The Paragons
| Company type | Vocal ensemble |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 1960s |
| Headquarters | Kingston , Jamaica |
| Products | Ska and rocksteady music |
The Paragons were a vocal ensemble from Kingston, Jamaica, specializing in ska and rocksteady genres, predominantly active during the 1960s. Their signature song, "The Tide Is High", was composed by group member John Holt.
Career
Initially, The Paragons included Garth "Tyrone" Evans, songwriter Bob Andy, Junior Menz, and Leroy Stamp. In 1964, John Holt joined the lineup, replacing Stamp, while Howard Barrett took over from Menz.
The group’s early recordings showcased the harmonious vocal style typical of Jamaican ensembles in the early 1960s. Beginning in 1964, they collaborated with producer Duke Reid at the Treasure Isle record label, delivering tracks such as "Memories by the Score," "On the Beach," "Only a Smile," and "Wear You to the Ball." These songs were later interpreted by artists including UB40, Horace Andy, and Massive Attack. Additional notable compositions include "Man Next Door" (also known as "Quiet Place" or "I've Got to Get Away") and "Happy Go Lucky Girl."
Among their most celebrated recordings is the 1967 classic "The Tide Is High," penned by Holt and featuring violinist "White Rum" Raymond. This track represents a pinnacle of Jamaican popular music and achieved international acclaim through cover versions by Blondie in 1980 and Atomic Kitten in 2002, both reaching number one on UK and US charts.
In 1970, Holt departed to embark on a prosperous solo career. Subsequently, The Paragons briefly recorded with vocalist Roslyn Sweat under names such as Roslyn Sweat & The Paragons and The Paragons (featuring Roslyn Sweat). Meanwhile, Evans also pursued solo projects under the aliases Tyrone Evans and Don Evans.
The group reunited in the late 1970s and continued to release albums into the early 1980s.
Evans passed away in 2000, Holt died in October 2014, and Andy passed in 2020.
Studio albums
- On the Beach (1967)
- With Roslyn Sweat (1974)
- The Paragons (1981)
- Now (1981)
- Positive Movements (1982)
- Heaven & Earth (1996)
- The Paragons Sing the Beatles and Bob Dylan (1998)
- The Legendary Paragons (2000)
- Yellowman Meets the Paragons (2002)
- The Paragons Return
- Contributing artist
See also
- Crab Records
- Jet Set Records
- Island Records discography
- List of ska musicians
- List of reggae musicians
External links
- [ The Paragons biography] at AllMusic
- Enotes.com biography