Updated January 2011

The Bucaneer’s (or Bucaneers) had this one release, a great two-sider from 1966 on the Amigo label out of Philadelphia, PA. Both sides are well-written and performed.

“You’re Never Gonna Love Me Anymore” pleads forgiveness for cheating a third time. A repetitive lead guitar line plays over the distorted rhythm guitar, with tambourine helping to move the tune along.

The shoe’s on the other foot for “I’m a Fool”. This time the guy is sticking around while his girl deceives him.

Both sides are by Ron Krause, though I couldn’t find any listing in ASCAP for these songs.

Richie Moore produced this and the publishing is attributed to Amigo and R-Mor. Reach Records is listed as distributor. Interesting spelling of their name on the label, as it should be Buccaneers instead of Bucaneers and doesn’t need the apostrophe.

I knew next to nothing about the band until guitarist Don Bevers contacted me and informed me they were from Barrington, New Jersey, just southeast of Philadelphia:

My name is Don Bevers, originator and lead guitarist of the band. Members on the recording were:

Ron Krause – rhythm/lead guitar, lead vocal
George Falcone – Farfisa keyboard/ keyboard bass and backup vocals
Ken Loftis – drums, tambourine, back up vocals
Don Bevers – lead/rhythm guitar, back up vocals

1963 Don and George met in grade school school and practiced standard songs playing accordion and guitar. Later added Ken Loftis on drums and named the combo The Starlites.

1964 The Starlites played weddings, parties, school dances, and private clubs in the Philadelphia, and Jersey Shore area.

1965 The band progressed from dance music to R&R cover songs while developing strong vocal harmonies.

1966 Met with Ron Krause who was a talented poet and songwriter. We began to arrange two of his songs and was then introduced to a producer, Richie Moore, of The Richie Moore Trio in Philadelphia. The band name was changed to The Buccaneers. The spelling had to be altered for copyright reasons.

We scheduled a recording session, we actually recorded four or five originals, but left all but the two released in the can for use on a future album (never finished). The Bucaneers were unsigned. The record was independently produced in cooperation with Reach Productions. I doubt if the master tracks we did are still around. The studio was also independent.

The band was picked up by all the local radio and appeared on many televised teen dance shows in Philadelphia. We became a regular with Hy Lit, Joe Niagra, Jerry Blavatt, Super Lou and many others. After a long tour throughout Pennsylvania, Hy Lit arranged for us to appear with the ” Dave Clark 5 ” as the opening band playing at the Camden County Music Fair.

The Sidekicks toured with us in ’66 all through PA. What a great 60’s band. “Suspicions” was going up the charts along with The Bucaneers “I’m a Fool”. We admired The Sidekicks from the first time we heard them. They were one of the few bands of the era that had really great vocals. We would sit as close as possible when they played and to our surprise, they all were right up front when we took the stage. They especially liked our Stones,Yardbirds and Doors covers, and our single, “I’m A Fool”. We actually played all together for a rockin jam toward the end of the tour.

I recall late one night, after the show, somewhere out in the woods in Pennsylvania, The Bucaneers, with equipment trailer, were the lead vehicle in the entourage of several bands moving on to the next city. Everybody wanted to stop at the first place we could find to get something to eat. Somehow we were distanced way ahead of the rest. Our tour manager stopped at a late night diner. He parked the vehicle near the road so the rest would see that we had stopped there.

These were very different times when guys with long hair were not accepted everywhere, and this was one of those times. As the four of us walked into the establishment with our manager, and took up stools at the counter, we noticed about 6 or 7 tough looking dudes playing pinball in an another part of the diner. They were starting to trash talk while walking toward us. Just when we were thinking that there was going to be a fight, the door opened and The Sidekicks and three or four other long haired groups filled up the place. The look on the faces of those troublemakers was priceless as they slowly left the diner got in their cars and sped away like scared little girls. We all had a good laugh.

1967 Ron left the group to return to college. The band continued to expand their touring range to include Virginia. Just after performing a sold out concert in Petersburg, VA, Ken and Don were involved in a head on car crash, both hospitalized with serious injuries. George joined another working band. After some time the band briefly reformed with Ken Williams on keyboard, and Lou Ottavi on bass to fulfill contractual agreements in Virginia.

1992 The original Bucaneers played a reunion show in Washington Township, NJ.

Where are they now?

Don Bevers: Writing and producing a smooth jazz cd with “The Peter Bennett Band” for release in 2011. Plays bass on occasion with Kickin Again. Lives in Tampa Bay, Florida.

Ken Loftis: Performs with Something Beatles, a NJ based Beatles tribute band.

George Falcone: Writing New Age material for a soon to be released CD from his home studio in NJ.

Thank you for generating interest in the 60’s era bands. It was a great time for everyone.

I would like to say my prayers and deepest sympathy go out to the Krause family as we lost a truly great Bucaneer to cancer. Ron was easy going, and such a pleasure to work with. He always had a smile, and a wonderful, witty, and creative personality.

Don Bevers, January 2011