Hot Chocolate star Tony Wilson, famous for You Sexy Thing, dies aged 78

Tony Wilson, a member of the band Hot Chocolate who co-wrote their iconic hit song You Sexy Thing, has died aged 78.

Wilson was the band’s bassist and songwriter, as well as one of the vocalists, and died in his native Trinidad on Friday.

His family confirmed the news with his daughter sharing a statement on Facebook.

‘Dad left us today, April 24th 2026. He left a lot of music behind… forever and ever.

‘I am thankful that on Friday 17th during our conscious talk time he was led to the Lord with understanding. Some mornings later he asked for prayers. He said that he was leaving.’

‘The peace that I have is knowing that his soul escaped. He is in and at peace. That is the peace I also have. I give God thanks and praise,’ she added.

Wilson co-founded Hot Chocolate with the late Errol Brown in 1968, and the two went on to write some of the band’s biggest songs including Love Is Life, You Could Have Been a Lady, Emma, Brother Louie and You Sexy Thing.

The latter song reached number two on the UK charts as well as number three on the US Billboard charts in 1975; Hot Chocolate was the first predominantly Black British band to enjoy success on the American charts.

It then enjoyed a resurgence in popularity when it was featured in the 1997 film The Full Monty, charting back at number six when main character Gaz (Robert Carlyle) performs a striptease to it.

A 1987 remix by Ben Liebrand also hit number 10, making You Sexy Thing the only song to have charted in the UK top 10 in the ’70s, ’80s and ’90s.

Wilson, who had written songs for the likes of Herman’s Hermits and Mary Hopkin before his Hot Chocolate days, left the band to pursue a solo career in 1975, reportedly after their producer began pushing Brown as primary lead singer.

He released his first solo album, I Like Your Style, the following year, and in 1979 wrote the lead – and titular – song for Bill Haley’s 1979 album, Everyone Can Rock and Roll.

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