The Paragons

The Paragons

The Paragons were a ska and rocksteady vocal group from Kingston, Jamaica, initially active in the 1960s. Their most famous track was "The Tide Is High", written by band member John Holt.

Career
The Paragons were originally Garth "Tyrone" Evans, songwriter Bob Andy, Junior Menz, and Leroy Stamp. In 1964 Stamp was replaced by singer and songwriter John Holt, and Howard Barrett replaced Menz. The early Paragons' sound used the vocal harmonies of Jamaican groups of the early 1960s. Beginning in 1964, they recorded on the Treasure Isle record label with record producer Duke Reid, songs such as "Memories by the Score", "On the Beach", "Only a Smile" and "Wear You to the Ball", which were later covered by UB40, Horace Andy, Dennis Brown, Massive Attack, and others. Other recordings included "Man Next Door" aka "Quiet Place"/"I've Got to Get Away" (1968) and "Happy Go Lucky Girl". The Paragons' recordings, including the widely covered "The Tide Is High" from 1967, written by Holt, and featuring the violin of "White Rum" Raymond, are among the highlights of Jamaican popular music. "The Tide Is High" was taken to the top of the UK and US charts by Blondie in 1980; while Atomic Kitten's cover version also topped the UK Singles Chart in 2002. Holt left to pursue a successful solo career in 1970. Following Holt's departure, the group recorded briefly with female vocalist Roslyn Sweat as Roslyn Sweat & The Paragons and The Paragons (featuring Roslyn Sweat). Evans too, recording as Tyrone Evans and as Don Evans, enjoyed an albeit less notable solo career, making several recordings while with The Paragons and after the group disbanded. The group reformed in the late 1970s and released further albums in the late 1970s and early 1980s. Evans died in 2000, and Holt in October 2014. Andy died in 2020.

Albums (6)

On The Beach
Treasure Isle • 1967
Now
Starlight • 1982
For You
White Label • 198X
Return
Jackpot • 198X
Artist Album Release Type Label Rec Rel
On The Beach The Paragons On The Beach TILP 100 LP Treasure Isle 1967 1970
Heaven & Earth The Paragons Heaven & Earth CDSGP 075 CD Prestige 197X
Sly & Robbie Meet The Paragons The Paragons Sly & Robbie Meet The Paragons ILPS 9631 LP Island 1981 1981
Now The Paragons Now SDLP 909 LP Starlight 1982 1982
For You The Paragons For You LP White Label 198X
Return The Paragons Return LP Jackpot 198X

Credits & Appearances (11)

Also Appears On (68)

Artist Album Release Type Label Rec Rel
7 Inch Auction Various Artists 7 Inch Auction SOLP 010 LP Studio 1 2004
Full Up Various Artists Full Up HB 14 LP Heartbeat 1987
Full Up Various Artists Full Up CDHB 302 CD Heartbeat 2006
Original Jamaican Classics vol 3 Various Artists Original Jamaican Classics vol 3 SOCD 7794 CD Studio 1
Studio 1 Sales Conference Various Artists Studio 1 Sales Conference SOLP 1127 LP Studio 1
Studio One Lovers Various Artists Studio One Lovers SJRCD 116 CD Soul Jazz 2005
The Best Of Studio One Collection Various Artists The Best Of Studio One Collection CDHB 326 CD Heartbeat 2006
Tougher Than Tough Various Artists Tougher Than Tough IBXCD 1 CD Island 1958-93 1993
Trojan Jamaican Hits Box Set Various Artists Trojan Jamaican Hits Box Set TRBCD 017 CD Trojan 1960-73 2000
This Is Reggae Music Various Artists This Is Reggae Music TJNBX 254 CD Trojan 1960-75 2005
The Definitive Collection of Federal Records Various Artists The Definitive Collection of Federal Records VPCD 4163 CD 17 North Parade 1964-82 2010
Step Softly Various Artists Step Softly CDTRL 267 CD Trojan 1965-72 1988
Baba Boom Time Various Artists Baba Boom Time NEMCD 473 CD Sequel 1966-68 2000
Gems From Treasure Isle Various Artists Gems From Treasure Isle TRLS 206 LP Trojan 1966-68 1982
Duke Reid Rock's Steady Various Artists Duke Reid Rock's Steady TJDDD 363 CD Trojan 1967 2007
1000 Volts Of Holt John Holt 1000 Volts Of Holt TJCCD 007 CD Trojan 1967-72 2002
Ba Ba Boom Duke Reid Various Artists Ba Ba Boom Duke Reid CDTRL 265 CD Trojan 1967-72 1994
The Hottest Hits Albums Collection Various Artists The Hottest Hits Albums Collection DBCDDD 090 CD Doctor Bird 1967-81 2021
Come Rock With Me In Jamaica Various Artists Come Rock With Me In Jamaica DSK 3507 LP Treasure Isle 1968 1968
Come Rock With Me In Jamaica Various Artists Come Rock With Me In Jamaica TRL 3 LP Trojan 1968 1968
Greatest Jamaican Beat Various Artists Greatest Jamaican Beat TI 102 LP Treasure Isle 1968 1968
Greatest Jamaican Beat Various Artists Greatest Jamaican Beat DBCDD 033 CD Doctor Bird 1968 2019
Soul For Sale Various Artists Soul For Sale CD 44412-2 CD Jet Set 1968 1997
Soul Of Jamaica & Here Comes The Duke Various Artists Soul Of Jamaica & Here Comes The Duke DBCD 024 CD Doctor Bird 1968 2018
Soul Power '68 Various Artists Soul Power '68 DBCDD 074 CD Doctor Bird 1968 2021
From Matador's Arena Vol 1 Various Artists From Matador's Arena Vol 1 JMC 200.222 CD Jamaican Gold 1968-69 1994
History Of Trojan Records 1968-71 Various Artists History Of Trojan Records 1968-71 CDTAL 700 CD Trojan 1968-71 1995
Memories By The Score John Holt Memories By The Score WESA 852 CD Westside 1968-74 2003
Young Gifted And Black Various Artists Young Gifted And Black TJDDD 006 CD Trojan 1968-75 2002
Duke Reid Golden Hits Duke Reid & Various Artists Duke Reid Golden Hits TTL 8 LP Trojan 1969 1969
Duke Reid's Golden Hits Various Artists Duke Reid's Golden Hits TTL 8 LP Trojan 1969 1969
Reggae Hits '69 Vol 2 Various Artists Reggae Hits '69 Vol 2 ECO 11 LP Pama 1969 1969
First Class Rock Steady Various Artists First Class Rock Steady VPCD 4205 CD 17 North Parade 196X 2016
Hottest Hits Vol 3 Various Artists Hottest Hits Vol 3 LP Treasure Isle 196X
Studio One Rocksteady 2 Various Artists Studio One Rocksteady 2 SJRCD 367 CD Soul Jazz 196X 2017
Treasure Isle Records Various Artists Treasure Isle Records ATKCDBOX 1 CD Attack 196X 2008
Trojan Mod Reggae Box Set Vol 2 Various Artists Trojan Mod Reggae Box Set Vol 2 TJETD 287 CD Trojan 196X 2005
Trojan Rocksteady Box Set Various Artists Trojan Rocksteady Box Set TRBCD 003 CD Trojan 196X 1998
Trojan Sixties Box Set Various Artists Trojan Sixties Box Set TJETD 174 CD Trojan 196X 2004
Trojan Ska Box Set Various Artists Trojan Ska Box Set TRBCD 001 CD Trojan 196X 1998
A Tribute To The Beatles Reggae Style Various Artists A Tribute To The Beatles Reggae Style CDTALL 501 CD Trojan 196X-7X 2001
Duke Reid's Treasure Chest Various Artists Duke Reid's Treasure Chest CDHB 95 CD Heartbeat 196X-7X 1992
Studio One Ironsides Various Artists Studio One Ironsides SJRCD 260 CD Soul Jazz 196x-7X 2013
The Treasure Isle Story Various Artists The Treasure Isle Story TJDCD 560 CD Trojan 196X-7X 2017
Trojan Beatles Tribute Box Set Various Artists Trojan Beatles Tribute Box Set TJETD 220 CD Trojan 196X-7X 2004
Trojan Jamaica Box Set Various Artists Trojan Jamaica Box Set TJETD 199 CD Trojan 196X-7X 2004
Trojan Originals Box Set Various Artists Trojan Originals Box Set TJETD 098 CD Trojan 196X-7X 2003
Trojan Selecta Vol 6 Various Artists Trojan Selecta Vol 6 TJJCD 362 CD Trojan 196X-7X 2007
Trojan Sunshine Reggae Box Set Various Artists Trojan Sunshine Reggae Box Set TJETD 185 CD Trojan 196X-7X 2004
Version Galore U Roy Version Galore DBCDD 093 CD Doctor Bird 1970 2021
Version Galore U Roy Version Galore TJDDD 056 CD Trojan 1970 2002
Duke Reid International Disco Series Various Artists Duke Reid International Disco Series DBCDDD 075 CD Doctor Bird 1977-78 2021
A History Of Jamaican Vocal Harmony Various Artists A History Of Jamaican Vocal Harmony MRMCD 11 CD Munich 197X 1996
Café Jamaica Various Artists Café Jamaica METRCD 165 CD Union Square Music 197X 2005
Here Comes That Feeling Various Artists Here Comes That Feeling TJDDD 140X CD Trojan 197X 2004
Hottest Hits Various Artists Hottest Hits FL 1034 LP Virgin 197X 1979
Ranking Miss P Presents Sweet Harmony Various Artists Ranking Miss P Presents Sweet Harmony TJDDD 101 CD Trojan 197X 2003
Scandal Various Artists Scandal LP Matador 197X
The Bunny Striker Lee Story Various Artists The Bunny Striker Lee Story CRCDB 3138 CD Jet Star 197X 2005
The Front Line Box Set Various Artists The Front Line Box Set 8106782 CD Virgin 197X 2004
The Original Labour Of Love Collection Various Artists The Original Labour Of Love Collection CDTRL 432 CD Trojan 197X 1999
The Reggae Love Collection Various Artists The Reggae Love Collection CD Pulse 197X 2003
Trojan Lovers Box Set Various Artists Trojan Lovers Box Set TRBCD 005 CD Trojan 197X 1999
Your Ace From Space U Roy & Friends Your Ace From Space CDTRL 359 CD Trojan 197X 1995
RUbAdUB Revolution Various Artists RUbAdUB Revolution PSCD 104 CD Pressure Sounds 197X-8X 2019
Simply Reggae Various Artists Simply Reggae SIMPLYCD 012 CD Union Square Music 197X-8X 2005
Reggae Love Songs Vol 2 Various Artists Reggae Love Songs Vol 2 TLSAN 014 CD Trojan 197X-9X 2005
Raiders Of The Lost Dub Sly & Robbie Raiders Of The Lost Dub ILPS 9705 LP Island 1981 1981
15 albums
11 credits
12 labels
1967 - 2007