Denise is a retired Executive Assistant and Community Relations Manager having been in this role for Junior Achievement for 19 years. Previously she was employed at the London Free Press for 13 years. Denise is the co-founder of the Jason Edmonds Foundation for Road Rage which was formed after the death of her son Jason in 2000. The Foundation ran for 5 years during which time the co-founders delivered many presentations to youth about the dangers of road rage.
Denise is a singer and has performed with many great artists including acclaimed trombonist Ray Anderson, Gospel/Blues legend Jackie Richardson and Flamenco guitarist Jesse Cook. She has opened for Aretha Franklin at the John Labatt Centre in London, Ontario.
Denise has performed with symphony orchestras and festivals which have included the du Maurier Downtown Jazz Festival (Toronto), Ottawa Jazz Festival, The Royal Canadian Big Band Festival (London), Bluesfest (London), Waterloo Jazz Festival and Sunfest (London), among others.
She has also enjoyed acting and has been part of The Grand Theatre (London) seasons performing in the Fats Waller musical Ain’t Misbehavin’, Wang Dang Doodle with Denis Simpson and A Streetcar Named Desire. Denise’s one-woman show, Jazzabel premiered in September 2004 at the McManus Theatre (Grand Theatre) to sold out audiences! In October 2005 Jazzabel was performed in Washington, DC at the National Museum for Women in the Arts and in February 2006 to audiences in New York City at Urban Stages Theatre. As well, she was featured in the February 2006 issue of O (Oprah Winfrey) Magazine. Denise’s recording credits include seven CDs.
She is honoured to be awarded the Queen’s Golden and Diamond Jubilee Medals. In 2003 she was named a YM-YWCA Woman of Distinction in the Arts and Heritage category. Denise won best jazz artist in London, Ontario’s Music Awards in 2002, 2003, 2006 and 2008, 2009, and 2012. In April 2006 the Hyde Park Rotary presented her with the Paul Harris Fellowship Award, Rotary’s highest honour. In 2008 and 2014 she won Jazz Artist of the Year at the Jack Richardson awards. In February 2009 the London Black History Committee honoured Denise with the Black Community Achievement Award in recognition of her accomplishments, contributions and support to her community. In April 2015 she was inducted into the Jack Richardson London Music Hall of Fame. In November 2015 Denise received an honorary licentiate diploma from Conservatory Canada. In November 2023 Denise received and honorary diploma from Fanshawe College.
Denise has volunteered with Canadian Aid for Southern Sudan having made 12 trips to the village of Gordhim where she helped deliver a music and art camp to over 400 children. She is a board member at large with Educate the Children helping to raise funds for a school in Nigeria. As well, Denise is a board member for Agape Foundation of London. The foundation gives grants to local non-profits and charities in the fields of education, the arts, recreation, social services, health and the environment.
Denise has also been a keynote speaker at conferences giving a presentation on The Power of Music.
“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!” Denise Pelley
