After Dinner Speakers: Errol (Hot Chocolate) Brown, Malcolm Gladwell, Mark Little

In 1969 while demo-ing a slight reggae version of the John Lennon song:'GIVE PEACE A CHANCE' with a group of friends, Errol Brown changed the lyrics of the number but he was informed that he could not change Lennon's song without his permission! So a copy of the demo was sent to the Beatles record label,'Apple' with fingers crossed. Amazingly John Lennon loved the version and it was released on the 'Apple' label. Errol and his friends were given the name, 'The Hot Chocolate Band', a name thought up by a secretary at the company but which the band later changed to 'Hot Chocolate'. In 1970 'Hot Chocolate', with Errol Brown as lead singer released their first record entitled: 'LOVE IS LIFE' reaching number 6 in the charts. Over the next fifteen year career the group amassed a total of over 30 hits and became the only group in the UK to have a hit for fifteen consecutive years. Brown's bald headed charismatic image and unique voice being the central focus of the group along with a great song writing talent that saw him pen such pop classics as: 'IT STARTED WITH A KISS', 'YOU SEXY THING' and 'EVERY ONE'S A WINNER' In 1981 'Hot Chocolate' was invited by Prince Charles and Lady Diana at their pre-wedding reception at Buckingham Palace. In 1985 Errol left the band and took time out to spend more time with his wife and then young children, resurfacing in 1990 and 1993 to embark on successful solo tours of the UK. The movie 1997 'The Full Monty' helped the song ‘You Sexy Thing’ to return to the charts, and Hot Chocolate released 'A HOT CHOCOLATE GREATEST HITS COMPILATION' in October 1997 reaching number 10 in the album charts the next month. Errol also performed live on 'Top Of The Pops' as the single reached number 6 position. He has works consistently behind the scenes as an engineer for artists such as Dennis Brown, Burning Spear, Israel Vibrations, Bob Marley and several others.