Editing Billy Ocean

{{Short description|British singer (born 1950)}}
{{for|this artist's self-titled album|Billy Ocean (album)}}
{{EngvarB|date=August 2014}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2024}}
{{BLP sources|date=March 2018}}
{{Infobox musical artist
| name         = Billy Ocean
| honorific_suffix = {{postnom|country=GBR|size=100|MBE}}
| image        = Billy Ocean in january 2012.jpg
| caption      = Ocean performing at the [[State Theatre (Sydney)|State Theatre]] in [[Sydney]], Australia, 2012
| birth_name   = Leslie Sebastian Charles
| alias        =
| birth_date   = {{birth date and age|df=y|1950|1|21}}
| birth_place  = [[Fyzabad]], [[Trinidad and Tobago]], [[British West Indies]]
| origin       = [[Romford]], [[East London]], England
| genre        = {{hlist|[[Contemporary R&B|R&B]]|[[pop music|pop]]|[[soul music|soul]]|[[reggae]]}}
| occupation   = {{hlist|Singer|songwriter}}
| years_active = 1969–present
| label        = {{hlist|[[GTO Records|GTO]]|[[Epic Records|Epic]]|[[Jive Records|Jive]]|[[Warner Music Sweden|Metronome]]|TLO|Aqua Music|[[Spark (UK record label)|Spark]]|[[Sony Music]]}}
| spouse       = Judy Charles
| website      = {{url|billyocean.com}}
}}
'''Leslie Sebastian Charles''' {{post-nominals|country=GBR|MBE}} (born 21 January 1950), known professionally as '''Billy Ocean''', is a [[Trinidad]]ian-born British singer and songwriter. Between 1976 and 1988, he had a series of hit songs in the UK and internationally.

After releasing several recordings under other stage names, he achieved breakthrough success with the 1976 single "[[Love Really Hurts Without You]]". It was the second single released under the stage name Billy Ocean and peaked at no. 2 in the UK and no. 3 in Australia. Later that year, he achieved two additional top 20 singles in the UK. In 1977, his single "[[Red Light Spells Danger]]" also peaked at no. 2. After a period of limited chart success, he released the single "[[Caribbean Queen (No More Love on the Run)]]" in 1984. In the UK, the song peaked at no. 6. In the U.S., it entered the [[Billboard Hot 100|''Billboard'' Hot 100]] at no. 85 but peaked at no. 1 ten weeks later. Ocean won the 1985 [[Grammy Award for Best Male R&B Vocal Performance]] for the song. It also charted in Australia, Canada, Ireland, New Zealand, South Africa and across Europe under three different titles. Across the next three years, Ocean accumulated a series of international hit singles. Released in 1985, "[[When the Going Gets Tough, the Tough Get Going (song)|When the Going Gets Tough, the Tough Get Going]]" peaked at no. 1 in the UK and no. 2 in the U.S. the following year. In the same year, he achieved an American no. 1 with the single "[[There'll Be Sad Songs (To Make You Cry)]]". In 1988, his single "[[Get Outta My Dreams, Get into My Car]]" reached no. 1 in the U.S. and no. 3 in the UK.

In recognition of his success and influence, Ocean has received a number of awards. In 2002, he was presented with an honorary doctorate of music by the University of Westminster. In 2010, he received a [[Lifetime Achievement Award]] at the [[MOBO Awards]]. The following year, he became a Companion of the [[Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts]].<ref name="LIPA">{{cite web |title=Billy Ocean will be named a LIPA companion by Paul McCartney this afternoon |url=http://www.liverpooldailypost.co.uk/liverpool-news/regional-news/2011/07/29/billy-ocean-will-be-named-a-lipa-companion-by-paul-mccartney-this-afternoon-99623-29139582/ |website=Liverpool Daily Post |access-date=19 September 2014}}</ref>

== Early life and stardom ==
Ocean was born on 21 January 1950 in [[Fyzabad]], Trinidad and Tobago, to Hainsley Charles, a Grenadian musician,<ref name="LarkinGE">{{cite book|title=Encyclopedia of Popular Music|editor=Colin Larkin|publisher=Guinness Publishing|date=1992|edition=first|isbn=0-85112-939-0|page=1849}}</ref><ref name="AMG">{{cite web|url=http://www.allmusic.com/artist/billy-ocean-mn0000089058/biography|title=Billy Ocean – Biography|website=[[AllMusic]]|access-date=19 September 2014}}</ref> and his wife Violet.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.northwales.co.uk/latest-news/billy-ocean/|title=Billy Ocean|website=Northwales.co.uk|access-date=2 November 2014}}</ref> 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<ref name="AMG"/> while also working as a tailor in London's [[Savile Row]].

He was discovered by his first manager, John Morphew, who recorded a [[A-side and B-side#Double A-side|double A-side]] single at [[Pye Records|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|date=November 2023}} He recorded a [[David Myers (songwriter)|David Myers]] and [[John Worsley (songwriter)|John Worsley]] composition, "Nashville Rain",<ref>''Carolina Beach Music Encyclopedia'', By Rick Simmons - [https://books.google.com/books?id=nE1nDwAAQBAJ&pg=PA204 Page 204 Billy Ocean]</ref><ref>Billy Ocean website - [http://www.billyocean.co.uk/biography/ BIOGRAPHY]</ref> his first single, backed with "Sun in the Morning", in 1971 for [[Spark (UK record label)|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 "Super Woman, Super Lover" in 1974.{{citation needed|date=November 2023}}

<!-- THERE IS NO PROOF FOR THE LINE ABOUT MR OCEAN HAVING AN EXTRA 'LUNG'. THE IP EDITOR WHO ADDED IT, SOURCED IT TO 'DR. R. NOBLE OF BBC MUSIC 6", WHICH IS 'ROSS NOBLE', A COMEDIAN, AND THUS NOT A RELIABLE SOURCE. IF YOU WANT TO RESTORE THE LINE ABOUT AN EXTRA LUNG, GET ME A SOURCE THAT PRE-DATES 2015. ALL SOURCES THAT POST-DATE 2015 ARE TAINTED AND CANNOT BE USED FOR THIS. -->
In an interview with [[Myf Warhurst]] 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 of London|East End]],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bluesandsoul.com/feature/338/caribbean_king/|title=Billy Ocean: Caribbean King|author=Pete Lewis|work=Blues & Soul|access-date=1 January 2012}}</ref> 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".<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.abc.net.au/radio/melbourne/programs/myf-warhurst/myf-warhurst/11188218|title=Billy Ocean, History of Australian toys, breaking up, a 9/11 comedy|date=7 June 2019|website=ABC Radio|language=en-AU|access-date=13 June 2019}}</ref>

== International success ==
[[File:BillyOcean.jpg|thumb|Ocean performing in [[New York City]], 1988]]
Between 1976 and 1982, Ocean released four studio albums: ''Billy Ocean'' (1976), ''City Limit'' (1980), ''Nights (Feel Like Getting Down)'' (1981) and ''Inner Feelings'' (1982)<ref name="LarkinSM">{{cite book|title=Encyclopedia of Popular Music|editor=Colin Larkin|publisher=Guinness Publishing|date=1993|edition=First|isbn=0-85112-733-9|page=187}}</ref> through his record label [[GTO Records|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 U.S. (no. 22).<ref name="LarkinSM"/>

As [[Sony Music]] acquired GTO Records in 1978, Ocean was shifted to [[Jive Records|Jive]] from [[Epic Records|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 (Billy Ocean album)|Suddenly]]'' and its main single, "[[Caribbean Queen (No More Love on the Run)]]" becoming successes on the charts.<ref name="LarkinSM"/> "Caribbean Queen" became Ocean's first no. 1 single on both the U.S. ''Billboard'' Hot 100 and [[Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs|Hot Black Singles]] charts in late 1984, and the album debuted in the top ten, peaking at no. 9 on both the [[Billboard 200|US ''Billboard'' 200]] and the [[UK Albums Chart]] simultaneously in the U.S. and UK.<ref name="LarkinSM"/> ''Suddenly'' reached gold in the UK, and was certified double platinum by the [[Recording Industry Association of America]] (RIAA). He also recorded with [[Scott Walker (singer)|Scott Walker]] in 1984, singing harmony vocals on "[[Track Three]]" from Walker's eleventh studio album ''[[Climate of Hunter]]''.

“Caribbean Queen” scored Ocean two [[Grammy Awards|Grammy Award]] nominations, and he won the [[Grammy Award for Best Male R&B Vocal Performance]] at the [[27th Annual Grammy Awards|1985 Grammy Awards]]. Ocean was later presented his award by [[Jeffrey Daniel]] of vocal group [[Shalamar]] on ''620 Soul Train'', a UK incarnation of the American musical variety television show ''[[Soul Train]]''. The album's [[Suddenly (Billy Ocean song)|title track]] also became a success, peaking at no. 4 in both the U.S. and the UK. The song "[[Loverboy (Billy Ocean song)|Loverboy]]" was a no. 2 U.S. success in 1985. Ocean appeared at [[Live Aid]] from [[John F. Kennedy Stadium (Philadelphia)|JFK Stadium]] in Philadelphia in 1985, singing "Caribbean Queen" and "Loverboy".{{citation needed|date=November 2023}}

His sixth studio album ''[[Love Zone]]'' (1986) also sold well. It included the successful singles "[[When the Going Gets Tough, the Tough Get Going (song)|When the Going Gets Tough, the Tough Get Going]]", the theme from the film ''[[The Jewel of the Nile]]'' (1985); 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 U.S. no. 1 and a major UK success). Also included were the title track and "[[Love Is Forever (Billy Ocean song)|Love Is Forever]]", which were no. 10 and no. 16 U.S. successes for Ocean, respectively. It also earned Ocean a second nomination for [[Grammy Award for Best Male R&B Vocal Performance|Best Male R&B Vocal Performance]] at the [[29th Annual Grammy Awards|1987 Grammy Awards]].

In February 1986, Ocean's music video for "When the Going Gets Tough, the Tough Get Going" was banned by the BBC, owing to such non-[[Trade union|union]] members as the American actors [[Michael Douglas]], [[Kathleen Turner]] and [[Danny DeVito]], all three of whom were cast members of ''[[Romancing the Stone]]'' (1984) and ''The Jewel of the Nile'' (1985), miming to the backing vocals.<ref name="NME Rock 'N' Roll Years">{{cite book| first= John| last= Tobler| year= 1992| title= NME Rock 'N' Roll Years| edition= 1st| publisher=Reed International Books Ltd| location= London| page= 415| id= CN 5585}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b048wwlk|title = BBC Four - Britain's Most Dangerous Songs: Listen to the Banned|website=Bbc.co.uk}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.cherryred.co.uk/product/love-zone-expanded-edition/|title=Billy Ocean: Love Zone, Expanded Edition|website=Cherryred.co.uk}}</ref> In 1987, he was nominated for the [[Brit Awards|Brit Award]] for [[Brit Award for British Male Solo Artist|Best British Male Artist]].<ref name="BRITS">{{cite web|url=http://www.brits.co.uk/artist/billy-ocean|title=Billy Ocean BRITS Profile|website=Brits.co.uk|access-date=19 September 2014|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141025041737/http://www.brits.co.uk/artist/billy-ocean|archive-date=25 October 2014}}</ref> He was the most popular British R&B singer-songwriter of the early to mid- 1980s.<ref name="British Hit Singles & Albums">{{cite book |last=Roberts |first=David |title=British Hit Singles & Albums |publisher=Guinness World Records Limited |location=London |edition=19th |year=2006 |pages=402–403 |isbn=1-904994-10-5}}</ref>

''[[Tear Down These Walls]]'' (1988), Ocean's next studio album, featured the no. 1 single "[[Get Outta My Dreams, Get into My Car]]", and the album was certified platinum.<ref name="AMG"/>

== Later career ==
Ocean's eighth studio album ''[[Time to Move On (album)|Time to Move On]]'' (1993) failed to produce any major successes, but his 1989 ''[[Greatest Hits (Billy Ocean album)|Greatest Hits]]'' collection has been a steady seller over the years, and his 1997 compilation album ''L.I.F.E. – Love Is for Ever'' made no. 7 on the UK Albums Chart. Ocean's last studio album for [[Jive Records]] was ''Time to Move On'', which he recorded in Chicago with [[Contemporary R&B|R&B]] star [[R. Kelly]].

In 2002, the University of Westminster in London awarded Ocean an honorary doctorate of music.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.weht.net/WEHT/Billy_Ocean.html|title=Whatever Happened to (weht.net) – accessed January 2008|website=Weht.net|date=5 August 2004|access-date=19 September 2014|archive-date=14 October 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141014141723/http://www.weht.net/WEHT/Billy_Ocean.html|url-status=dead}}</ref> The awards ceremony took place in the [[Barbican Centre]] in London.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://archives.tcm.ie/breakingnews/2002/11/11/story76283.asp|title=Billy Ocean given honorary degree|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081230033228/http://archives.tcm.ie/breakingnews/2002/11/11/story76283.asp|date=11 November 2002|access-date=8 July 2021|archive-date=30 December 2008}}</ref> He continues to tour and record in Europe. Ocean is now a patron for [[British and Irish Modern Music Institute|Tech Music Schools]] in London,<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.retroland.com/pages/retropedia/music/item/1608 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100328014055/http://www.retroland.com/pages/retropedia/music/item/1608 | archive-date=28 March 2010 | title=Retroland &#124; Billy Ocean }}</ref> 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 February and March 2008 he toured Australia and the Far East. His ninth studio album ''Because I Love You'' was released on 2 February 2009.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.tower.com/because-i-love-you-billy-ocean-cd/wapi/113190321|title=Because I Love You (CD)|work=Tower Records|access-date=19 September 2014|archive-date=25 October 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141025043336/http://www.tower.com/because-i-love-you-billy-ocean-cd/wapi/113190321|url-status=dead}}</ref>

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.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bluesandsoul.com/feature/532/billy_ocean_ive_got_soemthin_to_tell_ya/|author=Pete Lewis|title=Billy Ocean: I've Got Somethin' To Tell Ya |work=Blues & Soul|date=May 2010|access-date=19 September 2014}}</ref>

[[File:Cmglee Cambridge Billy Ocean.jpg|thumb|left|Ocean performing in [[Cambridge]], England, 2014]] In October 2007, Ocean commenced his first UK tour in more than 15 years.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/entertainment/music/live_reviews/s/1021529_billy_ocean__opera_house|title=Billy Ocean @ Opera House|work=Manchester Evening News|author=Chris Osuh|date=25 October 2007|access-date=19 September 2014}}</ref>
On 20 October 2010, Ocean was presented with the Lifetime Achievement Award at the [[MOBO Awards]] in London.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.billboard.com/articles/photos/live/953176/tinie-tempah-jls-big-winners-at-mobo-awards |title=Tinie Tempah, JLS Big Winners at MOBO Awards |agency=Reuters|website=Billboard.com |access-date=21 October 2010}}</ref> On 29 July 2011, Ocean became a Companion of the [[Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts]].<ref name="LIPA"/> His title was presented by [[Paul McCartney]].<ref name="LIPA"/>

In 2012, Ocean made a cameo in the British comedy film ''[[Keith Lemon: The Film]]'' as [[Keith Lemon|Lemon]]'s father. In January 2016, Ocean appeared on ''[[The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon|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.

Ocean recorded a new studio 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.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://americansongwriter.com/billy-ocean-set-to-release-one-world-first-album-in-a-decade/ |title=Billy Ocean Set to Release 'One World,' First Album in a Decade « American Songwriter |website=Americansongwriter.com |date=9 January 2020 |access-date=14 April 2020}}</ref> After a delay, it was later released on 4 September 2020.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Billy Ocean {{!}} The Official Website {{!}} Latest news|url=https://www.billyocean.com/news/article/#news-31073|access-date=17 October 2020|website=Billy Ocean {{!}} The Official Website|language=en}}</ref>

== Personal life ==
Ocean has lived in [[Sunningdale, Berkshire|Sunningdale]], Berkshire, England, with his wife, Judy, since 1978.<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.inyourarea.co.uk/news/adam-ant-and-tony-hadley-among-18-acts-for-lets-rock-the-moors-festival-2018/ | title=Adam Ant and Billy Ocean to play Let's Rock the Moor | newspaper=Inyourarea.co.uk | date=10 February 2018 }}</ref> They have three children. His son played [[rugby sevens]] at the [[Rugby sevens at the 2014 Commonwealth Games|2014 Commonwealth Games]] for [[Barbados national rugby sevens team|Barbados]].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.espnscrum.com/commonwealth/rugby/story/235037.html |title=Billy Ocean's son thrilled with All Blacks encounter |work=ESPN Scrum |date=24 July 2014 |access-date=27 July 2014}}</ref>

Ocean decided to become [[Vegetarianism|vegetarian]] after the loss of his mother, who died from ovarian cancer in 1989.<ref>{{cite web |last=Woodcock |first=Zara |title=James Martin's Saturday Morning fans can't get over how well Billy Ocean looks |url=https://metro.co.uk/2020/06/13/viewers-cant-get-how-good-billy-ocean-looks-james-martins-saturday-morning-show-12846564/ |website=Metro |access-date=24 October 2020 |language=en |date=13 June 2020}}</ref> He is a member of the [[Rastafari]] movement.<ref>{{cite web |last=Hamilton |first=Davina |title=Billy Ocean: 'Rastafari is my anchor' |url=http://www.voice-online.co.uk/article/billy-ocean-rastafari-my-anchor |website=Voice-online.co.uk |access-date=19 September 2014 |archive-date=29 August 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140829205041/http://voice-online.co.uk/article/billy-ocean-rastafari-my-anchor |url-status=dead }}</ref>

== Honours ==
Ocean was appointed [[Order of the British Empire|Member of the Order of the British Empire]] (MBE) in the [[2020 New Year Honours]] for services to music.<ref>{{London Gazette|issue=62866|supp=y|page=N17|date=28 December 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.thegazette.co.uk/notice/3455130|title=Order of the British Empire, Leslie Sebastian Charles|publisher=The London Gazette|date=27 December 2019 | access-date=28 December 2019}}</ref>

== Awards and nominations ==
=== ASCAP Pop Music Awards ===
{{award table}}
!Ref.
|-
| rowspan=3|1986
| rowspan=1|"[[Caribbean Queen (No More Love on the Run)]]"
| rowspan=7|Most Performed Songs
| {{won}}
| rowspan=3|<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=PCQEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PT76|title = Billboard|date = 14 June 1986}}</ref>
|-
| "[[Loverboy (Billy Ocean song)|Loverboy]]"
| {{won}}
|-
| "[[Suddenly (Billy Ocean song)|Suddenly]]"
| {{won}}
|-
| rowspan=2|1987
| "[[There'll Be Sad Songs (To Make You Cry)]]"
| {{won}}
| rowspan=2|<ref>{{cite web|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Billboard/80s/1987/Billboard-1987-06-06.pdf#page=24|format=PDF|title=ASCAP POP AWARD WINNING WRITERS AND PUBLISHERS|website=Worldradiohistory.com|access-date=2 October 2021}} </ref>
|-
| "[[When the Going Gets Tough, the Tough Get Going (song)|When the Going Gets Tough, the Tough Get Going]]"
| {{won}}
|-
| 1988
| "[[Love Is Forever (Billy Ocean song)|Love Is Forever]]"
| {{won}}
| <ref>{{cite web|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Billboard/80s/1988/BB-1988-06-04.pdf#page=5|format=PDF|title=Billboard|date=4 June 1988|page=5|website=Worldradiohistory.com|access-date=2 October 2021}}</ref>
|-
| 1989
| "[[Get Outta My Dreams, Get into My Car]]"
| {{won}}
| <ref>{{cite web|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Billboard/80s/1989/BB-1989-05-27.pdf#page=86|format=PDF|title=Billboard|date=27 May 1989|page=86|website=Worldradiohistory.com|access-date=2 October 2021}}</ref>
{{end}}

=== ''Billboard'' Music Awards ===
{{award table}}
!Ref.
|-
| rowspan=6|[[Billboard Year-End|1985]]
| rowspan=3|Himself
| Top R&B Singles Artist
| {{nom}}
|rowspan=6|<ref>{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=uyQEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PT101 |title=Billboard|date= 28 December 1985|access-date=25 May 2020}}</ref>
|-
| Top R&B Album Artist
| {{nom}}
|-
| Top Adult Contemporary Artist
| {{nom}}
|-
| ''[[Suddenly (Billy Ocean album)|Suddenly]]''
| [[Billboard Music Award for Top R&B Album|Top R&B Album]]
| {{nom}}
|-
|rowspan=2|"Suddenly"
| [[Billboard Music Award for Top R&B Song|Top R&B Song]]
| {{nom}}
|-
| Top Adult Contemporary Single
| {{nom}}
|-
| rowspan=18|[[Billboard Year-End|1986]]
| rowspan=9|Himself
| [[Billboard Music Award for Top Artist|Top Artist]]
| {{nom}}
|rowspan=18|<ref>{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=tiQEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA51|page=51 |title=Billboard |date= 27 December 1986|access-date=25 May 2020}}</ref>
|-
| [[Billboard Music Award for Top R&B Artist|Top R&B Artist]]
| {{nom}}
|-
| Top R&B Singles Artist
| {{nom}}
|-
| Top R&B Album Artist
| {{nom}}
|-
| [[Billboard Music Award for Top Billboard 200 Artist|Top ''Billboard 200'' Artist]]
| {{nom}}
|-
| Top Billboard 200 Artist – Male
| {{nom}}
|-
| [[Billboard Music Award for Top Hot 100 Artist|Top Hot 100 Artist]]
| {{nom}}
|-
| Top Hot 100 Artist – Male
| {{won}}
|-
| Top Adult Contemporary Artist
| {{won}}
|-
| ''[[Love Zone (album)|Love Zone]]''
| [[Billboard Music Award for Top R&B Album|Top R&B Album]]
| {{nom}}
|-
| rowspan=3|"[[There'll Be Sad Songs (To Make You Cry)]]"
| [[Billboard Music Award for Top Hot 100 Song|Top Hot 100 Song]]
| {{nom}}
|-
| [[Billboard Music Award for Top R&B Song|Top R&B Song]]
| {{nom}}
|-
| Top Adult Contemporary Single
| {{nom}}
|-
| rowspan=3|"[[When the Going Gets Tough, the Tough Get Going (song)|When the Going Gets Tough]]"
| [[Billboard Music Award for Top Hot 100 Song|Top Hot 100 Song]]
| {{nom}}
|-
| [[Billboard Music Award for Top R&B Song|Top R&B Song]]
| {{nom}}
|-
| Top Adult Contemporary Single
| {{nom}}
|-
| rowspan=2|"[[Love Zone (song)|Love Zone]]"
| [[Billboard Music Award for Top R&B Song|Top R&B Song]]
| {{nom}}
|-
| Top Adult Contemporary Single
| {{nom}}
{{end}}

=== Grammy Awards ===
Billy Ocean has been nominated three times for a [[Grammy Awards|Grammy Award]], with one win.<ref name="grammy.com">{{cite web|url=https://www.grammy.com/grammys/artists/billy-ocean|title=Billy Ocean|date=22 May 2018|website=Grammy.com|access-date=4 August 2018}}</ref>
{{award table}}
|-
|rowspan="2"| [[27th Grammy Awards|1985]]
|rowspan="2"| "[[Caribbean Queen (No More Love on the Run)]]"
| [[Grammy Award for Best Male R&B Vocal Performance|Best Male R&B Vocal Performance]]
| {{won}}<ref name="grammy.com"/>
|-
| [[Grammy Award for Best R&B Song|Best R&B Song]] <small>(shared with [[Keith Diamond (songwriter)|Keith Diamond]])</small>
| {{nominated}}<ref name="grammy.com"/>
|-
|| [[29th Grammy Awards|1987]]
| ''[[Love Zone]]''
| [[Grammy Award for Best Male R&B Vocal Performance|Best Male R&B Vocal Performance]]
| {{nominated}}<ref name="grammy.com"/>
|}

=== Ivor Novello Awards ===
{{award table}}
|-
| 1985
| "[[Caribbean Queen (No More Love on the Run)]]"
| rowspan=2|International Hit of the Year
| {{nom}}
|-
| rowspan=2|1989
| rowspan=2|"[[Get Outta My Dreams, Get into My Car]]"
| {{nom}}
|-
| Most Performed Work
| {{nom}}
|-
|2018
| Himself
| International Achievement
| {{won}}
{{end}}

=== Pollstar Concert Industry Awards ===
{{award table}}
!Ref.
|-
| 1985
| Himself
| Comeback of the Year
| {{nom}}
| <ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.pollstarpro.com/PCIA-Static/awards1984.htm | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170320045946/http://www.pollstarpro.com/PCIA-Static/awards1984.htm | archive-date=20 March 2017 | title=Pollstar Awards Archive - 1984 }}</ref>
{{end}}

=== Soul Train Music Awards ===
{{award table}}
|-
| [[1987 Soul Train Music Awards|1987]]
| ''[[Love Zone]]''
| [[Soul Train Music Award for Best R&B/Soul Album – Male|Album of the Year – Male]]
| {{nom}}
{{end}}

== Discography ==
{{main|Billy Ocean discography}}
'''Studio albums'''
* ''[[Billy Ocean (album)|Billy Ocean]]'' (1976)
* ''City Limit'' (1980)
* ''Nights (Feel Like Getting Down)'' (1981)
* ''Inner Feelings'' (1982)
* ''[[Suddenly (Billy Ocean album)|Suddenly]]'' (1984)
* ''[[Love Zone]]'' (1986)
* ''[[Tear Down These Walls]]'' (1988)
* ''[[Time to Move On (album)|Time to Move On]]'' (1993)
* ''Because I Love You'' (2009)
* ''Here You Are'' (2013)
* ''One World'' (2020)

== See also ==
* [[Lists of UK Singles Chart number ones]]
* [[List of Billboard number-one singles|List of ''Billboard'' number-one singles]]
* [[List of artists who reached number one in the United States]]
* [[List of Billboard number-one dance club songs|List of ''Billboard'' number-one dance club songs]]
* [[List of artists who reached number one on the U.S. Dance Club Songs chart]]
* [[List of Eastern Caribbean people]]

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

== External links ==
* {{commons category-inline}}
* [http://www.billyocean.com/ Billy Ocean official website]
* {{AllMusic|class=artist|id=mnp5059}}
* {{discogs artist}}
* {{IMDb name|id=1207354}}

{{Billy Ocean}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Ocean, Billy}}
[[Category:1950 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:English soul singers]]
[[Category:English dance musicians]]
[[Category:English male singer-songwriters]]
[[Category:English singer-songwriters]]
[[Category:20th-century Trinidad and Tobago male singers]]
[[Category:20th-century Trinidad and Tobago singers]]
[[Category:21st-century Trinidad and Tobago male singers]]
[[Category:21st-century Trinidad and Tobago singers]]
[[Category:Grammy Award winners]]
[[Category:20th-century Black British male singers]]
[[Category:20th-century British male singers]]
[[Category:Spark (UK record label) artists]]
[[Category:Epic Records artists]]
[[Category:Jive Records artists]]
[[Category:Trinidad and Tobago people of Grenadian descent]]
[[Category:English Rastafarians]]
[[Category:People from Siparia region]]
[[Category:People from Romford]]
[[Category:People from Sunningdale]]
[[Category:Trinidad and Tobago emigrants to the United Kingdom]]
[[Category:English people of Grenadian descent]]
[[Category:Members of the Order of the British Empire]]
[[Category:21st-century Black British male singers]]
[[Category:21st-century British male singers]]