Paul Martin LaBrusciano (Paulie Roots) passed away on February 05, 2017, in Burlington, Vermont. Paul was born on April 21, 1966, in Manhattan, New York. He attended Harwood Union High School and the Community School, in Montpelier, Vermont, from which he graduated as salutatorian in 1984.
Paul loved music, and was seen by many as being at the vanguard of the U.S. influx of reggae in the late 1970’s. During the eighties, he was a radio DJ on WRUV and WGDR, a club DJ at the Border (now Metronome) in Burlington and worked for many years at Pure Pop selling records. He also played keyboards in several bands, including Lamb’s Bread and Pounding System—who played at the legendary Vermont Reggae Festival at North Beach in Burlington, VT, and shared the stage with many reggae greats such as Third World, Israel Vibrations, and Aswad. During this time, he introduced many Burlington residents to the sounds of dancehall reggae and his influence can still be felt today in a Vermont reggae culture that has endured for many decades. In the nineties, his love of music brought him to New York where he worked at Eight Ball Records in Manhattan and later co-founded Music Ambassador, an importer and distributor of reggae music on 7-inch 45 records from Jamaica. Paul and M usic Ambassador went on to enjoy over ten years of servicing reggae labels and retail stores from around the globe.
He was a discerning culinary artist who readily offered his unfiltered opinion on Vermont local cuisine, and he was truly loved in his role as manager at the Essex High School Cafeteria. Even when he lived in New York, he often drove to New Haven for the better pizza.
In his spare time, he enjoyed fishing with his family and friends, and spending family time in his backyard jungle of canna lilies and angel’s trumpets. Paul also had a great love for baseball, his passion for the sport developed during his childhood in Waitsfield as a member of the Little League All-Star team, later an avid fan of the New York Yankees, and finally a passionate coach and referee for the local Burlington leagues.
He is survived by his wife, Domye LaBrusciano of Burlington; his sons, Nico and Lorenzo of Burlington; his step-sons, Owen and Nathan Arre of Burlington; his parents, Ron LaBrusciano of Marlboro and Barbara Elsbeth, of Waitsfield; and his siblings: brother Christopher LaBrusciano, of Calais; sister, Anne LaBrusciano, of Marshfield; and brother, Peter LaBrusciano, of Brooklyn, New York.
A memorial will be held in summer.
This article appears in The Love & Marriage Issue 2017.
Nuff Respect!
This breaks my heart. I remember Paul as the sweetest adorable little boy. Haven’t seen him in at least 37 years, but he should have lived a lot longer, as he graced this earth with a rare, humble spirit and great kindness, as does his entire family.
Paul was my science partner in junior high at Hardwood Union. He would do the science and I would write the lab reports. He introduced me DEVO, something I will never forget. Rest in peace, Paul.
so sad to hear this , so sad , no other words at the moment, Doug Mann, Middlesex VT , and the Valley
Rest in peace Mr. Paulie Roots – you taught me a lot about reggae music and kept a smile on your face through all that retail hubub at Pure Pop Records.
Paulie Roots, great guy, always smiling, always had something going on. I saw his first band Primitive Tools live and some of his other bands at the Reggae Fest. My heart goes out to his family.
So sorry, you Labru’s. Love from us. Colin and Laura.
Love you, Paul. Be at Peace.
My condolences to the Labrusciano families. So sorry to hear this, Barb.
Very disturbed and sad to note this in my Facebook Feed today. A creative spirit has left the world. So sorry, Barb and family.
I first knew Paul when we were little league teammates(where he was throwing knuckeballs in the 5th grade!) in the Mad River Valley, and then later on at Harwood Union JHS. I would run into him on occasion at Pure Pop and Nectars in my late teeen and early twenties. He was everything they say he was. He always was quick with a smile for a familar face and a chance to catch up. He was truly a kind soul and friendly to all. Peace!