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Billy Ocean
BILLY Ocean's back in the limelight with a new tour, which lands in North Wales next month after a spell helping to raise his three children.
His string of hits in the Eighties, still regularly getting airplay on radio stations, included Love Really Hurts, Caribbean Queen and Red Light Spells Danger.
Billy, now living in Berkshire and wearing impressive dreadlocks, says: "The show is made up of the hits right through my career to two or three tracks from my new album, which is out next spring. It makes for a lovely show."
It's a return to performing for Billy after a 15-year break. He made his new album in Grenada with daughter Cherie, 26, on backing vocals.
He said: "I got to the stage where I couldn't get much bigger for a black artist from England. If you're going to get out, get out at the height. Why wait for it to dry up? Also my family life was suffering, my kids needed my attention, to be taken to school. I'm married but you can't let your wife do everything.
"It (the break) wasn't wasted. It was very positive. I wrote songs, built a studio in Grenada and got involved in property. Then I woke up and thought ‘It's time to get back to doing music again.' "
Trinidad-born Billy, encouraged to perform by his musician father Hainsley (corr) and mum Violet, reckons people love to dance.
"People will always dance, whether it's in a dance hall, or disco, wedding, christening, party or whatever you call it. Dancing is a natural thing to do. It has something of the spirit."
He says his favourites among his own songs are Love Really Hurts, which "introduced him to the public", and Caribbean Queen which "introduced him to the world."
The latter was shrewdly given three titles tailored to their audiences: European Queen, Caribbean Queen and African Queen.
Billy says: "They all did what they were supposed to do. It was a commercial idea. The different titles was an idea suggested by the head of Jive Records, Clive Calder.
He said ‘Look, if you say European Queen, it's nice. But Caribbean Queen tickles people's imagination.'"
Billy adds: "I've written all my songs bar The Long and Winding Road, by the Beatles. A very famous songwriter said ‘Songwriting is 10% inspiration and 90% perspiration' and it's true.
"I have to lock myself away and get into my own little space and mediation, of sorts. You want to come up with the best story you possibly could, which is uncomplicated, that people can relate to.
"We seem to be living in a time where an hour seems like 45 minutes. But I do my own gardening and I love reading theology.
"There's a beautiful manual to understand ourselves (the Bible) and most of us ignore it. I get a lot of pleasure and joy out of it. Unashamedly I'm a Christian. I believe Jesus Christ will come back, save my soul and put the whole thing right."
Billy Ocean, Rhyl Pavilion, Tuesday October 21, 7.30pm.
Ring 01745 330 000, tickets £21.50-£19.50
