Drummer Tony Connor joined Caribbean soul band Hot Chocolate in 1973, just before the group's career took off in the United States.

Connor was born April 6, 1947, in Romford, England. The rest of Hot Chocolate, mostly of Caribbean descent, formed after relocating to London in 1970. Hot Chocolate got its first record contract on the Beatles' Apple Records and issued a cover of John Lennon's "Give Peace a Chance."

They then cut a number of singles with producer Mickie Most. Hot Chocolate gained UK fans with hits such as "Love is Life" in 1970. Connor replaced founding drummer Ian King in 1973. In early 1975, Hot Chocolate broke through in the U.S. with the top 10 "Emma." The following year came their biggest hit, the #3 "You Sexy Thing" (RealAudio excerpt).

In 1979, the band had another top-10 hit on the Billboard Hot 100 with "Every 1's a Winner." They remained popular in the UK during the next decade, until their 1987 split.