The going may be tough, but at Sandown they’re about to get going. Jane McGowan tunes into 80s hit man Billy Ocean ahead of his Surrey gig...
Few artists have ridden the tides of time like Billy Ocean. From the dance floors of the 70s to the pop charts of the 80s, his unmistakable voice has long been among the most celebrated in British soul.
Despite a career spanning more than five decades, the Sunningdale resident shows no sign of slowing down, as he prepares to take to the stage at Sandown Park's live after evening racing in July.
Presented by the Jockey Club, the event aims to give attendees a mix of top-class sport and fabulous music at the iconic Esher track. And with platinum-selling Billy Ocean belting out his greatest hits, it’s only the horses that risk coming up short.
“This is still my job, and I look forward to doing it,” says the 76-year-old.
“I give 100% and really relish seeing the people. They have come here for you, spending their money to see you, so I strongly believe you have to give them respect.”
Billy Ocean
Born Leslie Sebastian Charles in 1950 in Fyzabad, Trinidad and Tobago, the future star came from a musical family. His father was a calypso singer, and music was a constant presence in the home.
When Billy-to-be was 10, his family moved from the Caribbean to England – first to Romford, in Essex, and then to Stepney in London’s East End – and although it was a world away from the blue skies of Trinidad, the family’s love of music remained a constant.
“I have only ever known myself making music,” he says. “I would follow my father around when he was playing, and I would be making my own little instruments. My dream was always to do exactly what I’m doing now.”
It took time to come true. While it germinated quietly, Billy spent his days working first as a tailor on Savile Row, and then on the assembly line at the Ford car factory in Dagenham, honing his craft on the London club scene by night. Looking back, he is grateful for the delayed gratification, believing that it enabled him to develop an exacting work ethic.
Billy Ocean
“In a way, it was like an apprenticeship. Without doing those small clubs, I wouldn’t have been as prepared for my later success.”
Although he was first offered a record deal in the late 1960s, the songs failed to pack a commercial punch. But in 1976, with the release of his 10th single, Love Really Hurts Without You, opportunity finally knocked.
Though written under his real name, the song was the second single to be recorded under his shiny new pseudonym. It reached No 2 in the UK Singles Chart and was also Billy’s first Top 40 hit in the US, reaching No 22 on the Billboard Hot 100. The artist now known as Billy Ocean was born.
“There are mixed feelings when success comes,” he reflects. “I always wanted it and had always dreamed of having a record out. But then what comes after that is responsibility.”
Not that there was much time to think about it, as the following year brought another massive international hit. Like the breakthrough single, Red Light Spells Danger reached No 2 in the UK.
It also went to No 10 in New Zealand, No 11 in the Netherlands and No 15 in Germany, and by 2025 it had gone ‘double platinum’ – basically, two million sales.
The big time had arrived. So, was the pressure now on to replicate this previously elusive success?
“Well, yes and no,” says Billy. “I go into the studio to write and record to the best of my ability, and hopefully, if I like the songs, other people will like them too.
“I think that’s a good benchmark for any creative person. When you do something, you must like it first. And if you do, then hopefully so will other people.”
In any case, the hits kept coming. With his 1984 album Suddenly, Billy took his fame to new levels, acquiring global superstar status.
The album’s first single, Caribbean Queen (No More Love on the Run), shot to No 1 in the United States, earning him a Grammy for Best Male R&B Vocal Performance in 1985, while the title track scored Top Five positions in both the UK and the US.
The sixth studio album, Love Zone, maintained the momentum, yielding Billy his first UK No 1 single: the massive seller When the Going Gets Tough, the Tough Get Going, which also reached
No 2 in the States. The song was used as the theme for The Jewel of the Nile, with the video famously featuring the film’s stars – Michael Douglas, Kathleen Turner and Danny DeVito – miming to the backing vocals. It went on to sell 500,000 copies in the UK alone.
Billy Ocean
But while the accolades flowed, the now father-of-three was careful to keep his feet on the ground. The froth of fame is a poor exchange for the security that money can bring.
“You have to remember that music is a business,” he says. “You are working hard to achieve success, so you want a financial reward. I always thought to myself: ‘I’m making music, I’ll be successful, but I don’t want to walk away with an empty pocket.’
“It’s very easy to get blinded by all the joy and success, and then you wake up, and you’ve got nothing to show for it. You need the best advice. When I had my first big hit, I was told that I should invest. So I did: I bought a house.”
Billy, with his wife Judy and their children Cherie, Rachel and Antony, has lived in Berkshire since the late 70s.
“I didn’t intend to stay here so long,” he admits. “But then kids came along, they’re at school and so on, and you just become rooted.”
Following a tour of the US and ahead of his summer schedule, the singer has been back in the studio creating what will be his yet untitled 12th studio album.
“I have been doing a bit of recording in between shows in the US,” he reveals.
“I like the songs, and hopefully I will be able to use all of them. Mind you, there are 16 or 17 at the moment, so we will have to see. At the moment, I don’t know which ones I could leave out.”
But first things first. Before putting the finishing touches to his new work, Billy will be galloping into Sandown Park, complete with his impressive back catalogue. The going is good: a memorable gig awaits.
“I love the outdoor shows and the festivals. I get to sing all the hits: Love Really Hurts, Red Light, Caribbean Queen – all of them. It’s good to give people what they want. Whatever the weather, we will have a great time.”
You can bet on that.
The Jockey Club presents Billy Ocean's live after evening racing at Sandown Park, Esher, on July 29. For tickets and further details, visit: thejockeyclub.co.uk. Be in with a chance to win tickets here.
