The sound system was developed, designed and installed by Richard Long & Associates, Kenny Powers (RLA) and was said by those that attended to be the best in New York City at that time. The club has been credited for its influence on the development of the modern dance club as it is today: unlike other clubs of its time, the Paradise Garage was focused on dancing rather than social interaction, and it was the first to put the DJ at the center of attention.

Among those to benefit from what became known as "The Garage Sound" or "Garage Music" was West End Records, run by Mel Cheren. Among its successes were "Sessomatto" by Sessa Matto, Karen Young's "Hot Shot," "Heartbeat" by Taana Gardner (remixed by Levan) and "Don't Make Me Wait" by the Peech Boys (produced by Levan). West End Records folded for a number of years, re-opening in the late 90s and releasing one of Levan's DJ sets recorded live at the Garage. In the video game Grand Theft Auto: Vice City Stories, a post-disco radio station, Paradise FM plays music representative of the club's playlists at the height of its popularity. Tim Curry had a minor hit with a song about the club, also named "Paradise Garage." From 1992 UK music production and remix team called West End produced many UK #1 Club Hits in the style of "The Garage Sound" then 1994 grew into a company called West End Radio Productions, whose founder, Eddie Gordon, created the Essential Mix Show for BBC Radio 1 in the UK. A weekly 2 hour dance music mix show that was inspired by the legend of the Paradise Garage music and the originator of the art of two deck mixing DJ Larry Levan. After 16 years the Essential Mix is now the world's longest running dance mix show on Radio.

The building which housed the Paradise Garage is now a facility for Verizon Communications.

The unique and eclectic style of disco and dance music played at the Garage gave rise to the descriptive terms "garage," "garage style" and "garage classic" (to describe a record that was made famous or is associated with the Paradise Garage). When the term "garage music" is used in reference to the Paradise Garage, it does not exclusively mean house music, although certain house tracks may be considered to be garage classics. House music as a genre got its start from the Garage's house DJ Larry Levan and his contemporaries, Frankie Knuckles and Nicky Siano who were both also influential disc jockeys. These disc jockeys played all kinds of music so long as it was danceable; at the Paradise Garage, one was liable to hear The Clash and The Police as well as traditional "disco" artists like Gwen Guthrie and Sylvester. Levan is remembered by all for his ability to choose and play different records from different types of music and make it all fit together. The term "garage" has changed meaning over time, see UK garage for a more detailed description.

This form of music is not related to garage rock.