Hot Chocolate star Tony Wilson dies aged 78: Musician famed for 1975 hit You Sexy Thing passes away in Trinidad

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Hot Chocolate star Tony Wilson who is famed for the 1975 hit You Sexy Thing has died aged 78.

The bassist tragically passed away in Trinidad. His cause of death is currently unknown.

In 1969, Tony teamed up with Errol Brown to create Hot Chocolate, a groundbreaking British group with a largely Black lineup that became popular in the United States.

His daughter announced his passing on Facebook on April 24th, writing that he had died and left behind a lasting legacy of music.

I’m so grateful that he accepted Christ and understood what that meant during our conversation on Friday the 17th. A few days later, he asked us to pray for him, and then told us he was leaving.

Knowing his spirit is free brings me peace. He’s finally at rest, and that gives me rest too. I’m grateful to God. When we look around, we realize we can’t take anything with us when we die. It’s crucial to be certain about our faith. This is a serious matter, and ultimately, we all have to consider where we’ll spend eternity.

Danny, his son, shared that his father, Tony Wilson, a musician, passed away at home in Trinidad on Friday at the age of 89. He described it as a very emotional time.

It’s hard to express how much I admire him, both as a person and for his unwavering commitment to sharing his music. I didn’t fully understand the extent of his dedication until my mother found some old diaries from 1970 and 1971, which revealed just how much effort he put into making his musical dreams a reality.

It was incredibly demanding. There were constant rejections, endless interviews, non-stop touring, radio appearances, and carefully tracking every record sold. All of this happened within the fiercely competitive music industry of the 1970s, and it’s all detailed in those diaries.

Last year, during a family trip to Trinidad, I had the wonderful opportunity to read his diaries with him, and it’s a memory I’ll always treasure.

I’d never seen him so lively – his face truly lit up as I read his notes. It was amazing how much he still remembered, considering he’d carefully recorded everything over fifty years ago.

Besides writing and performing numerous songs with his band, Hot Chocolate, he also wrote songs for artists like Herman’s Hermits, Mary Hopkins, and Mavis John. He did recall writing for many others, but surprisingly, couldn’t remember if he’d written anything for Ray Charles!

He added that he feels incredibly fortunate to be able to watch videos and hear the voice of the person he lost whenever he wants, and he’s been doing so often this weekend. He’s also realized just how many people cared for him, seeing the outpouring of memories and messages on social media since his death.

A lot of the posts talked about how his music didn’t get the recognition it deserved, and I completely agree – even if I am biased. Reading them has been really comforting.

‘Rest easy dad, God knows you earned it.’

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2026-04-28 02:48