Basseterre, St. Kitts – Grammy Award Winning artist Billy Ocean will be among the premier acts performing at the 12th Annual St. Kitts Music Festival, which will take place from June 26-28, 2008.
With a career spanning more than 25 years, Billy Ocean has sold in excess of 30 million singles and albums worldwide and earned a Grammy Award for Best Male R&B Vocal Performance for “Caribbean Queen (no more love on the run).” Some of his other hit songs include, “When the Going Gets Tough, The Tough Get Going,” “Suddenly,” “Lover Boy,” “There’ll Be Sad Songs (to make you cry),” “Get Out of My Dreams, Get Into My Car,” “Love Zone” and many more. After taking a 15-year hiatus from recording, Billy is releasing a brand new studio album, “Wilburforce,” and the album’s first single, “Chained,” later this month.
“We are extremely pleased to welcome Billy Ocean to the St. Kitts Music Festival for the first time,” said Senator Ricky Skerritt, Minister of State in the Ministry of Tourism, Sports & Culture. “The St. Kitts Festival is a well established Caribbean and International platform, and is perfect for Billy Ocean to continue his reemergence this year after such a long absence from the world stage. Our Festival is widely recognized for showcasing a mix of musical styles while reflecting a uniquely Caribbean flavor – an environment into which the golden voice and heart-warming songs of Billy Ocean will be an excellent fit.”
Born Leslie Sebastian Charles in 1950 in Fyzabad, Trinidad, Billy immigrated to England at the age of eight and continues to live there today with his family.
Minister Skerritt said additional musical acts will be added and announced in the coming weeks. Now in its 12th year, the St Kitts festival attracts both locals and visitors alike. It features various musical styles on the popular market, including R&B, Jazz, Hip-Hop, Reggae, Soca, Calypso, Gospel and Contemporary music. Past artists have included such prominent acts as Michael Bolton, Wyclef Jean, Ne-Yo, Air Supply, Dionne Warwick, Kenny Rogers, Boyz II Men, Brian McKnight, Ashanti, Shaggy, Eve, Bobby Caldwell, DMX, Hugh Masekala, Xtatik, the Temptations, Chaka Khan, Maxi Priest, Ronald “Boo” Hinkson and Busta Rhymes.
New non-stop service to St. Kitts from JFK on American Airlines began November 18, 2007 and Delta Air Lines began non-stop Saturday flights to the island from Atlanta on February 16, 2008. These flights compliment existing non-stop service from Miami on American and from Charlotte on US Airways as well as connecting service via San Juan on American Eagle.
