Effective period / Period of releases: 1953

The Buccaneers (Philadelphia, PA)

Ernest Smith, Don Marshall, Julius Robinson, Richard Gregory

The Buccaneers were discovered by two aspiring record producers, Jerry Halpern and Ed Krensel, who were students at Temple University. In November 1952, Halpern and Krensel arranged a recording session for the group in a studio located in an old movie theater in central Philadelphia. The Buccaneers had practiced a tune written by Halpern called "Dear Ruth." This track was released on Southern Records, a new label founded by Halpern and Krensel, with "Dear Ruth" as Southern #101. The B-side, "Fine Brown Frame," featured The Buccaneers backed by Matt Child & The Drifters, making for a unique recording.

Southern Records, based in Philadelphia, began promoting their new record locally and expanded to New York and the Baltimore-Washington area. Their efforts paid off as The Buccaneers' record started to sell in these regions. New York-based Rainbow Records took an interest and re-released "Dear Ruth" on Rainbow #211, although there are no confirmed records of this release.

After Ed Krensel was drafted into the army, Jerry Halpern continued on his own. In September 1953, The Buccaneers signed with George Goldner's Rama Records. They recorded "In The Mission of St. Augustine" (Rama #24) with "You Did Me Wrong" on the flip side. Unfortunately, this record did not achieve significant sales. Rama Records released two more singles: "The Stars Will Remember" / "Come Back My Love" (Rama #21, released later despite the numbering) and another single that also failed to gain traction. These releases marked the end of The Buccaneers' recording career.

Ernest "Sonny" Smith passed away in August 2022, survived by his daughter.