Billy Ocean is the biggest black recording star Britain has ever produced, one who has sold over 30 million records in his lifetime. He was one of the most popular and successful solo singers of the 1970s and 1980s, with hits such as “When the Going Gets Tough, the Tough Gets Going”, “Caribbean Queen (No More Love on the Run)”, “Loverboy” and “Get Outta My Dreams, Get Into My Car” to his name. Born in Trinidad, Billy settled in London’s East End when just seven years old. The calypso crazy kid soon got turned on to soul singers like Otis Redding and Sam Cooke, as well as pop groups like The Beatles and The Rolling Stones, leading him to spend much of his study time in the music room.Throughout his career spanning over five decades, Billy has collected a pile of 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. In 2002, the University of Westminster, London, awarded Ocean an honorary doctorate of music. In 2010, Ocean was presented with the Lifetime Achievement Award at the MOBO Awards. On 29 July 2011, Ocean became a Companion of the Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts, presented to him by Sir Paul McCartney.