Hot Chocolate frontman Errol Brown dies
Hot Chocolate frontman Errol Brown has died aged 71, his manager said.
The singer, famous for hits including You Sexy Thing and It Started With A Kiss, died at home in the Bahamas.
His manager, Phil Dale, said he had suffered from liver cancer.
Brown, who is survived by his wife and two daughters, was made an MBE in 2003.
Mr Dale said he was "a wonderful gentleman".
He said: "There was always music around wherever he was. I've been with him in the middle of Australia and he has got an idea for a song and started writing."
Brown scored his first success with Hot Chocolate in 1970 with the top 10 track Love Is Life and went on to have more than 20 top 40 hits.
You Sexy Thing made it into the top 10 three times - helped along in 1997 by its use in the film The Full Monty - and the band had their only number one with So You Win Again in 1977.
It Started With A Kiss also charted three times.
The band had fans in high places and in 1981 they played at a pre-wedding bash in Buckingham Palace for the Prince of Wales and Lady Diana Spencer.
The singer, who moved to Britain from Jamaica with his mother at the age of 12, was given an Ivor Novello award for his outstanding contribution to British music in 2004.
The frontman completed a farewell tour in 2009, and admitted then that he felt his time had come to retire because he was "losing energy".
He said: "I just feel it's time now. I'm losing energy.
"Now in my life I feel I've done my thing, and I don't want to come out half-heartedly. It's time."
Following the tour, Errol thanked his fans for their support by saying the love he felt at the string of shows would stay in his "heart forever".
He wrote: "I would like to thank you for coming out in large numbers right across the UK to once again show your love and support.
"The atmosphere at the concerts were the best ever and you played your part in making me realise just how wrong it would have been to have just drifted away and not say goodbye. The love I felt at each concert will stay in my heart forever. I wish you love peace and happiness in your lives. Love You, Errol x."
