Hot Chocolate

About Hot Chocolate

Drawing on disco and rock, the British soul band Hot Chocolate scored a string of memorable ’70s and ’80s hits. They’re perhaps best remembered for the enduring 1975 smash “You Sexy Thing.” • Formed by Jamaica-born singer Errol Brown and bassist Tony Wilson, who hails from Trinidad, Hot Chocolate debuted in 1969 with a reggae cover of Plastic Ono Band’s “Give Peace a Chance,” released on The Beatles’ Apple Records label. • Working with producer Mickie Most, Hot Chocolate existed as a singles-only band for the next few years, releasing hits like 1971’s “Love is Life” and 1973’s “Brother Louie,” about an interracial relationship. Both reached the Top 10 on the UK charts. • Their 1974 debut album, Cicero Park, features “Emma,” their first single to cross over to the US market. The single went Top 10 on the Billboard Hot 100 and reached No. 3 in the UK. • Hot Chocolate continued their run with popular singles like “You Sexy Thing” (1975) and “Every 1’s a Winner” (1978), both of which went Top 10 in America. In all, the group racked up a total of 29 Top 40 hits in the UK, counting remixes and reissues. • The band broke up in 1986 but reformed with a new lineup two years later. Various incarnations have continued touring, and the band enjoyed renewed popularity in 1997, when “Sexy Thing” was featured in the film The Full Monty.

ORIGIN
Brixton, London, England
FORMED
1969
GENRE
R&B/Soul

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