Billy Ocean

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For this artist's self titled album, see Billy Ocean (album).

Billy Ocean
MBE
Ocean performing in New York, 1988
Ocean performing in New York, 1988
Background information
Birth nameLeslie Sebastian Charles
Born (1950-01-21) 21 January 1950 (age 71)
Fyzabad, Trinidad and Tobago, British Windward Islands
OriginRomford, London, England
Genres
Occupation(s)Singer-songwriter
Instruments
  • Vocals
  • steel drums
  • guitar
Years active1969–present
Labels
Websitebillyocean.com

Leslie Sebastian Charles, MBE (born 21 January 1950), known professionally as Billy Ocean, is a Trinidadian–British recording artist who had a string of R&B international pop hits in the 1970s and 1980s. He was the most popular British R&B singer-songwriter of the early to mid-1980s.[1] After scoring his first four UK Top 20 singles including two No. 2 hits in 1976 and 1977, seven years passed before he accumulated a series of transatlantic successes, including three US No.1's.[1] His 1985 hit "When the Going Gets Tough, the Tough Get Going" reached No. 1 in the UK and No. 2 in the US. In 1985, Ocean won the Grammy Award for Best Male R&B Vocal Performance for his worldwide hit "Caribbean Queen (No More Love on the Run)" and in 1987 was nominated for the Brit Award for Best British Male Artist.[2] His 1988 hit "Get Outta My Dreams, Get into My Car" reached No. 1 in the US and No. 3 in the UK. His 1986 hit "There'll Be Sad Songs (To Make You Cry)" also reached No. 1 in the US.[3]

In 2002, the University of Westminster, London, awarded Ocean an honorary doctorate of music. In 2010, Ocean was presented with the Lifetime Achievement Award at the MOBO Awards. On 29 July 2011, Ocean became a Companion of the Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts, presented to him by Sir Paul McCartney.[4] He is a member of the Rastafari movement.[5]

Early life and stardom[]

Ocean was born in Fyzabad, Trinidad and Tobago, then part of the British Windward Islands, to Hainsley Charles, a Grenadian musician[6] and his wife Violet.[7] He moved to Romford, England when he was ten years old, just before Trinidad and Tobago became independent in 1962. He was exposed to music at an early age. During his teenage years, he sang regularly in London clubs[6] while also working as a tailor in London's Savile Row. He was discovered by his first manager, John Morphew, who recorded a double A-side single at Pye Studios in London with a full orchestra. However, the ballad singing style of Ocean was going out of fashion and Morphew was unable to get any major label to release it. It remains unreleased. Ocean's father — who had countersigned the management contract as Ocean was underage — asked Morphew to release him from contract, which he did without penalty. In 1969, he joined a local band, The Shades of Midnight, playing in the Shoreditch area of London. He recorded his first single, "Nashville Rain", backed with "Sun in the Morning" in 1971 for Spark Records as Les Charles, and for two years fronted a studio band called Scorched Earth, with whom he released "On the Run" backed with "Let's Put Our Emotions in Motion" in 1974.

In an interview with Myfanwy Warhurst on ABC Radio Melbourne, Ocean stated that the story of him having taken his stage name from the local "Ocean Estate", Stepney in London's East End,[8] where he was living at the time, was in fact not correct. According to the interview, the name was derived from a local football team that was in his home town in Trinidad and Tobago, who called themselves "Oceans 11".[9] In 1976, he recorded his first album, Billy Ocean, with its first single release, "Love Really Hurts Without You", charting at No. 2 in the UK Singles Chart and No. 22 in the US Billboard Hot 100. He enjoyed club success from the songs "Are You Ready" and "Stay The Night" from the album City Limit — both of which were later covered by La Toya Jackson. More successes ensued, including "L.O.D. (Love on Delivery)". He also wrote and composed songs for other artists. In 1981, he scored the US R&B chart with "Nights (Feel Like Getting Down)."

International success[]

Between 1976 and 1982, Ocean released four albums (Billy Ocean, City Limit, Nights (Feel Like Getting Down) and Inner Feelings)[10] through his record label GTO, none of which scored success on any musical charts aside, from his biggest single up to that point, 1976's "Love Really Hurts Without You", which was a top 40 and a top 10 hit in both the UK (No. 2) and the US (No. 22).[10]

As Sony Music acquired GTO Records in 1978, Ocean was shifted to Jive from Epic, in which he received a second breakthrough in his career in the early 1980s. Late 1984 saw the release of his fifth studio album Suddenly and its main single, "Caribbean Queen (No More Love on the Run)" becoming successes on the charts.[10] "Caribbean Queen" became Ocean's first number one single on both the US Billboard Hot 100 and Hot Black Singles charts in late 1984, and the album debuted in the top ten, peaking at No. 9 on both the US Billboard 200 and the UK Albums Chart simultaneously in the US and UK.[10] Suddenly reached gold in the UK, and was certified double platinum by the RIAA (Recording Industry Association of America). He also recorded with Scott Walker in 1984, singing on his album Climate of Hunter.

The single scored Ocean two Grammy Award nominations, and won the Grammy Award for Best Male R&B Vocal Performance at the 1985 Grammy Awards. Ocean was later presented his award by Shalamar group member Jeffrey Daniel on 620 Soul Train, a UK incarnation of the American music dance show Soul Train. The album's title track also became a success, peaking at No. 4 in both the US and the UK and the song "Loverboy", while also being a No. 2 US success in 1985 was also featured in the first scene of the popular UK BBC One TV series Casualty, in 1986. Ocean appeared at Live Aid in 1985, singing "Caribbean Queen" and "Loverboy", from JFK Stadium in Philadelphia.

His 1986 album Love Zone also sold well. It included the successful singles "When the Going Gets Tough, the Tough Get Going", the theme from the film The Jewel of the Nile; this was a No. 1 success in the UK and a No. 2 in the United States; and "There'll Be Sad Songs (To Make You Cry)" (a US No. 1, and also a major UK success). Also included were the title track and "Love Is Forever", which were No. 10 and No. 16 US successes for Ocean, respectively. It also earned Ocean a second nomination for Best Male R&B Vocal Performance at the 1987 Grammy Awards.

In February 1986, Ocean's video of "When the Going Gets Tough, the Tough Get Going" was banned by the BBC, owing to such non-union members as the American actors Michael Douglas, Kathleen Turner and Danny DeVito, all three of whom were cast members of Romancing the Stone and The Jewel of the Nile, miming to the backing vocals.[11][12][13] At the 1987 Brit Awards, Ocean was nominated for the Brit Award for Best British Male.[2]

Ocean's next album, Tear Down These Walls (1988), featured another No. 1 single, "Get Outta My Dreams, Get into My Car", while the album was certified platinum.[6]

Later career[]

Billy Ocean performing in Sydney on 1 January 2012

Ocean's 1993 album Time to Move On failed to produce any major successes, but his 1989 Greatest Hits collection has been a steady seller over the years, and his 1997 compilation Love Is For Ever made No. 7 on the UK album chart. Ocean's last studio album for Jive Records was Time to Move On, which he recorded in Chicago with R&B star R. Kelly.

In 2002, the University of Westminster in London awarded Ocean an honorary doctorate of music.[14] The awards ceremony took place in the Barbican Centre, in London.[15] He continues to tour and record in Europe. Ocean is now a patron for Tech Music Schools in London,[16] made up of Drumtech, Vocaltech, Guitar-X and Keyboardtech. He regularly visits to hold clinics and seminars for the students.

In 2004, "Caribbean Queen" was re-released as a digital single for its 20th anniversary, shooting up to No. 25 on the Billboard digital singles chart and garnering radio play across the United States and UK. A remix of the single by will.i.am was released in 2005.

Billy Ocean performing in Cambridge, England, July 2014

In October 2007, Ocean commenced his first UK tour in more than 15 years.[17] In February and March 2008 he toured Australia and the Far East. His album Because I Love You was released on 2 February 2009.[18]

In April 2010, an 18-track compilation album was released in the UK by Sony Music titled The Very Best of Billy Ocean to tie in with a 30-date tour of the UK and Ireland. Featuring Ocean's biggest hits, the album debuted in the UK Albums Chart at No. 17.[19]

On 20 October 2010, Ocean was presented with the Lifetime Achievement Award at the MOBO Awards in London.[20] On 29 July 2011, Ocean became a Companion of the Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts.[4] His title was presented by former Beatle Paul McCartney.[4]

In 2012, Ocean made a cameo appearance in the British comedy movie Keith Lemon: The Film as Lemon's father. In January 2016, Ocean appeared on The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon to perform some of his classic hits as part of a promo tour for his new album. Ocean toured the UK during March and April 2017.

Ocean recorded a new album in mid-2019 at Eve Studios in Stockport, working again with producer Barry Eastmond as co-writer. The album, One World, was to be released on 17 April 2020.[21] After a delay, it was later released 4 September 2020.[22]

Personal life[]

Ocean has lived in Sunningdale, Berkshire, England, with his wife Judy, since 1978. They have three children. His son played rugby sevens at the 2014 Commonwealth Games for Barbados.[23]

Ocean decided to become vegetarian after the loss of his mother in 1989, who died from ovarian cancer.[24]

Honours[]

Ocean was appointed Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in the 2020 New Year Honours for services to music.[25][26]

Awards and nominations[]

ASCAP Pop Music Awards[]

Year Nominee / work Award Result Ref.
1986 "Caribbean Queen" Most Performed Songs Won [27]
"Loverboy" Won
"Suddenly" Won
1987 "There'll Be Sad Songs (To Make You Cry)" Won [28]
"When the Going Gets Tough, the Tough Get Going" Won
1988 "Love Is Forever" Won [29]
1989 "Get Outta My Dreams, Get into My Car" Won [30]

Billboard Music Awards[]

Year Nominee / work Award Result Ref.
1985 Himself Top R&B Singles Artist Nominated [31]
Top R&B Album Artist Nominated
Top Adult Contemporary Artist Nominated
Suddenly Top R&B Album Nominated
"Suddenly" Top R&B Song Nominated
Top Adult Contemporary Single Nominated
1986 Himself Top Artist Nominated [32]
Top R&B Artist Nominated
Top R&B Singles Artist Nominated
Top R&B Album Artist Nominated
Top Billboard 200 Artist Nominated
Top Billboard 200 Artist - Male Nominated
Top Hot 100 Artist Nominated
Top Hot 100 Artist - Male Won
Top Adult Contemporary Artist Won
Love Zone Top R&B Album Nominated
"There'll Be Sad Songs (To Make You Cry)" Top Hot 100 Song Nominated
Top R&B Song Nominated
Top Adult Contemporary Single Nominated
"When the Going Gets Tough" Top Hot 100 Song Nominated
Top R&B Song Nominated
Top Adult Contemporary Single Nominated
"Love Zone" Top R&B Song Nominated
Top Adult Contemporary Single Nominated

Grammy Awards[]

Billy Ocean has been nominated three times for a Grammy Award, with one win.[33]

Year Nominee / work Award Result
1985 "Caribbean Queen (No More Love on the Run)" Best Male R&B Vocal Performance Won[33]
Best R&B Song (shared with Keith Diamond) Nominated[33]
1987 Love Zone Best Male R&B Vocal Performance Nominated[33]

Ivor Novello Awards[]

Year Nominee / work Award Result
1985 "Caribbean Queen (No More Love on the Run)" International Hit of the Year Nominated
1989 "Get Outta My Dreams, Get into My Car" Nominated
Most Performed Work Nominated
2018 Himself International Achievement Won

Pollstar Concert Industry Awards[]

Year Nominee / work Award Result Ref.
1985 Himself Comeback of the Year Nominated [34]

Soul Train Music Awards[]

Year Nominee / work Award Result
1987 Love Zone Album of the Year – Male Nominated

Discography[]

Main article: Billy Ocean discography

Studio albums[]

See also[]

References[]

  1. ^ Jump up to: a b Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. pp. 402–403. ISBN 1-904994-10-5.
  2. ^ Jump up to: a b "Billy Ocean BRITS Profile". Brits.co.uk. Archived from the original on 25 October 2014. Retrieved 19 September 2014.
  3. ^ "Billy Ocean UK Charts history". Official Charts.com. Retrieved 10 March 2018
  4. ^ Jump up to: a b c "Billy Ocean will be named a LIPA companion by Paul McCartney this afternoon". Liverpooldailypost.co.uk. Retrieved 19 September 2014.
  5. ^ Davina Hamilton. "Billy Ocean: 'Rastafari is my anchor'". Voice-online.co.uk. Retrieved 19 September 2014.
  6. ^ Jump up to: a b c "Billy Ocean – Biography". AllMusic. Retrieved 19 September 2014.
  7. ^ "Billy Ocean". Northwales.co.uk. Retrieved 2 November 2014.
  8. ^ Pete Lewis. "Billy Ocean: Caribbean King". Blues & Soul. Retrieved 1 January 2012.
  9. ^ "Billy Ocean, History of Australian toys, breaking up, a 9/11 comedy". ABC Radio. 7 June 2019. Retrieved 13 June 2019.
  10. ^ Jump up to: a b c d Colin Larkin, ed. (1993). The Guinness Who's Who of Soul Music (First ed.). Guinness Publishing. p. 187. ISBN 0-85112-733-9.
  11. ^ Tobler, John (1992). NME Rock 'N' Roll Years (1st ed.). London: Reed International Books Ltd. p. 415. CN 5585.
  12. ^ "BBC Four - Britain's Most Dangerous Songs: Listen to the Banned". Bbc.co.uk.
  13. ^ "Billy Ocean: Love Zone, Expanded Edition". Cherryred.co.uk.
  14. ^ "Whatever Happened To (weht.net) – accessed January 2008". Weht.net. Retrieved 19 September 2014.
  15. ^ "Billy Ocean given honorary degree". 30 December 2008. Archived from the original on 30 December 2008. Retrieved 8 July 2021.
  16. ^ [1][dead link]
  17. ^ Chris Osuh (25 October 2007). "Billy Ocean @ Opera House". Manchester Evening News. Retrieved 19 September 2014.
  18. ^ "Because I Love You (CD)". Tower Records. Retrieved 19 September 2014.
  19. ^ Pete Lewis (May 2010). "Billy Ocean: I've Got Somethin' To Tell Ya". Blues & Soul. Retrieved 19 September 2014.
  20. ^ "Tinie Tempah, JLS Big Winners at MOBO Awards". Billboard.com. Reuters. Retrieved 21 October 2010.
  21. ^ "Billy Ocean Set To Release 'One World,' First Album in a Decade « American Songwriter". Americansongwriter.com. 9 January 2020. Retrieved 14 April 2020.
  22. ^ "Billy Ocean | The Official Website | Latest news". Billy Ocean | The Official Website. Retrieved 17 October 2020.
  23. ^ "Billy Ocean's son thrilled with All Blacks encounter". ESPN Scrum. 24 July 2014. Retrieved 27 July 2014.
  24. ^ Woodcock, Zara (13 June 2020). "James Martin's Saturday Morning fans can't get over how well Billy Ocean looks". Metro. Retrieved 24 October 2020.
  25. ^ "No. 62866". The London Gazette (Supplement). 28 December 2019. p. N17.
  26. ^ "Order of the British Empire, Leslie Sebastian Charles". The London Gazette. 27 December 2019. Retrieved 28 December 2019.
  27. ^ "Billboard". 14 June 1986.
  28. ^ https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Billboard/80s/1987/Billboard-1987-06-06.pdf#page=24
  29. ^ https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Billboard/80s/1988/BB-1988-06-04.pdf#page=5
  30. ^ https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Billboard/80s/1989/BB-1989-05-27.pdf#page=86
  31. ^ Billboard. 28 December 1985. Retrieved 25 May 2020.
  32. ^ Billboard. 27 December 1986. p. 51. Retrieved 25 May 2020.
  33. ^ Jump up to: a b c d "Billy Ocean". Grammy.com. 22 May 2018. Retrieved 4 August 2018.
  34. ^ https://web.archive.org/web/20170320045946/http://www.pollstarpro.com/PCIA-Static/awards1984.htm

External links[]

Media related to Billy Ocean at Wikimedia Commons

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