Hot Chocolate singer Errol Brown dies at 71

Errol Brown, the lead singer for the ‘70s and ‘80s hitmakers Hot Chocolate, has died. He was 71.

Brown’s manager, Phil Dale, confirmed to BBC News that the singer died at his home in the Bahamas. He was battling liver cancer.

Hot Chocolate had an extraordinary streak of success that started in 1970 and continued through the mid-1980s. Their hits included “You Sexy Thing,” “It Started With A Kiss,” “Brother Louie” and “Everyone’s A Winner.” The group actually got their start on The Beatles’ Apple Records after John Lennon heard their “Give Peace A Chance” cover.

“You Sexy Thing” is easily their most popular song and was co-written by Brown. It earned a second life on the U.K. charts when it was featured in 1997’s The Full Monty. “Brother Louie” is now used at the title song for Louis C.K.’s Louie.

According to the Huffington Post UK, Brown was made a Member of the British Empire in 2003 and won the Ivor Novello Award for his contribution to music in 2004.