BIO
At the end of the day the thing that motivates a musician isn't fame (fleeting
and difficult to achieve) or glory (ditto) or the prospect of making mad loot.
Admittedly all are worthy goals but like getting hit by lightening or
purchasing a winning lottery ticket, chances are better than average that none
of the above will happen.

At the end of the day the reason that most musicians continue to make music is
because, they simply must.  They love it, it is in their blood, it is at their
core.  It is something they were put here to do.  It is their destiny. 

It is that spirit, that intention and that fierce belief in not only the power
of music but perhaps more urgently, the possibilities, that drives Peter and
Paul Tulloch.  The two brothers are both the founding members and the core of
the Brooklyn based culture reggae band Foreign Exchange and for the Tulloch
brothers and the rest of this acclaimed underground act, bringing the music to
the people is what its all about.

Foreign Exchange has been doing just that since the Tulloch brothers formed
the band in 1993.  Since then, the group has recorded three independent CDs
Iconoclast, Such Is Life (1996), and Occam's Razor all of which were released
on the groups First Step label.  Billboard noted that the group created "an
amorous, unforgettable vibe", while Reggae Report gave Iconoclast four of five
musical notes.  Foreign Exchange have also opened up for a host of reggae
artists, among them Buju Banton, Beres Hammond, Sanchez and Steel Pulse,
gigged extensively throughout New York City and the tri state area, across the
US and Europe and have appeared at several major reggae festivals.  And
whether they have been live or in the studio, the message has remained
constant.  "We believe reggae is a means to address social and political
issues," explains Paul, who co writes the groups material with his brother and
serves as lead singer.  "So basically our music is our observations on what's
wrong and what we can do to fix that.  We have enough people talking about
love and trust me, there's nothing wrong with love.  But there's other things
that reggae musicians can sing about, as well".
  


Foreign Exchange's roots are in Jamaica.  Both Peter and Paul were born and
raised in Kingston, in a large, close knit family.  Although neither of their
parents were musicians, music was heard in the home and the children were
encouraged to be creative.  But perhaps even more influential was their
neighbor, Aston "Family Man" Barrett, then the bass player for Bob Marley and
the Wailers.  "Living next door to "Family Man" really exposed us to music and
the life of being a musician," Peter recalls.  Family Man would come back from
his lengthy tours with Marley and regale the Tulloch boys with stories about
life on the road, edited of course for a young audience.  He also played
tracks for the boys and gave Peter his first bass and lessons.  "It's funny,"
Paul smiles, "because every one in Jamaica was in love with Bob Marley but
Peter and I were in love with his bass player!"

That childhood love affair blossomed into a full time fixation.  By the time
he was 19 Peter had formed his own band, whose members included Christopher
Bentley, the current leader of Inner Circle.  Drawing influence not only from
reggae but also from renowned bassists like Larry Graham, Sting and the late
Jaco Pastorious, Peter began to develop his own deeply rhythmic, hybrid sound.

In 1988, Peter moved to the United States to join a now disbanded group.  In
addition he started doing session and support work for a wide array of
established reggae artists like Super Cat, Shabba Ranks, Leroy Sibbles and
Culture.

Peter eventually developed a long standing professional relationship with the
Panamanian DJ El General and toured internationally with him.  In 1993, Peter
produced dance act Reel to Reel and earned a gold album.

While Peter's move into music seemed to come quite naturally, Paul took a more
unlikely route.  He moved to Germany in the late 70's to study aviation and
stayed at the home of his cousin Carl Douglas of "Kung Fu Fighting" fame.
While in Germany, Paul became involved in the thriving local music scene.
Inspired by what he heard and saw, Paul began to reconsider his career path
and by the time he moved to the US to join his brother, he realized that
making music ran in the family.  Like his brother, Paul did session work and
joined a NYC reggae band, which opened up for Jimmy Cliff, Ziggy Marley and
David Byrne among others.

"We were both doing separate things but we always felt that one day we would
be able to join forces and make music together," Paul says.  That time came in
1993 when Foreign Exchange was born and the brother's dream was realized.
Even the group's moniker speaks to their aspirations.  "Here in New York, you
have so many different cultures all in one space," Peter explains.  "No one
culture is right and each has something to offer the other.  Foreign Exchange
believes in the exchange of ideas, of creativity of influences and realities.
Our goal is to make conscious music, for all audiences and to help bring
reggae back to it's original purpose.  Enlightenment through entertainment."