Billy Ocean
Billy Ocean was born Leslie Charles in Fyzbad, Trinidad. He moved to England at the age of eight. As a teenager he began performing in the London Club scene and he released his first single in 1974 under the name ‘Scorched Earth’. He worked at Ford Motors while writing and recording songs. He quit Ford after scoring a worldwide hit with a pop-soul song called “Love Really Hurts Without You.” Hitting #2 in the U.K. and #22 in the U.S.
Other hits were to follow during the 70’s such as “L.O.D. (Love On Delivery)” and he also began to write songs for artists like LaToya Jackson. In 1982 crossed over unto the U.S. r&b charts with “Nights (Feel Like Getting Down).” Two years later, Ocean became a International star when “Caribbean Queen” went to #1 on the pop and r&b charts becoming a worldwide hit.
The song was also released around the world as both “African Queen” and “European Queen” with tailored lyrics for each of these markets and both just as successful as “Caribbean Queen.” A cover of Prince’s “Loverboy” and the ballad “Suddenly” Were also successful.
In 1986, Billy Ocean recorded “When The Going Gets Tough, The Tough Get Going” for and it went to #2 hit later that year Ocean released the Top-10 album Love Zone and scored his second #1 hit with “There’ll Be Sad Songs (To Make You Cry).” A third #1,“Get Outta My Dreams, Get Into My Car,” followed in 1998.
When Ocean returned to Trinidad in 2002, many did not recognize the bearded elder with grey dreadlocks. Ocean returned to play tenor pan for the London based Ebony Steel Orchestra for the World Steel Band Festival. During the same year the University of Westminster awarded Ocean a Honorary Doctor Of Music degree. The ceremony which took place at the Barbican Centre in London recognized Ocean for his services to the music industry.
After a brief stretch in prison for drugs, Ocean emerged wiser, sober and more spiritual. He now finds solace in gardening and playing pan. He continues to record and tour in Europe.
