When Rock Paper Soul was asked to perform in celebration of GEMS 40th Anniversary Rescue Rush, the entire band immediately said yes.
For Rock Paper Soul’s Greenwich residents, Dana Gordon and Jaimie Hunter, the event offered an opportunity to thank the dedicated men and women of GEMS for everything they do for the community. But the connection runs even deeper for the band: their drummer, Rob Gallois, is an EMT with New Canaan EMS.
The band has watched Gallois balance the demands of EMS with family, rehearsals and performances. Through Rob, they’ve gained a rare glimpse into a world most people encounter only on some of the most vulnerable days of their lives.
“We’re incredibly proud of Rob,” said Dana Gordon, Rock Paper Soul’s founder, lead vocalist and keyboardist. “We’ve watched him willingly take on countless hours of rigorous training, endure long nights on call with very little sleep and master an extraordinary breadth of medical knowledge and technical skill. We’ve come to appreciate not only the intelligence and quick thinking the work demands, but also the commitment, selflessness and compassion at its heart. It has changed the way all of us think about EMS and made one thing abundantly clear: Rob and the men and women of GEMS aren’t just heroes. They’re rock stars.”
For Gallois, being an EMT and a musician may seem like two very different worlds, but he sees a meaningful connection between them.
“Being an EMT and a musician is very rewarding because both give me the opportunity to interact with people and hopefully make a positive difference in their day,” Gallois said.
“They both require teamwork, technical ability, practice and passion, and the feeling when all of those elements come together is extremely satisfying. Playing for GEMS’s 40th anniversary is a double win because I get to contribute to both of my teams at the same time.”
Rock Paper Soul said they were proud to donate their performance in honor of GEMS 40 years of service.
The band will perform from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., immediately following School of Rock Greenwich, at Rescue Rush on Sunday, July 19, at the Eastern Greenwich Civic Center.
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