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British-Jamaican singer and songwriter (1943–2015) From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Errol Ainsworth Glenstor Brown[2][3] MBE (born Lester Errol Brown;[4][5] 12 November 1943 – 6 May 2015) was a British-Jamaican singer and songwriter, best known as the frontman of the soul and funk band Hot Chocolate. In 2004, Brown received the Ivor Novello Award for his Outstanding Contribution to British Music.[6]
Errol Brown MBE | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Brown in 1998 | |
| Background information | |
| Birth name | Lester Errol Brown |
| Born | 12 November 1943 Kingston, Jamaica |
| Died | 6 May 2015 (aged 71) The Bahamas |
| Genres | |
| Occupations | |
| Instrument | Vocals |
| Years active | 1968–2009 |
| Labels | |
| Formerly of | Hot Chocolate |
| Website | errolbrown |
His break in music came in 1969 when he recorded a version of John Lennon's "Give Peace a Chance" with a band called "Hot Chocolate Band". Unable to change the lyrics without Lennon's permission, he sent a copy to his record label, Apple, and the song was released with Lennon's approval.[7]
The Hot Chocolate albums were produced by Mickie Most and recorded at the Rak Records studio. Most of their songs were written by Brown and Hot Chocolate bassist Tony Wilson (before Wilson's departure in 1975), including "Love Is Life", "You Could Have Been a Lady", "Brother Louie", "Emma", and "You Sexy Thing".[8][9] The band had at least one number one charting song on the UK singles chart from 1970 to 1984.[10]
Brown left the group in 1985 to take a hiatus from music.[11][12] He soon went on to have a solo career, achieving success in the clubs with the 1987 single "Body Rocking", produced by Richard James Burgess.[13]
He was the subject of This Is Your Life in 1997 when he was surprised by Michael Aspel on his birthday.[14][15]
Brown was a supporter of the Conservative Party and performed at the party's conference in 1984.[2][16] In 1981, he performed at the wedding reception of Prince Charles and Lady Diana Spencer, at Buckingham Palace.[17]
Brown retired from performing after a farewell tour in 2009.[18]
In 2003, Queen Elizabeth II named Brown a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) for "services to popular music for the United Kingdom".[18][19] In 2004, he received an Ivor Novello Award for outstanding contributions to British music.[16]
Brown was born in Kingston, Jamaica, on 12 November 1943, but moved to Britain when he was 11 years old.[20][21][22][12] His father, Ivan, was a police officer, and his mother, Edna, died when Brown was 19 years old.[23] After leaving school, he worked as a clerk.[23]
Brown married Ginette Marie in 1976, and they had two daughters.[2] Brown owned National Hunt racing horses, including Gainsay, who won the Ritz Club trophy at Cheltenham in 1987.[23][24]
Brown, known for his signature bald head, first suited the look after he was encouraged by friends to shave all his hair off as a joke. Errol liked the way it looked, and remained with a shaven head for the rest of his life.[23]
Brown died from liver cancer at his home in the Bahamas on 6 May 2015, at the age of 71.[18][25]
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