Initially formed in Kingston, Jamaica, in 1962 by brothers Sydney and Derrick Crooks and their friend Winston Hewitt, this seminal reggae vocal trio relocated to the United Kingdom in 1970, where they became commercial trailblazers for the genre.
The group bridged the gap between rocksteady and reggae, achieving global reach by establishing a massive fan base in the UK. They were notably popular within the British working-class skinhead and mod subcultures of the era.
Though the group went through early personnel shifts in the 1960s, their definitive, hit-making trio consisted of co-founder Sydney Crooks, Jackie Robinson and George Agard (also known as George Dekker, half-brother of reggae star Desmond Dekker).
Major hits included Long Shot Kick de Bucket (1969), written and produced by Lee “Scratch” Perry, Let Your Yeah Be Yeah (1971), written by Jimmy Cliff, and Give and Take (1972).
Looking to move their sound into a smoother, soul-driven musical direction, The Pioneers teamed up in 1976 with famed musician and producer Eddy Grant for an album titled Feel The Rhythm, released under Mercury Records.
Singles like Broken Man and My Good Friend James earned critical praise, but the stylistic shift failed to find commercial success.
Disheartened by low sales, the band split up in the late 1970s.
The group officially reformed in 1999 and continued touring internationally and appearing at major international reggae festivals.
Sydney Crooks
Jackie Robinson
George Agard (Dekker)
Derrick Crooks
Winston Hewitt
Glen Adams
You May Also Like
Hapshash and The Coloured Coat Hapshash and The Coloured Coat was the name adopted by graphic artists Michael English and Nigel…
Rita Coolidge Rita Coolidge was born in Lafayette, Tennesee, a small town outside Nashville, and began her musical…
Vince Hill Born on 16 April 1934 in Holbrooks, Coventry, Vince Hill worked as an apprentice baker, a…
Tornadoes, The The Tornadoes (not to be confused with the British beat group The Tornados of Telstar fame) were one of California's…
Babys, The The Babys signed a lucrative deal with Chrysalis Records in 1976 before even playing a single…
Cryan' Shames, The This American garage rock and sunshine pop band formed in Hinsdale, Illinois (a western suburb of…
Black Oak Arkansas Black Oak Arkansas (the band) put their hometown of Black Oak, Arkansas (population 272) on the…
Atlanta Rhythm Section This band of hairy Americans who made friendly Southern AOR - not unlike a less thrashy…
Though the group went through early personnel shifts in the 1960s, their definitive, hit-making trio consisted of co-founder Sydney Crooks, Jackie Robinson and George Agard (also known as George Dekker, half-brother of reggae star Desmond Dekker).
