Hot Chocolate Bassist Tony Wilson, Co-Writer of “You Sexy Thing,” Passes Away
Hot Chocolate co-founder and bassist Tony Wilson has passed away at the age of 89. The news was confirmed on Facebook by his son, Danny Wilson, who honored his life and his career.
“On Friday, my dad, the one and only [Tony Wilson] passed away, aged 89, at his home in Trinidad,” he wrote. “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. 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. The knock backs, the interviews, the touring, the radio shows, the meticulous documenting of record sales. All the pressures of what was a cut throat music industry in the 70s. It’s all in those diaries.”
Wilson was born in Trinidad in 1936 and got into the music scene when he was just 16. In his book When Music Migrates: Crossing British and European Racial Faultlines, author Jon Stratton explains that he was interested in African-American soul. “Prior to Hot Chocolate, he had been a member of Soul Brothers who had put out three singles, two in 1965 and one in 1966,” he writes.
Wilson met singer Errol Brown, who lived in the apartment across the hall from him, and encouraged him to start writing songs. They formed Hot Chocolate in 1968 and made their first recording in 1969: a reggae cover of John Lennon’s “Give Peace a Chance.” Their sound soon evolved with the times into a blend of soul, R&B, and disco. This culminated in their smash hit “You Sexy Thing,” which Wilson co-wrote and reached number three on the US Billboard Hot 100. It would have a rebirth in 1997 for its use in the film “The Full Monty,” and subsequently other commercials and films.
Watch Wilson perform with Hot Chocolate for Top of the Pops in 1975:
Wilson left Hot Chocolate for a solo career in 1975, releasing two solo albums. He also wrote songs for Herman’s Hermits, Mary Hopkins, Mavis John, and others. Wilson eventually got out of the music business and settled back in Trinidad.
Our thoughts are with the family and friends of Tony Wilson.
In his time with No Treble, Kevin has met hundreds of amazing bassists and interviewed icons like Jack Casady, Victor Wooten, Les Claypool, Marcus Miller, and more. He's a gigging bassist performing jazz in Northern Virginia and bluegrass with The Plate Scrapers up and down the East Coast. Kevin appreciates all genres of music, from R&B to metal and everything in between. Connect with Kevin on Facebook and check his performance schedule on his website.
