Paul Saunders is one of the most hard-working, creative and diversified people in the Creative Arts. With a lifelong romance he has had with music, his career has taken him through literally decades of wearing many ‘coats of many colours, and he continues to buy ‘new outfits’ to this day. His love of acting and the stage started at a very young age, being one of the original casts of the musicals Hair! and Jesus Christ Superstar, his love of the stage inspired him to create a stage play of sorts for the original Pauly & the Goodfellas, and a longstanding career that is still going strong in so many different forms it is almost hard to keep track of this man, who never seems to run out of energy and ideas.
Saunders is a Canadian Actor, a Show Producer, Singer/Songwriter, Recording Artist, Musician, Screenwriter and the soft seat theatre goers know him as the loveable character, ‘Pauly’ in the long-lasting theatre production show Pauly and the Goodfellas a small part his long list of career accomplishments. The reality is he is all those things and does it all with an indefatigable passion, a passion that is unmatched.
I caught up with Paul Saunders at his home base are The Beach, where we met for a lunch at another legendary icon, The Garden Gate or more affectionately called “The Goof”, a story that goes those were the only letters years ago that remained, after the others burnt out.
“I am comfortable in this place”, Paul says calling the waiter by his given name Bill. “I frequent it daily, happy to see a restaurant that starting in 1952 still be thriving. It used to have those little jukeboxes at each table where you could put money in and hear the songs. Those are long gone, but the menu, the staff and inexpensive food haven’t changed. It is grounding with all the travelling I do it is grounding to come here and know some things are still solid and never change.”
I ask about his acting career. Paul takes a breath and answers “it is still one of my true loves, when I go read for a part, I become that person. I love accents, personas, and love being characters that people love and hate. I have such a diversified career, but being an actor is truly at top the of my list. It provides room to create different characters and dig deep to find the perfect combination of the voice, the nuance, the body language. You become that character.I do a lot of gangster type parts, and quite honestly I would love to take on a serious character in a series, whether it be drama, romance for an older guy, an ongoing series that has character development. I will read for any part; I believe I could take on roles like that.”
Check out his Drama Actor’s Reel 2026 here:
Paul James Saunders New Drama Reel 2026 Long extended version
I asked Paul about his personal songwriting and his love of the music. “I few years ago, I actually put out my first solo CD, poetically named “It’s About Time”. One of the songs on it was my self-penned “Courage” which garnered attention to be in a presentation called “Heal the Earth” in honour of Earth Day and hosted and narrated by the legendary Tom Jackson, the Indigenous actor Tom Jackson, who personally contacted me to praise my music and tell me he loved “Courage”. As an actor I was honoured, as a songwriter I was flattered. It is also on a short list for an upcoming documentary, the name not yet released.
Check out Courage by written and performed by Paul Saunders: YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=15znZmmlSOI&list=RD15znZmmlSOI&start_radio=1
Paul goes on to say, “I am a hopeless romantic and grew up with some of the best classic love songs. “Theme From Summer Place” takes me back there every time I hear it. My personal songs are truly from the heart, and the extensive list of the classics from the 50’s, 60’s, and 70’s always held a special place in my heart. It is one of the reasons I created The Pauly and the Greaseball shows three decades ago. Since then it has evolved into The History of Rock and Soul.” Paul created Pauly and the Greaseballs as a music stage show then it morphed into Pauly and the Goodfellas when an agent was concerned with the name ‘Greaseballs’. Since then, Paul has evolved with various casts, crew and band members, his company Paul Saunders Media has created, produced and booked his now revolving catalogue of shows under the moniker of The History of Rock and Soul.
Pauly & the Greaseballs aka Pauly & the Goodfellas
An Evening of Abba and the Bee Gees
BeachBoyz Celebrating the California Surf Sound
Jersey Nights A Tribute to Frankie Valli & more
Grease is the Word & the music of the 50’s & 60’s
Disco Nights A Tribute to Saturday Night Fever & more
That 80’s Dance Party
Every one of these productions feature powerful vocals and dynamic performances, the cast delivers a nostalgic experience while creating new magical memories at each show.
“The magic of music is that songs can take you back to different eras in your life. We do that with these shows,” Saunders explains.” The coolest part is seeing generations at the shows of grandparents, parents and now the younger audience embracing music that is timeless.”
“We are currently in production for The Rocky Horror Picture Show, which already has bookings and this one is going to be a blast.”
Check videos and more here:
The History of Rock & Soul : Home
One of your latest projects and a legacy honouring your family is The Other Side of Yonge Street which is currently in pre-production soon to be released as a streaming series. The Other Side of Yonge Street honours family, immigration, music and Toronto’s colourful cultural history. Tell me about that?
“As we get older our roots, our family, our heritage seems to matter more. As a young man, I wanted nothing to do with the traditions that now matter to me. I was a young hippie musician, with waist length hair and an attitude even longer. I didn’t want to hear a word about the things that now matter to me. I now realize I am actually a proud Macedonian, even some of the religious and spiritual parts of that heritage are so ingrained in me.
The Other Side of Yonge Street is a personal story for Saunders, telling the story of the iconic nightclub and bar, The Bermuda Tavern, located on the infamous Yonge Street in Toronto, Canada.
“I was born in Toronto, and my grandfather, Spiro Saunders, owned The Bermuda Tavern on Yonge Street, so at a young age I got to see live artists and shows, and I knew when I was very small, that is what I wanted to do; perform, make people happy, make myself happy. I have been lucky enough to be able to do that and make a living out of it, Saunders says with true emotion, “Now it is time for me to put my true history into a streaming series that really tells it all from that era from the era where the Bermuda Tavern was an integral part of the music scene in an everchanging world of the 50’s up until the 70’s, It’s got it all – the music, the cars, the music, the girls, the mob. There is something for everyone in this series. For me, it is just the story of my early years and about the influence my family had on me.”
Check out more here: The Other Side of Yonge Street | Paul James Saunders
The latest passion for Saunders is the launch of Electric Records and Media.
“The Other Side of Yonge Street has an amazing soundtrack, starting with the self-titled song. When my team and I discussed where this soundtrack should be available, we realized that distribution of music nowadays is an incredible challenge. With no supporting labels, no A&R guys to guide you, it really is a DIY world now when it comes to music. That is when I decided to there is true need for not just a record label but a media company as well to support the distribution, pr and guidance on a release.”
“The Other Side of Yonge Street” single is still under wraps, so we are currently releasing other product from our stable of artists on Electric Records and Media”, Saunders explains.
Check out Electric Records and Media on YouTube here: https://www.youtube.com/@ELECTRICRECORDSANDMEDIA
“Although Electric Records and Media is the eventual landing spot for the Soundtrack of The Other Side of Young Street, if an talented and focus artist shows up in our radar, we are considering getting into artist development. The current landscape of the music industry leaves little room to support and development up and coming artists. We are going in the direction of being that label that can change all of that.”
When asked of any plans of starting to relax and enjoy the fruits of his labour, Paul responds quickly and with heated passion; “Absolutely not. I am more excited and more inspired to create all these projects, more than I was when I was a younger man. They are all so diversified but the message in everything I do is to produce shows and music that uplift people. We are living in such a time of chaos and confusion right now, that I feel the world needs to hear music, watch shows, see movies that are full of nostalgic memories but I feel the world needs to hear music that is inspiring and full of hope. Mankind needs hope to survive, we need to get back to love and understanding.”
“On a personal level, I have more energy and more ‘creative bursts’ daily than I have ever had in my career. With The History of Rock and Soul, I will continue to create new theatre shows, they sell out and are always a joyful experience for the people who come looking for a night to remember all the good times and Electric Records and Media is an ongoing project that will expand in time, and I am looking forward to getting back to writing and recording my own material under that umbrella.I have also come full circle to my love of being an actor, now taking on being the Script Writer, Producer and Actor in The Other Side of Yonge Street.”
“So, no plans of slowing down, just full steam ahead and I wake up every day motivated and ready to create. “I am more excited than ever to keep creating and moving forward. Even with all the success and shows I have either worked on or created, I keep moving my finish line because I truly believe the best is yet to come.”
Editor’s Note from Sandy Graham:
Talking to Paul Saunders is an inspiration in itself. He is a creative force, one that keeps creating and evolving and you can’t help but get caught up in his enthusiasm. With no barriers in his mind, he has built an empire and legacy of his own and is continuing to do so.
At the centre of Paul’s artistry is his desire to make people feel something. He understands laughter, loneliness, struggle, love, faith and the passage of time. Rather than allowing age to quiet his creative spirit, he continues to imagine, write, compose, perform and build new projects with remarkable energy, tenacity and his very persona is infectious, leaving you wanting to have that same energy, love for life, and a sense of purpose.
For more about Paul Saunders visit his website here: pauljamessaunders.ca