Errol Brown

I was sad to hear that Errol Brown passed away today. Errol was the lead singer and writer with Hot Chocolate and everyone knows 'You Sexy Thing'. Hot Chocolate was usually referred to as a multi-racial band but it was Errol out front doing his stuff. I remember all those other hits in the early and mid-70s and Hot Chocolate being regulars on 'Top of the Pops'.

I first remember 'Emma', a love song, and 'Brother Louie' about inter-racial marriage before they went for more mainstream dance songs that were guaranteed to get your feet twitching. Before that, of course, they did a rather strange, reggae version of John & Yoko's 'Give Peace A Chance' on Apple records. They even had a Christmas single in which Errol sings about the need for a new Christmas. I love the soft funk of 'You Could've Been A Lady' with it's heavy bass line and brass. They knew how to construct killer tunes did those Hot Chocolate lads.

The abiding image of Errol is striding round the stage on 'Top of the Pops' in tight gold glitter trousers strutting his stuff and getting our feet moving. And they keep moving today.

Farewell Errol!