{{Short description|Saint Lucian musician}} '''Denise Joyce Auguste''' (1944–2020) was a Saint Lucian musician and leader of The Hewanorra Voices, which became a major popular folk band in the 1970s.<ref name="observer">{{cite news |title=St Lucia mourns cultural pioneer Denise Joyce Auguste |url=https://www.jamaicaobserver.com/2020/05/22/st-lucia-mourns-cultural-pioneer-denise-joyce-auguste/ |access-date=28 January 2026 |work=Jamaica Observer |date=22 May 2020}}</ref>
Auguste also worked as music supervisor for the Saint Lucian school system and introduced folk music into the school curriculum.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.visitslu.com/about_slu/great_stlucians/music.html|title=Development of Music in St. Lucia|work=About St. Lucia|accessdate=August 28, 2005|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20050616075156/http://www.visitslu.com/about_slu/great_stlucians/music.html|archivedate=June 16, 2005}}</ref> In 1978, her photograph received the honor of being included on the ten cent stamp of Saint Lucia. In 1988, she became a Member of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, later being given the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (O.B.E.) in 2017.<ref name="observer" />
She died on 21 May 2020 at the age of 76 in her home due to natural causes.<ref name="observer" /> Following her death, the Government of St. Lucia held a state funeral on June 24. She was interred at the Choc Cemetery.<ref>{{cite news |title=State funeral for the late Joyce Auguste |url=https://stluciastar.com/state-funeral-for-the-late-joyce-auguste/amp/ |access-date=28 January 2026 |work=St. Lucia Star |date=2020}}</ref>
== References == {{reflist}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Auguste, Denise Joyce}} Category:1944 births Category:2020 deaths Category:Saint Lucian musicians
{{SaintLucia-bio-stub}} {{caribbean-musician-stub}}