Pioneers

Pioneers

Most vocal groups from Jamaica tend to be very soul influenced. One group The Pioneers (Sidney Crooks. George Dekker, and Jackie Robinson) brought in a new harmony tradition to the music, that had its roots both in the rural/country and the ghetto.

They started off in 1962, then the group was made up of Sidney Crooks, Glen Adams and Derrick Crooks (Sidney's brother). By the time they started to record for Joe Gibbs, (1966) Jackie and George had been brought in. With Gibbs they had a really big hit with 'Catch The Beat' and went on to record an album for the producer.

Yet the success that they had enjoyed with Joe Gibbs, was nothing to what was to come when they joined the Beverley's label in 1968. The first couple of tunes for Beverley's and producer Leslie Kong were not that successful, then they recorded 'Long Shot Kick The Bucket'.

This tune was a tremendous success in Jamaica, and in the UK it took them into the pop charts. The following year '69 they had another big hit with 'Samfie Man', this one didn't do as well in the UK, but by then the group was well established in the UK, doing very well with the two albums both produced by Leslie Kong, 'Long Shot Kick The Bucket' and 'Battle Of The Giants'.