The name Denise Belfon is synonymous with sultry, exotic stage performance. An acclaimed Soca and Calypso artiste and performer, Belfon’s stage sobriquet, “Saucy Wow”, has laid claim to a brand that she has undisputedly held for almost 30 years. Belfon grew up as the eldest of seventeen children. She recalls being intrigued by music from the tender age of seven, noting the influence of her aunt introducing her family to reggae artistes like Bob Marley and the Wailers and Peter Tosh, among other artistes of that time. Her home in Point Cumana, Carenage, Trinidad, was always filled with music, Denise likening the atmosphere to a ‘party-like’ one, ’round the clock’.
Part of a large, extended family, which included her two grandmothers, Belfon frequently heard the music of artistes like Etta James, Sam Cooke, Ella Fitzgerald, Mahalia Jackson and Tina Turner. Denise says it was one of those matriarch’s love for these entertainers at that time that ignited her appreciation for them as well. Her voice, a husky yet attractive one, was apparent from the age of two, and with that awareness, Belfon grew even more intrigued by artistes with such vocal similarity. From the age of two, Denise’s fate for a life on stage, seemed sealed. Both her grandparents had given her the name “Saucy”, all because of her quick-witted mouth and sassy appeal. It would go on to become a name spoken by millions around the world.
Her vocal ability exploded as she grew up and by the age of nine, Denise Belfon began making inroads onto the Calypso and Soca circuits in a major way. She began entering the Junior Calypso Monarch competition alongside the likes of fellow entertainers, Kerwin DuBois, Ghetto Flex and Machel Montano among others.
Musical stalwart, Roy Cape is single-handedly responsible for the ‘becoming’ of Denise “Saucy Wow” Belfon, in the world of Soca. He hand-picked her after careful observation of her performance ability and vocal execution on stage, and soon after, she would become the lead female vocalist of Sound Revolution, alongside Colin Lucas. She was 19 years old.
The ensuing years were filled with immense growth and life lessons for the woman who evolved over time into a wife, mother, and full-time entertainer. In 1995, Denise Belfon made all of the Caribbean look, as she broke the glass ceiling with a song called, “Ka Ka Lay Lay”. It would catapult her to almost immediate stardom and from that time onward, songs like “Hard Wuk”, “De Jammette”, “Saucy Baby,” and “Indian Man” would cement her status as an impenetrable female force in the Soca music industry. In 1998, her collaboration with fellow entertainer, Ghetto Flex proved an essential cross-over anthem, something that effectively challenged the norms of the time. That single was called, “Rock Your Body”.
Another 1998 released single called, “Work,” often referred to as “Put Yuh Back in It,” would prove capable of the unimaginable though. “Work” has been remixed over 8000 times in numerous languages and across several cultures. Interest increased further after a collaboration between dancehall artiste, Shenseea and US rapper, Megan Thee Stallion in 2022, would hear Belfon’s voice and “Work” lyrics sampled in the single, “Lick.”
Denise Belfon is deeply rooted in the culture from which she rose to superstardom, in the Caribbean. She maintains a strong allegiance to her country and is excited for the future of Soca music. As Belfon matures, she says she is dedicated to assisting new and upcoming entertainers from all walks of life, in shaping their careers. The name Denise “Saucy Wow” Belfon has stood the test of time and will continue to penetrate in the business of music for many years to come.
