The Pioneers (11)

The Pioneers' music was quite varied, based on a close-harmony male-voice trio, but included trumpet solos and duets (John Morton), mixed-voice trios, duets and solos etc. The group members were Brian Bounds (tenor & soloist) Gwynne Bounds (contralto and pianist) John Morton (baritone & trumpet) and Frank Carroll (baritone & trumpet). They produced an EP ('Meet the Pioneers') quickly followed in early '63 by an LP ('On the Firing Line'). Later that year another LP followed ('On Tour with the Pioneers'). The quality of the recording seemed to improve with each release. By this time John Morton had to leave the group to complete his service with the US military, and the group reverted to mixed vocal trios in the main and produced their third and final LP ('The New Sound of the Pioneers'). Songs by the American composer John W. Peterson feature very much on their records and some of their arrangements owe a little to an American trio called 'The White Sisters'. Gwynne, as a very accomplished pianist and vocalist, was a great asset to the group. Their final single by Cathedral ('Its Always Darkest Before the Dawn'), however, was aimed at juke-boxes, and had 'The Cobblers' as their backing group. It is believed that the Pioneers disbanded in 1964.