The Lion, who established Reggae Tuesdays fifteen years ago, set up for his weekly gig, the regular fan base gathered, a multiracial crowd of all ages Tattooed men, straight out of a Ray Bradbury's Illustrated Man, sported leather vests and stars and stripes bandanas, cowboy boots stood toe-to-toe with high heels. Yankee caps passed straw blowers. Hawaiian shorts crossed kente cloth. Tight ponytails bounced beside sun-streaked tresses and dreadlocks. Preppies chatted with soldiers from the Point with snatches of Spanish and Hindi blending in the background.....
Lead singer Paul Roach, backed by a four-instrument ensemble. Kicking off at around eight o'clock the band got the crowd dancing right from jump with a roots-inspired tune. As their waiting, dreamy summer music heated up to an energetic beat, the crowd pressed closer together. Lean and handsome with ankle-length dreadlocks, Roach's cool, soothing voice recalled crooner Sugar Minot's.
Paul Roach was the first artist to ever perform at Gully's, fifteen years back; the town modified the sound ordinance so that they could play late.
Roach, aka "the Original Papa Lion and Papa Roach," told me by email." Regardless of how few people there were in those early days, they kept coming every Tuesday."
Roach has seen the size of the audience "expound profoundly" and its ethnicity broaden over the years, with people riding up to Gully's on their boats from various locations to hear them play.
In the course of his career, Roach has opened for Jimmy Cliff, The Wailers, Black Ururu, Sister Carol, Yellow man and Eke-a-Mouse, to name just a few acts. Roach's own unique sound blends roots, ska, rocksteady, and dancehall, its signature reggae cover tunes selected "for the people" according to Roach.
"I hope our music elevates their lives on some positive level," he added. Original songs, such as "Just a Little Bit," Hold Me," The Don" and "Could You Be Mine" aim to "uplift everyone's spirit."
"Reggae is an island scene and Gully's being on the water is like an oasis and a little piece of the islands on a Tuesday Night."
- Woodstock Times