Ricky Wayne

Ricky Wayne, OBE, born Learie Carasco on 27 January 1938 in Saint Lucia, is a multifaceted figure whose career spans entertainment, athletics, journalism, and politics. After emigrating to England in the 1950s, he served two years in the Royal Signals, primarily stationed in Yorkshire, before returning to civilian life in London where his vocal talent was discovered in a club setting. Renamed Ricky Wayne—a blend of the pop icon Ricky Nelson and film legend John Wayne—he recorded the single “Hot Chickaroo” with the legendary producer Joe Meek, backed by The Fabulous Flee‑Rakkers, launching a modest pop‑singing career that included a regular show on Radio Luxembourg. In parallel, Wayne pursued professional bodybuilding throughout the 1960s and 1970s, achieving multiple world titles, such as the 1965 IFBB Universe and the 1967 IFBB Mr. World Overall, and later placing in contests like the 1970 Pro Mr. America. His deep knowledge of the sport translated into a prolific writing career; he contributed to Joe Weider’s Muscle Builder and Flex magazines, authored numerous books on bodybuilding, and later expanded into political commentary. Returning to Saint Lucia in the mid‑-1980s, he co‑founded the Star Publishing Company with his future wife, Mae Mollica Sabbagh, launching the hard‑hitting newspaper St Lucia Star and the magazines Tropical Traveller and She Caribbean. As a political activist, Wayne served as an opposition senator until 1998, and he now hosts the fiery two‑and‑a‑half‑hour nightly talk show Talk on DBS TV, known for its aggressive interviews and outspoken criticism of press freedom issues. In 2007 he was appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire for his contributions to journalism in Saint Lucia, cementing his legacy as a cultural and civic influencer across multiple domains.