Hot Chocolate frontman Errol Brown dies aged 71

Tributes have started to appear online to Hot Chocolate frontman Errol Brown.

Among those paying tribute was singer Beverley Knight who said: "I am so gutted. Errol Brown was such a charismatic performer" and musician and producer Nile Rodgers.

Bookmakers William Hill also tweeted their respects for Brown, who was known to have owned a number of racehorses including one called Gainsay.

There was always music around wherever he was, Errol Brown's manager said in tribute to the star.

Brown, who is survived by his wife and two daughters, died at home in the Bahamas, Phil Dale said.

Paying tribute to Brown, who was made an MBE in 2003, Mr Dale said he was "a wonderful gentleman".

He added: "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.

"Errol was a lover of life and obviously music. I never went into his home, car or a hotel room without music playing. And it always played constantly in his dressing room before a concert.

"Errol was a gentleman and was a personal friend of mine who will be sadly missed by everyone who knew him. His greatest legacy is that his music will live on."

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 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.