Denzil Botus
Encyclopedia
Denzil "Belt" Botus is a pannist
from Trinidad
. He ist best known for holding the record for most winning steel band Panorama
arrangement
s and his heavy jazz
influence in calypso
/soca music
. Botus has been active since the 1960s and is considered one of the best steel drummers in the world.
in the early '60s and became one of that orchestra's top steelpan musicians. In 1969, Botus moved to New York
and in 1976 formed what is now known as "Despers USA". In the late 1970s, he moved to Boston where he formed "Real Steel". Real Steel toured North America
and won the International Music Festival in 1983. Real Steel was not only the only steel band in New England
to win a competition outside of New England, but the only steel band to win a music competition outside of steel band competitions. Botus also wrote and performed steel drum music on the soundtrack to The Brother from Another Planet
. He moved back to Trinidad in 1985, but returned when he would achieve his biggest feat and the biggest feat in steel band.
As arranger for Despers USA, he won New York's Panorama six years in a row from 1993 through 1998. He has been called the "best steel band arranger in America
". He also has toured the world with numerous ensembles. Botus retired from arranging in 2004 but came out of retirement recently to arrange for Dem Stars Steel Orchestra for New York's 2007 panorama. His daughter Debra Sarjeant has also won Boston's steel band competition six years in a row (1991–1996) and is currently the lead singer and co-bandleader of popular reggae band Dis-N-Dat. His grandson (Debra's son Charleston) teaches steel pan in the Boston Public Schools system.
Pannist
A pannist is a person who plays the steelpan. A professional pannist can perform solo pieces, play with a steel band, or accompany one or more singers or solo instrumentalists...
from Trinidad
Trinidad
Trinidad is the larger and more populous of the two major islands and numerous landforms which make up the island nation of Trinidad and Tobago. It is the southernmost island in the Caribbean and lies just off the northeastern coast of Venezuela. With an area of it is also the fifth largest in...
. He ist best known for holding the record for most winning steel band Panorama
Panorama (music competition)
Panorama is an annual music competition of Steelbands from Trinidad and Tobago.It is usually held around Carnival time.-History:Panorama was first held during Carnival celebrations in 1963. A popular Calypso is arranged into a piece with introductions and variations over the theme.-Past...
arrangement
Arrangement
The American Federation of Musicians defines arranging as "the art of preparing and adapting an already written composition for presentation in other than its original form. An arrangement may include reharmonization, paraphrasing, and/or development of a composition, so that it fully represents...
s and his heavy jazz
Jazz
Jazz is a musical style that originated at the beginning of the 20th century in African American communities in the Southern United States. It was born out of a mix of African and European music traditions. From its early development until the present, jazz has incorporated music from 19th and 20th...
influence in calypso
Calypso music
Calypso is a style of Afro-Caribbean music that originated in Trinidad and Tobago from African and European roots. The roots of the genre lay in the arrival of enslaved Africans, who, not being allowed to speak with each other, communicated through song...
/soca music
Soca music
Soca is a style of music from Trinidad and Tobago. Soca is a musical development of traditional Trinidadian calypso, through loans from the 1960s onwards from predominantly black popular music....
. Botus has been active since the 1960s and is considered one of the best steel drummers in the world.
Life
"Belt" began playing with the Desperadoes Steel OrchestraDesperadoes Steel Orchestra
The Desperadoes Steel Orchestra, also called Despers, is a Steelband from Laventille in Trinidad.-Origins and evolution:The Desperadoes Steel Orchestra emerged from the fusion of three different Steelbands from Laventille...
in the early '60s and became one of that orchestra's top steelpan musicians. In 1969, Botus moved to New York
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
and in 1976 formed what is now known as "Despers USA". In the late 1970s, he moved to Boston where he formed "Real Steel". Real Steel toured North America
North America
North America is a continent wholly within the Northern Hemisphere and almost wholly within the Western Hemisphere. It is also considered a northern subcontinent of the Americas...
and won the International Music Festival in 1983. Real Steel was not only the only steel band in New England
New England
New England is a region in the northeastern corner of the United States consisting of the six states of Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Connecticut...
to win a competition outside of New England, but the only steel band to win a music competition outside of steel band competitions. Botus also wrote and performed steel drum music on the soundtrack to The Brother from Another Planet
The Brother from Another Planet
The Brother from Another Planet is a science fiction film written, directed and edited by John Sayles. It stars Joe Morton as an extraterrestrial who has escaped to Earth and who hides in New York City.-Plot:...
. He moved back to Trinidad in 1985, but returned when he would achieve his biggest feat and the biggest feat in steel band.
As arranger for Despers USA, he won New York's Panorama six years in a row from 1993 through 1998. He has been called the "best steel band arranger in America
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
". He also has toured the world with numerous ensembles. Botus retired from arranging in 2004 but came out of retirement recently to arrange for Dem Stars Steel Orchestra for New York's 2007 panorama. His daughter Debra Sarjeant has also won Boston's steel band competition six years in a row (1991–1996) and is currently the lead singer and co-bandleader of popular reggae band Dis-N-Dat. His grandson (Debra's son Charleston) teaches steel pan in the Boston Public Schools system.