Hot Chocolate
 This
highly commercial UK pop act was formed in Brixton, London, by
percussionist Patrick Olive, guitarist Franklyn De Allie and
drummer Ian King.
Jamaican songwriter/vocalist Errol Brown and bass player Tony
Wilson (also from Jamaica) and pianist Larry Ferguson (from Nassau
in the Bahamas) joined later in 1969.
Following the departure of De Allie the band was signed to The
Beatles' Apple label for an enterprising reggae version of the
Plastic Ono Band's Give Peace A Chance. They also
provided label-mate Mary Hopkin with the hit Think About Your
Children.
The following year Hot Chocolate signed to Mickie Most's RAK
Records label and again proved their song writing worth by
composing Herman's Hermits hit Bet Yer Life I Do.
In September 1970, the band enjoyed the first hit in their own
right with the melodic Love Is Life. Over the next year,
they brought in former Cliff Bennett & The Rebel Rousers
guitarist Harvey Hinsley and replacement drummer Tony Connor to
bolster the line-up.
The Brown-Wilson song writing team enabled Hot Chocolate to
enjoy a formidable run of UK Top 10 hits including I Believe
(In Love), Brother Louie (a US number 1 for
Stories), Emma, A Child's Prayer, You Sexy
Thing, Put Your Love In Me, No Doubt About It,
Girl Crazy, It Started With A Kiss and What
Kinda Boy You Looking For (Girl)?.
In the summer of 1977, they scored a number 1 UK hit with the
Russ Ballard song So You Win Again.
The departure of their shaven-headed vocalist and songwriter
Errol Brown in 1987 was a difficult hurdle to overcome and it came
as little surprise when Hot Chocolate's break-up was announced.
Brown went on to register a hit with Personal Touch, and
completed two albums.
You Sexy Thing enjoyed a revival in 1998 when it was
prominently used in the hit film The Full Monty. Brown's
solo album followed in 2001.
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