The soulful lyrics of Trinidadian-born and British-bred R&B legend Billy Ocean have touched millions across Europe, as well the rest of the world, especially at the height of his career during the 1970s and 80s with hits like “Caribbean Queen” and the timeless ballad “Suddenly.” Now in his 60s, Ocean is still making music and touring the world.
Ocean was born as Leslie Sebastian Charles in Fyzabad, Trinidad and Tobago, to Hainsley Charles, a Grenadian musician and his wife Violet. His family moved to Romford, London, England, when he was ten years old in 1960, just before Trinidad and Tobago became independent.
He took his stage name from the Ocean Estate, Stepney in London’s East End, where he was living at the time. In 1976, he recorded his first album titled, Billy Ocean.
How Did He Get His Start
Ocean was born on 21 January 1950 in Fyzabad, Trinidad and Tobago, to Hainsley Charles, a Grenadian musician, and his wife Violet.[4] He moved to Romford, Essex, England, when he was 10 years old, shortly 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 a London nightclub while also working as a tailor in London’s Savile Row.
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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 the recording contract, which he did without penalty. In 1969, he joined a local band, the Shades of Midnight, playing in the Shoreditch area of London.[citation needed] He recorded a David Myers and John Worsley composition, “Nashville Rain”, his first single, backed with “Sun in the Morning”, in 1971 for Spark Records under the name 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 on ABC Radio Melbourne, Ocean stated that the story of his stage name being taken from the local Ocean Estate, Stepney in London’s East End, where he was living at the time, was incorrect. 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”
Over four decades later, he is still selling out shows around the world, in large part because of his decision to go vegetarian more than 20 years ago.
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How His Mother’s Passing Changed His Life
“When my mother died from ovarian cancer in 1989, it transformed my life,” Ocean told the UK Daily Mail in an interview.
“I looked at how she’d lived — a hard-working woman, only to die just three years after I was successful enough to take care of her. I realized I had to take care of myself. So I took a five-year break from music to spend time with my wife and three children. I became more spiritual and just went off meat.”
The fruits of his labor flourished and now, at age 72, he is looking better than some men half his age, which he states was one of many results from him becoming a vegetarian.
Many people resent the vegetarian diet and one of the common reasons why is because meat is believed to be the only food source that provides the proper protein. Not to mention, who wants to resist the pleasurable sensation of a bacon cheeseburger? I mean, who don’t love bacon, right?
But protein is found in a huge variety of plants; peanuts, soybeans, chia seeds, sunflowers and the list goes on.
Meat provides protein, but meat gives you unsaturated fat, cholesterol, and sulphur containing amino acids that get metabolized along with the other proteins. Since humans are 80%water, the sulphur-based amino acids from the meat changes the pH of your body, making your blood more acidic, and acidic pH is very bad for you.
Vegetables, on the other hand, may require a higher quantity if you want the same amount of protein as meat, but it will maintain your pH (vegetables will not grow properly from acidic water) and you will feel lighter, more clear, and happier. Vegetables grow from two necessities of life: water and sunlight. The sun is not only a fireball, but also an infinite energy source; even standing in sunlight gives you energy!
Vegetables provide all the vitamins, minerals, proteins and calories needed to sustain a fully active and happy life. No unwanted fats and sulphur included.
For Billy Ocean, tapping in to the life-sustaining power of vegetables has been key for the longevity of his career. “When you’re on stage, giving everything you have, it does require physical, mental and spiritual energy.”
What is He Up to Now?
In 2002, the University of Westminster in London awarded Ocean an honorary doctorate of music.[15] The awards ceremony took place in the Barbican Centre in London. He continues to tour and record in Europe. Ocean is now a patron for Tech Music Schools in London, made up of Drumtech, Vocaltech, Guitar-X and Keyboardtech. He regularly visits to hold clinics and seminars for the students.
In 2004, “Caribbean Queen (No More Love on the Run)” 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.
In 2012, Ocean made a cameo in the British comedy film 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 hits as part of a promo tour for his new album. Ocean toured the UK during March and April 2017.
Now at 75, he’s still touring and still performing many of his hits all over the world.
Kali Johnson is a digital artist, blogger, teacher, videographer and photographer who has a passion for sharing sacred knowledge and valuable resources for those who may not have had the opportunity to receive them. He is also the Chief Content Manager of the Cycle of Peace; the non-profit organization that is combating the violence in Chicago. Check out his portfolio at: https://kaliworks.wordpress.com
