Harvey Hinsley
Harvey Hinsley | |
|---|---|
| Birth name | Harvey Vincent Hinsley |
| Born | 19 January 1948 Northampton, England, UK |
| Genres |
|
| Occupation(s) | Musician |
| Instrument(s) | guitar, vocals |
| Years active | 1960s–present |
| Member of | Hot Chocolate |
| Formerly of | The Outlaws, Cliff Bennett and the Rebel Rousers, Black Claw |
Harvey Vincent Hinsley[1] (born 19 January 1948) is an English guitarist. He is best known for his early works with both members of Chas & Dave in the 1960s, and for being the lead guitarist for disco group Hot Chocolate, a band he still tours in as of 2024.
Carer[edit]
Early career[edit]
In 1964, Hinsley joined The Outlaws, an instrumental band active from 1960 to 1965, that included Chas Hodges of Chas & Dave.[2] Hinsley is only credited with playing on one song with The Outlaws, "Don't Cry" b/w "Only for You" (February 1965). Hodges and Hinsley worked together again in 1968, when they were both in Cliff Bennett and the Rebel Rousers.[3] Harvey had joined the band after lead vocalist Cliff Bennett had left.
In 1968, Hodges, Hinsley, Mick Burt and Dave Peacock formed Black Claw, which played club engagements until Hodges left to join Heads, Hands & Feet in early 1970. They recorded an EP titled "Country Pie", produced by Albert Lee.[4] He was also in a band with Mick Underwood called The Doves.
Hot Chocolate[edit]
Also in 1970, Hinsley joined Hot Chocolate, replacing Franklyn De Allie. The group had at least one hit song every year on the UK Singles Chart from 1970 to 1984.[5] With the help of record producer Mickie Most, began releasing tracks that became hits, such as "Love Is Life", "Emma", "You Could Have Been a Lady" (a US and Canadian hit for April Wine).
Their biggest selling hits include "You Sexy Thing", a UK number two which also made the top 10 in three decades and reached number three on the US Billboard Hot 100—the song also featured in the popular British comedy film The Full Monty (1997)—"So You Win Again", topped the UK Charts, "Every 1's a Winner", reached number six in the US, "It Started with a Kiss", UK top five, and "Emma", charted at number three in the UK and number 8 in the US. In 2004, Brown received the Ivor Novello Award for Outstanding Contribution to British Music from the British Academy of Songwriters, Composers and Authors.[6] The band became the only group, and one of just three acts, that had a hit in every year of the 1970s in the UK charts (the other two being Elvis Presley and Diana Ross).[7][8]
Hinsley is known for distinctive guitar sound that can be heard in most of their songs, accomplished by using a Guitar synthesizer on both a Gibson SG and Roland GR-500.[9] After a six-year hiatus, the band reformed in 1992 by Hinsley, Patrick Olive and Tony Connor of the classic lineup. As of 2024, those three members continue to tour with newer members Steve Ansell, Andy Smith, and Kennie Simon, and are based in Munich, Germany.[10]
Discography[edit]
The Outlaws singles
- "Don't Cry" b/w "Only for You" (1965)
Black Claw singles
- "Good Times" (1969)
- "Across The Great Divide" (1969)
Black Claw albums
- "Country Pie" (1971)
Selected Hot Chocolate songs
(See full discography at Hot Chocolate discography)
- "You Could Have Been a Lady" (1971)
- "Brother Louie" (1973)
- "Emma" (1974)
- "You Sexy Thing" (1975)
- "I'll Put You Together Again" (1976)
- "So You Win Again" (1977)
- "Every 1's a Winner" (1978)
- "No Doubt About It" (1980)
- "It Started with a Kiss" (1982)
- "I Gave You My Heart" (1983)
References[edit]
- ^ Day, Jointz Of The (2024-01-20). "Harvey Hinsley (born January 19, 1948) of Hot Chocolate". Jointz Of The Day. Retrieved 2024-05-17.
- ^ "The Outlaws Songs, Albums, Reviews, Bio & More..." AllMusic. Retrieved 2024-05-17.
- ^ "Harvey Hinsley". www.alwynwturner.com. Retrieved 2024-05-17.
- ^ Oakley, Malcolm (2023-05-05). "Chas and Dave: The Rockney Legends of East London". East London History. Retrieved 2024-05-18.
- ^ Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. pp. 259/260. ISBN 1-904994-10-5.
- ^ "Radiohead And The Darkness Triumph At Ivor Novello Awards". NME. Retrieved 30 June 2022.
- ^ Roberts, David (2001). British Hit Singles (14th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 47. ISBN 0-85156-156-X.
- ^ Rice, Jo (1982). The Guinness Book of 500 Number One Hits (1st ed.). Enfield, Middlesex: Guinness Superlatives Ltd. p. 184. ISBN 0-85112-250-7.
- ^ moulty58 (2018-06-03). "Unsung Hero's Harvey Hinsley". The Future is Past. Retrieved 2024-05-17.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link) - ^ "..:: HOT CHOCOLATE - Biography ::." Retrieved 17 May 2024.