Billy Ocean

Infobox Musical artist
Name = Billy Ocean


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Background = solo_singer
Birth_name = Leslie Sebastian Charles
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Born = birth date and age|1950|1|21 Fyzabad, Trinidad
Died =
Origin = Trinidad
Instrument =
Voice_type =
Genre = Rhythm and blues, Pop, Soul
Occupation = Singer, Songwriter
Years_active = 1976 - present
Label = GTO, Epic, Jive
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Billy Ocean (born Leslie Sebastian Charles, 21 January 1950, Fyzabad, Trinidad [ [http://www.billyocean.co.uk/biography Biography on his official website] ] [http://wc04.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&searchlink=BILLY|OCEANN&sql=11:wiftxqr5ld6e~T1 All Music Guide biography - accessed January 2008] ] ) is a Grammy Award-winning British-based popular music performer who had a string of rhythm and blues-tinged international pop hits in the 1970s and 1980s. He was the top British-based R&B singer / songwriter of the 1980s.cite book
first= David
last= Roberts
year= 2006
title= British Hit Singles & Albums
edition= 19th
publisher= Guinness World Records Limited
location= London
pages= p. 402-403
id= ISBN 1-904994-10-5] He waited seven years after scoring his first four UK top 20 hits, before accumulating an impressive run of transatlantic successes, including three U.S. number ones.cite book
first= David
last= Roberts
year= 2006
title= British Hit Singles & Albums
edition= 19th
publisher= Guinness World Records Limited
location= London
pages= p. 402-403
id= ISBN 1-904994-10-5]

Biography

He was born in Fyzabad, Trinidad and Tobago to Grenadian parents, and moved to England with his family at the age of eight. In his teenage years, he sang regularly in London clubs. [http://wc04.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&searchlink=BILLY|OCEANN&sql=11:wiftxqr5ld6e~T1 All Music Guide biography - accessed January 2008] ] He also worked as a tailor in London's Savile Row as a teenager. [http://www.musicianguide.com/biographies/1608000170/Billy-Ocean.html Musicianguide.com biography - accessed January 2008] ] He released his first single in 1972 on Spark Records as Les Charles.

By 1975 he adopted the name Billy Ocean, taking the surname from the 'Ocean Estate' where he lived in East London. The following year, 1976, was when he recorded his debut album, "Billy Ocean", with its first single release, "Love Really Hurts Without You," charting at number 2 in the UK Singles Chart and number 22 in the U.S. Billboard Hot 100. More hits followed, including as "L.O.D. (Love On Delivery)". He also wrote songs for other artists such as La Toya Jackson. [http://wc04.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&searchlink=BILLY|OCEANN&sql=11:wiftxqr5ld6e~T1 All Music Guide biography - accessed January 2008] ] In 1981 he hit the U.S. R&B 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 song won Ocean the Grammy Award for Best Male R&B Vocal Performance at the 1985 Grammy Awards. The album's title track also became a hit, peaking at #4 in the US, and the song "Loverboy", while also being a #2 US hit in 1985, from the album, was also the background music for 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 the JFK Stadium, Philadelphia.

His 1986 album "Love Zone" also sold well. It included the hit singles "When the Going Gets Tough, the Tough Get Going" (the theme from the film "The Jewel of the Nile", this was a number one hit in the UK and a number two in the U.S.; and "There'll Be Sad Songs (To Make You Cry)" (a U.S. number one, and also a major UK hit).Also included is the title track, which was a #10 U.S. hit for him.

In February 1986, Ocean's video of "When the Going Gets Tough, the Tough Get Going" was banned by the BBC, due to non-union members (including Michael Douglas and Danny DeVito) miming to backing vocals.cite book
first= John
last= Tobler
year= 1992
title= NME Rock 'N' Roll Years
edition= 1st
publisher= Reed International Books Ltd
location= London
pages= p. 415
id= CN 5585]

Ocean's next album, "Tear Down These Walls" (1988) featured another number one single, "Get Outta My Dreams, Get into My Car", while the album was certified platinum. [http://wc04.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&searchlink=BILLY|OCEANN&sql=11:wiftxqr5ld6e~T1 All Music Guide biography - accessed January 2008] ]

His later albums, such as "Time to Move On", "Love is For Ever" (also known as "L.I.F.E.") and "Showdown", failed to spawn hits, but his 1989 "Greatest Hits" collection has been a steady seller over the years. Ocean's last studio album for Jive Records 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. [ [http://www.ticketline.co.uk/news.php?id=3223 Ticketline.co website mini-biography] ] In 2002, the University of Westminster awarded Ocean an honorary doctorate of music. [ [http://www.weht.net/WEHT/Billy_Ocean.html. Whatever Happened To (weht.net) - accessed January 2008] ] The awards ceremony took place in the Barbican Centre, in London. [ [http://archives.tcm.ie/breakingnews/2002/11/11/story76283.asp TCM Breaking News @archives.tcm.ie] ] He continues to tour and record in Europe. He lives in Sunningdale, Berkshire with his wife of 27 years, Judy; and their three children Cherie, Antony and Rachel. Ocean is now a patron for Tech Music Schools in London [ [http://www.retroland.com/pages/retropedia/music/item/1608/ Retroland.com biography - accessed January 2008] ] , made up of Drumtech, Vocaltech and Guitar-X. He regularly visits to hold clinics and seminars for the students.

In October 2007, Ocean commenced his first British tour in over 15 years. [ [http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/entertainment/music/live_reviews/s/1021529_billy_ocean__opera_house Manchestereveningnews.co.uk article] ] In February and March 2008 he toured Australia and the Far East. [ [http://www.audience.uk.com/tours.htm Audience.uk.com tour information] ]

Contemporary influence

* Hip-hop artist Big Boi of OutKast uses the name 'Billy Ocean' as an alias, a reference to the performer.
* The Promise Ring mention the name Billy Ocean in their song "Nothing Feels Good", from their 1997 album of the same name.
* Hip-hop artists Ying Yang Twins say "she skeet so much they call her Billy Ocean" in the song "Salt Shaker".
* 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.
*Episode 60 of "The Grim Adventures of Billy and Mandy" is titled "Billy Ocean".
*He has been referenced on The CW Television Network's TV series, "Everybody Hates Chris". Chris' sister Tonya idolizes Ocean and credits him as inventing the Moonwalk (and not Marcel Marceau or Michael Jackson).
*"Red Light Spells Danger" was performed on "Top Gear of the Pops", a Comic Relief special of the BBC Television motoring show "Top Gear". It featured presenters Jeremy Clarkson on the drums, Richard Hammond on the bass and James May on the keyboard. Former lead singer of The Darkness, Justin Hawkins, guest starred on vocals.
*In "Scrubs" J.D., when listening to Ocean whilst wheeling his scooter in one episode says "Ah Billy. After the Arctic and the Pacific, you're my favourite ocean!"
*"Caribbean Queen (No More Love on the Run)" is used in a sketch on the HBO series "Mr. Show". A hate group plays the song from a van in the desert as a terrorist act, calling it "An Ocean in the Desert".
*The book, "No demanis llobarro fora de temporada", edited in Catalan, references various songs from the 1980s (like a soundtrack), some of which are Ocean's, and often references these songs. It seems that, anyone who reads the book can think that the authors are Ocean's fans, however his appearance in these selection of songs for the book was accidental. It is because the book is written by two authors, one of them referenced the song "Without You" by Harry Nilsson and the second author continued writing not being aware of that song. In an attempt to acquaint himself with the song he went to a record shop and asked for this title, but instead he received "Love Zone" by Ocean. [cite news|title=Foro Flanagan online - No pidas sardina fuera de temporada (6th comment, section "Detalles y Anécdotas")|url=http://flanagan.foroactivo.com/los-libros-f1/abril-no-pidas-sardina-fuera-de-temporada-t54.htm | language=Spanish]

Discography

Albums

cite book
first= David
last= Roberts
year= 2006
title= British Hit Singles & Albums
edition= 19th
publisher= Guinness World Records Limited
location= London
pages= p. 402-403
id= ISBN 1-904994-10-5]
* "Billy Ocean" (GTO 1976)
* "City Limit" (GTO 1980)
* "Nights (Feel Like Getting Down)" (Epic Records 1981) #152 U.S.
* "Inner Feelings" (Epic 1982)
* "Suddenly" (Jive Records 1984) #9 UK, #9 U.S.
* "Love Zone" (Jive 1986) #2 UK, #6 U.S.
* "Tear Down These Walls" (Jive 1988) #3 UK, #18 U.S.
* "Greatest Hits" (Jive 1989) #4 UK, #77 U.S.
* "Time to Move On" (Jive 1993)
* "L.I.F.E. (Love is For Ever)" (Jive 1997) (Double album compilation of 'Greatest Hits') #7 UK
* "Emotions in Motion" (Time Music International 2002)
* "On The Run" (Planet Media 2003)
* "Let's Get Back Together" (Jive 2003) #69 UK
* "The Ultimate Collection" (Jive 2004) #28 UK
* "Showdown" (Jive 2004)
* "Can You Feel It" (K-tel 2005) (available exclusively on Apple's iTunes Music Store)
* "YBC!" (Jixxtaposition Records 2007)

ingles

ee also

*List of number-one singles (UK)
*List of number-one hits (United States)
*List of artists who reached number one on the Hot 100 (U.S.)
*List of number-one dance hits (United States)
*List of artists who reached number one on the U.S. Dance chart
*List of Euro disco artists
*List of Eastern Caribbean people

Ocean penned songs recorded by other artists

[http://wc04.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&searchlink=BILLY|OCEANN&sql=11:wiftxqr5ld6e~T1 All Music Guide biography - accessed January 2008] ]
*"Are You Ready?" - La Toya Jackson
*"Love Is a Dangerous Game" - Millie Jackson
*"Love Is" - Randy Crawford
*"Taking Chances" - Ray, Goodman & Brown
*"Waiting For You" - Boyzone
*"Whatever Turns You On" - The Dells
*"Who's Gonna Rock You" - The Nolans

References

External links

* [http://www.billyocean.co.uk The Official Billy Ocean Website - www.billyocean.co.uk]
* [http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=11:nsrc281c05ja~T2 Billy Ocean biography and discography] at Allmusic website
* [http://afiwi.com/people2.asp?id=72 Billy Ocean - The Afiwi.com, Caribbean Hall of Fame]