Song:Long Shot Kick De Bucket
Album:Give and Take: The best of The Pioneers
Though The Pioneers started out in the early 60s, they had most of their success in the late 60s with songs like Long Shot Kick De Bucket. They were a big influence on the late 70s Ska revival. The Pioneers were first formed in 1962 by brothers Sydney and Derrick Crooks and Winston Hewitt. They recorded a handful of singles at Leslie Kong's Treasure Island studio and released them on Caltone. Hewitt moved to Canada in 1966 and was replaced by Glen Adams. The Pioneers split up in 1967 when Derrick Crooks took a job with Alcoa. But Sydney Crooks planned to form a new version of The Pioneers. He was working at Joe Gibbs records shop and met Jackie Robinson. They started recording together as The Pioneers and had success with the single Long Shot. They left Gibbs and returned to Kong. Crooks was looking for a third member and added George Agard after an audition. He is Desmond Dekker's half brother. Apparently the horse in Long Shot died. Kong wanted a sequel and Long Shot Kick De Bucket was a big hit in 1969. The song did so well in England that The Pioneers moved there in 1970. They also had a hit with Let Your Yeah Be Yeah in 1971. The Pioneers split up in the late 70s but they reformed when the Ska revival began in 1979. Since then The Pioneers have continued to perform and and still tour today. This comp is a good intro to their music. The Pioneers are highly regarded by Ska fans and are worth checking out. Here's a video for Long Shot Kick De Bucket by The Pioneers.
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