Tony Wilson: Manchester music scene mourns Factory Records founder, 78

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Tony Wilson, the bassist who helped found the British soul-pop band Hot Chocolate and co-wrote their best-known track, has died at 89, his family announced on April 24, 2026. The statement, shared on the family’s Facebook page, said Wilson passed away at home in Trinidad and that relatives found comfort in his final spiritual reflections.

Family announcement and final days

The family posted that Wilson’s passing came after a period of prayer and conversations about faith, and they described a sense of peace surrounding his final hours. His son confirmed the death and wrote that relatives have been drawing solace from recordings and old performances as they remember his life and work.

In a separate post, his son Danny recalled discovering early diaries that showed how persistently Wilson worked to get his songs heard — a revelation that, he said, deepened his admiration for his father’s dedication.

From a London club band to a global pop moment

Wilson helped form Hot Chocolate in 1968 alongside lead singer Errol Brown and other founding members. The group blended soul, pop and funk influences and found mainstream success in the 1970s.

Their biggest international hit, “You Sexy Thing”, co-written by Wilson and Brown, climbed into the U.S. top 10 and became a cultural touchstone after appearances in films such as The Full Monty, Rat Race and Boogie Nights. The track’s ongoing presence in playlists and soundtracks is a major part of Wilson’s public legacy.

Fact	Detail
Name	Tony Wilson
Age at death	89
Band	Hot Chocolate
Signature song	“You Sexy Thing”
Peak chart position (U.S.)	Billboard Hot 100: No. 3
Death announced	April 24, 2026 — at home in Trinidad
Solo work	1976 album I Like Your Style; stopped releasing music in the 1980s
Later note	Left Hot Chocolate after a royalties dispute

Later career and disputes over royalties

Wilson left Hot Chocolate amid disagreements about the division of earnings from the band’s music. He pursued a solo career and released the album I Like Your Style in 1976, but never matched the commercial impact he had with the group. Reports indicate he largely stepped back from releasing new material in the 1980s after collaborating with other artists.

That split over payments has become part of the broader story around the song’s authorship and rewards — an issue that continues to interest music historians, rights organizations and streaming platforms, where the song still generates significant plays each year.

How the music world remembers him

Tributes on social media since the announcement have highlighted two recurring notes: admiration for his craft and a sense that some of his body of work was underappreciated in its time. Danny Wilson said reading those messages has been a source of comfort.

Wilson’s songwriting reached other artists too — he penned material that ended up with acts from the 1960s and 1970s.

His most famous composition continues to surface in film and advertising, keeping its cultural footprint alive.

Legacy conversations now mix musical appreciation with questions about credits, royalties and recognition.

For listeners, the immediate consequence is a renewed attention to Wilson’s back catalogue and to the stories behind familiar songs. For the music industry, his death reminds rights holders and fans alike that catalog tracks remain valuable — and sometimes contentious — long after their original release.

Wilson’s passing marks the end of a long career that bridged club stages and international charts. As archives, streaming services and film soundtracks continue to circulate his work, discussions about his contributions and the economics of popular songwriting are likely to persist.