R.I.P. Errol Brown

Errol Brown, former lead singer of Hot Chocolate has passed away at the age of 71 at his home in the Bahamas. He will most likely be remembered for singing "You Sexy Thing" but for me, his hit song will always be "Every 1's A Winner," a song that, despite it being released in 1978 and sounding like a disco song, was not really a disco song. It is a strange confluence of genres: disco with its chilly synth texture in the background, funk with its bass line and vocals by lead singer and songwriter Errol Brown, soul with its chorus of fantastic black back-up singers, and rock and roll with its blistering--and absolutely genius--guitar riff played by Hot Chocolate band member Harvey Hinsley using a Roland GR-500 which gives it that crispy, buzzing quality. Brown was awarded an MBE (a Member of the Order of the British Empire) by HRH Queen Elizabeth II in 2003 for "services to popular music," and he and his band played at Charles and Diana's pre-wedding reception at Buckingham Palace.

R.I.P. Mr. Brown.

http://www.errolbrown.com/

Currently listening to...

...the British act Hot Chocolate perform "Every 1's A Winner." Wow, this song really holds up after all these years. It came out in 1978 (I bought the 45 the day I heard it on the radio--oops, sorry, a "45" was a 7" vinyl record for those born too recently), and although it was played in discos, it was not really a disco song. It is a strange confluence of genres: disco with its chilly synth texture in the background, funk with its bass line and vocals by lead singer and songwriter Errol Brown, soul with its chorus of fantastic black back-up singers, and rock and roll with its blistering--and absolutely genius--guitar riff played by Harvey Hinsley using a Roland GR-500 which gives it that crispy, buzzing quality. Take a listen and get your groove on, kids...

Hot Chocolate broke up but reformed with a different lead singer.
http://www.hot-chocolate.co.uk/

Here is Errol Brown's site:
http://www.errolbrown.com/