Both Frank and Billy Ocean are internationally acclaimed R&B artists of their respective eras. Their talent is undeniable, causing people to link them by their common surname.
American singer-songwriter Frank Ocean is not related to British R&B singer of the ’80s, Billy Ocean, with whom he shares a surname. Both Frank and Billy have joked about being related in the past, but have never met. Billy was hailed as an R&B legend of the ’80s, while Frank is considered an innovator in modern music.
Read more to find out about the singers’ roads to success, and their overlap.
Frank Ocean
Frank Ocean is an experimental singer-songwriter known for his unconventional combination of jazz, R&B, and other genres to create his unique style.
He first started as a ghostwriter, but moved on to join hip hop group Odd Future before releasing his debut mixtape nostalgia,ULTRA in 2011.
Following its success, he released his first studio album titled Channel Orange in 2012.
This garnered great attention within the industry, and won a Grammy Award for Best Urban Contemporary Album.
It was also nominated for Album Of The Year, and the singer’s single Thinkin Bout You from the same album was nominated for Record Of The Year.
He has won a BRIT Award for International Male Solo Artist.
Frank’s widely acclaimed 2016 album Blonde debuted at Number 1 on the US Billboard 200, and was appreciated for its avant-garde fusion of different styles including psychedelic rock, R&B, soul, and jazz.
He has been listed in Times’ 100 Most Influential People among other achievements, making him one of the most innovative and acclaimed music artists of the 21st century.
Billy Ocean
Billy Ocean is a Trinidanian-British singer-songwriter who was largely popular in the ‘70’s and ‘80’s.
He started off singing at London clubs, upon which he was discovered by his producer and went on to record his first double-A side.
Billy was a member of several bands before he began working as a solo artist and published his debut eponymous album Billy Ocean, which was very well received in the UK.
After this, he accumulated international fame, peaking at number 1 on the U.S charts 3 times.
He topped charts with songs such as Get Outta My Dreams, Get into My Car and When the Going Gets Tough, the Tough Get Going.
The singer was awarded a Grammy Award for Best Male R&B Vocal Performance, and was also nominated for a BRIT Award for Best British Male Artist.
The Singers’ Relationship
Frank once joked about Billy Ocean being his uncle in a Complex interview. When asked if the two were related, he said, “Billy Ocean is my uncle. I’m just fucking with you. The name Frank Ocean was born [His government name is Christopher “Lonny” Breaux]. Allow me to tell that story another time, but I will say this: I changed my name on my birthday last year.”
The Guardian later asked Billy Ocean if he had seen the claim Frank Ocean had made, to which Billy simply laughed and said, “One day I’m going to meet him and smack his face and say: “How dare you?” (Laughs) Not really! Good luck to him. I don’t think I’ve heard his music, I don’t even know what he looks like. What is he?”
The singer joked, “Well, it could have been worse – he could have said: “Billy Ocean is my dad.” There had been some of that (more fist-pumping) a few years ago, right, so it could have been worse! My actual, real nephew actually does work in the music business – DJ Charlesy. He works with Tinie Tempah. But listen, good luck to Frank Ocean. Let him ride on my tide, there’s nothing wrong with that.”
The two powerful artists continue to uplift each other in the music industry, despite not having any personal links.