Denise Pelley: A Snapshot of Her Life, Today
Putting down my pen, I realized that I have been in the presence of music royalty… as confirmed by Denise Pelley’s induction into the 2015 Jack Richardson Music Awards – plus winning ‘jazz vocalist of the year’ multiple times.
Denise also enjoys singing in various genres including Gospel, R&B, Soul, etc. – an expansion of which she feels the “Jazz” community should adopt to survive.
Plus, other ‘Hall of Fame” musicians such as the Lombardo brothers and their ‘Royal Canadians‘ – their big band’ welcoming millions on TV ring /sing in the New Year’s celebration.
Yes, there seemed to be a buzz in the air as the mostly Portuguese bakery staff prepared a special place of my choosing… sensing someone important was coming. And, right on que, London’s “Queen of Soul” arrived. From the moment staff removed the reserve sign, they couldn’t do enough to be of service. I knew how they felt.
Maybe they were vicariously joining in my excitement. With Denise graciously agreeing to be interviewed, only I knew the real reason for her visit: the lady had something to say… be grateful.
– Vocals by Denise Pelley
A giving person, yet not immune from tragedy, she’s lost a son due to a traffic accident. He was killed as a passenger in a car crash. Just in his twenties, he was pursuing a promising acting career.
Yet, a friend living years beyond her doctor’s cancer expectation, just returned from another trip abroad, decades after her original prognosis.
“Our work and our lives become more meaningful when they are in harmony with who we are. The times when we feel the most happy, the most passionate, the most energized are the times we are most alive. And, that’s when the soul sings.” – by Denise Pelley
To better help me understand her take on life, I quoted Charlie Parker, and asked what it might mean. “If you don’t live it, it won’t come out your horn.”
She felt it had to do with the importance of meaning in our lives. I agree.
I mean how can you help others when you’ve never truly shared grief… forgiveness even… just being there when someone’s pouring out their heart.
Denise has worked with the best and finds that for arrangers, composers and musicians, it’s their healing touch to be able to emote sounds with certain variations to the chords – be it joyous or sad – that comes from you.
“Your music can never be more or less than you are as a human being.” – by Quincy Jones
Asked how she would like to be remembered, she thoughtfully said, “Someone who was giving and shared her love of music and hopefully an inspirational life.
Finally, she said that her years of visiting – approximating 300 to 400 young African children was a humbling experience. Every year they waited for her arrival … with more singing and gratitude. As Denise reminds us, “…that’s when our soul sings!”
– Vocals by Denise Pelley
That’s the way I figure it.
Fred Parry
