After moving to the UK in 1961 at age 25, he immersed himself in the London music scene, releasing two solo singles: Yes I Do (1964) and What Did I Do? (1967). The first was in a typical English pop style, while the second showed a more soulful R&B influence.
Formation of Hot Chocolate
Wilson met Errol Brown in West Hampstead, north-west London, where they lived opposite each other. The pair began working on a version of John Lennon's Give Peace a Chance and took a demo to Apple Records, where they performed it in person for Lennon and Yoko Ono. Impressed, Lennon discovered they had no band name, and receptionist Mavis Smith suggested Hot Chocolate Band. The name stuck, and Wilson and Brown recruited Patrick Olive on percussion, Franklyn De Allie on guitar, and Jim King on drums before signing to Mickie Most's RAK label.
Songwriting Success
Wilson and Brown co-wrote a series of soulful pop tunes that made Hot Chocolate one of the most successful British singles bands of the 1970s. Their debut, Love is Life (1970), reached No. 6 on the UK charts. I Believe in Love (1971) hit No. 8, while Brother Louie (1973) peaked at No. 7 and became a US No. 1 when covered by Stories. Emma (1974) reached No. 3, and You Sexy Thing (1975) peaked at No. 2 in the UK, famously blocked from the top spot by Queen's Bohemian Rhapsody. It re-entered the Top 10 in 1987 and 1997 after featuring in the film The Full Monty.
Departure from the Band
Although Wilson initially shared singing duties, record label boss Mickie Most pushed Brown as the lead vocalist, believing he had a more commercial voice. This created tension between the two, fracturing their songwriting partnership. Wilson left Hot Chocolate in 1975 and moved to the US, where he released two solo albums: I Like Your Style (1976) and Catch One (1979), both on the Bearsville label. Neither achieved commercial success. He also wrote Everyone Can Rock and Roll for Bill Haley, which became the title track of Haley's final album in 1979.
Later Career and Legacy
In 1980, Wilson produced the soca-tinged single Use My Body for Trinidadian singer Mavis John, which later featured in US TV series High Maintenance and High Fidelity. His third and final solo album, Walking the Highwire, came out in 1988. After returning to Trinidad, he focused on nurturing local musical talent. Wilson is survived by his partner, Dalia; three children, Joanne, Robert, and Danny; and four grandchildren, Jake, Mia, Hope, and Ellie-May. He died on 24 April 2026.
