Best-known for his vocal styling on the classic hit “You Sexy Thing,” soul singer Errol Brown passed away today. He was 71 years old.

Brown’s manager announced today that he had suffered from liver cancer in the past few years. He passed away in his home in the Bahamas.

Errol Brown was originally from Jamaica, and he moved to England as a teenager. While in England, he started his group Hot Chocolate, and soon became an internationally-renowned R&B vocalist with the band. Their biggest hits were “You Sexy Thing,” “Emma” and “Every 1’s a Winner.” They were also the first performers of the song “Brother Louie.” Hot Chocolate was one of the most iconic groups that formed the 1970s funk and R&B sound, and Brown was at the helm of it all.

While Brown went on to have a solo career in the 1980s, he had his greatest success with Hot Chocolate. He won an Ivor Novello Award in 2004 for his contributions to British music, and influenced many R&B artists decades after he came onto the scene in the 1970s.

Errol Brown is survived by his wife and two children.

His manager said:

I lost my friend today It was a joy being his Manager and his legacy is his music which will live on. RIP Errol Brown pic.twitter.com/KinyFWjVAk

— Phil Dale (@PhilPdale) May 6, 2015

Take a listen to Brown’s biggest hit below: