An interracial English funk and soul group,
Hot Chocolate scored a pair of huge hits in the '70s but were otherwise more enthusiastic than skilled. Lead singer
Erroll Brown, guitarist
Harvey Hinsley, keyboardist
Larry Ferguson, bassist
Tony Wilson, drummer
Tony Connor, and conga player
Pat Olive were the original lineup. They recorded for Big Tree from 1975 to 1978, scoring a Top Ten R&B and pop hit with "You Sexy Thing" in 1975, which also was a gold single. They repeated the trick in 1978 with "Every 1's a Winner," once more earning a gold single in the process. No other
Hot Chocolate song ever made it beyond number 40 on the R&B chart, and their albums never packed much commercial punch either.
Wilson departed in 1975, and
Olive switched to bass in his place.
–
Ron Wynn, Rovi