Billy Ocean
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Billy Ocean (born Leslie Sebastian Charles on 21 January, 1950 in Fyzabad, Trinidad), is a UK based popular music performer, who had a string of rhythm and blues tinged international pop hits in the 1970s and 1980s.
Biography
By 1976 he had adopted the name Billy Ocean and recorded his debut album, Billy Ocean, with the first single, "Love Really Hurts Without You," charting at number 2 in the UK and number 22 in the U.S. More hits followed, including as “L.O.D. (Love On Delivery)”. He also wrote songs for other artists such as LaToya Jackson. In 1982 he hit the U.S. Rhythm and Blues Chart with “Nights (Feel Like Getting Down).”
Ocean's period of greatest success began with Suddenly in 1984 and its main single "Caribbean Queen". The song's title and lyrics were changed for different regions, such that the song is also known as "African Queen" or "European Queen". The album's title track also became a hit. His 1986 album Love Zone also sold very well. It housed the hit singles "When the Going Gets Tough, The Tough Get Going" (theme from the film: Jewel of the Nile); and "There'll Be Sad Songs (To Make You Cry)".
Plus Ocean's 1988 album Tear Down These Walls had another number one single, "Get Outta My Dreams, Get Into My Car".
His later albums, such as Time to Move On, L.I.F.E. and Showdown, failed to spawn hits, but his 1989 Greatest Hits collection has been a steady seller over the years.
In fact, Billy Ocean's last studio album for Jive was Time to Move On, which he recorded in Chicago with R&B star R. Kelly. It turned out, that R. Kelly had been a long-time admirer of the way Ocean was able to mix the more emotive soul style with a crossover pop vibe. It is evident that the two got on well as writers in the studio.
In 2002, the University of Westminster awarded Ocean an honorary doctorate of music. He continues to tour and record in Europe.
Ocean now lives in Milton Keynes, where he follows his favourite football club, the MK Dons.
Trivia
- Hip-hop artist Big Boi of OutKast uses the name 'Billy Ocean' as an alias, a reference to the performer.
- Hip hop artist Lil Jon says "Skeet so much they call her Billy Ocean" in the song "Salt Shaker".
- Hip-hop artists Little Brother and The Sound Providers mention Billy Ocean in the chorus of the song "Braggin' and Boastin'".
- Hip hop artist Warren G mentions the name 'Billy Ocean' in the song "Super Soul Sis".
- Hip-Hop artist Ill Bill uses 'Billy Ocean' as an alias in a Hiphopgame.com freestyle.
Discography
Albums
- Billy Ocean (GTO 1976)
- City Limit (GTO 1980)
- Nights Feel Like Getting Down (GTO 1981)
- Inner Feelings (Epic 1982)
- Suddenly (Jive 1984)
- Love Zone (Jive 1986)
- Tear Down These Walls (Jive 1988)
- Greatest Hits (Billy Ocean)|Greatest Hits (Jive 1989)
- Time To Move On (Jive 1993)
- L.I.F.E. (Jive 1997)
- Let's Get Back Together (Jive 2003)
- The Ultimate Collection (Jive 2004)
Singles and
- 1976 "Love Really Hurts Without You" (#22)
- 1980 "Are You Ready" / "Stay the Night" (#83 U.S. Dance)
- 1981 "Stay the Night" / "Night (Feel Like Getting Down)" (#4 U.S. Dance)
- 1984 "Caribbean Queen (No More Love On the Run)" (#1 two weeks, #1 U.S. Dance)
- 1985 "Loverboy" (#2, #1 U.S. Dance)
- 1985 "Suddenly" (#4)
- 1985 "Mystery Lady" (#24)
- 1986 "When the Going Gets Tough, the Tough Get Going" (#2, #31 U.S. Dance)
- 1986 "There'll Be Sad Songs (To Make You Cry)" (#1, one week)
- 1986 "Hold On Brother" (#48 U.S. Dance)
- 1986 "Love Zone" (#10)
- 1986 "Love Is Forever" (#16)
- 1988 "Get Outta My Dreams, Get Into My Car" (#1 two weeks, #25 U.S. Dance)
- 1988 "The Color Of Love" (#17)
- 1989 "License To Chill" (#32)
See also
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