Waves of hits at Billy Ocean’s INEC concert
SOUL singer Billy Ocean will belt out the hits at his show in the INEC Killarney on Friday, May 4.
Billy Ocean is the biggest black recording star Britain has ever produced, one who has sold over 30 million records in his lifetime.
He has collected many Gold and Platinum records across the world and hit the number one spot worldwide on pop charts including the USA, Australia, Germany, Holland, and the UK. Billy has achieved extraordinary success as both an artist and a songwriter.
He was born in Trinidad and Tobago to Grenadian parents, and moved to Romford, London, England with his family at the age of eight. In 1976, he recorded his first 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.
He enjoyed club success from the songs ‘Are You Ready’ and ‘Stay The Night’ from the album City Limit - both of which were later covered by La Toya Jackson.
Ocean's period of greatest success began with Suddenly during 1984, and its main single, ‘Caribbean 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 success, peaking at No.4 in both the US and the UK
Ocean also appeared at Live Aid in 1985 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
His 1986 album Love Zone also sold well. It included the successful singles ‘When the Going Gets Tough, the Tough Get Going’ and ‘There'll Be Sad Songs (To Make You Cry).
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.
In April 2010, an eighteen track compilation album was released in the UK by Sony Music entitled The Very Best of Billy Ocean. Expect to hear many of them at the concert this May.
Doors open at 8.30pm. Tickets cost €30 but get the special Early Bird price of €25 if you book by February 10. The concert is fully seated, cabaret style. Contact the INEC Box Office for Information on 064-6671555.