Denzil Botus

Denzil "Belt" Botus is a pannist from Trinidad. He ist best known for holding the record for most winning steel band Panorama arrangements^{[1][2][citation needed]} 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.

Life

"Belt" began playing with the Desperadoes Steel Orchestra 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.^{[citation needed]} 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.

References

1. ^ "Steel Band Winners Are Announced". New York Times. 6 September 1999. http://select.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=F1061EF83A5E0C758CDDA00894D1494D81. Retrieved 6 April 2011. 
2. ^ "Andre White makes History with ‘Heat’ and ADLIB Steel Orchestra - New York Panorama 2008". When Steel Talks. 31 August 2008. http://www.panonthenet.com/news/2008/aug/panheat.htm. Retrieved 6 April 2011. 

Persondata
Name	Botus, Denzil
Alternative names
Short description
Date of birth
Place of birth
Date of death
Place of death