With Bermuda's once-thriving entertainment industry in such a poor state today and so many of the former legendary talents either deceased or sidelined through lack of work, the importance of preserving their artistic gifts and their place in local musical history takes on added importance.

Which is why businessman and producer Eddie DeMello is on a mission to produce compact discs on his Edmar Records label that capture past performances by the cream of the local entertainment crop.

Out this week are two albums which, while different in style and content, will doubtless find their way into home collections in droves.

Certainly, they will tweak the hearts of nostalgia buffs and remind them of the glory days when these supremely talented entertainers captivated audiences wherever they appeared.

'We Three' is a 21-song compilation of songs performed by the late Hubert Smith, Sr. and his two sons, Hubert, Jr. and George. Backing includes the Esso Steel Band, the Coral Islanders and solo guitar.

Among the songs are such popular favourites as 'When a Child is Born', 'All my Trials', 'Today', 'Rum & Coca-Cola', 'Coconut Woman', 'Bless This Little Island', 'Autumn in Bermuda' and the classic 'Bermuda is Another World' in a version which includes the Mount St. Agnes Academy choir.

The accompaniment ranges from solo guitar to the Esso Steel Band and Hubert Smith, Sr.'s band, which included his sons, pianist Olive Bean, drummer Charlie Butterfield and bassist Albert (Foxy) Fox.

The sequence on the compact disc is well arranged, and the selection includes solos by the three singers, each of whom has a lovely voice in his own right.

The concept for the album arose out of Hubert Smith, Sr.'s passing when Mr. DeMello realised that, while some of the local legend's work was recorded on tape, there was nothing on compact disc.

He got together with son George Smith and together they discovered that not only was there a great deal of Hubert Smith's original material which had never been recorded in any form, but also little of what he and George, who was the lead singer in his father's band, had done together over a period of more than 30 years.

"It was only when you look into his records and find music, photographs and so forth, that you realise how important all of it is, and some was thrown away, including my favourite song that my dad sang alone with just a guitar: 'Country Boy'," he says.

Ironically, on 'We Three' it is sung by Hubert, Smith Jr.

The material for the new compact disc has been selected from previous recordings and through the wonders of technology the sound level is consistent throughout, even though the originals were made in different decades.

Pictures on the back and front of the album notes include the photograph used on the 1963 vinyl recording, also called 'We Three' but with different content, and a brief synopsis of the careers of Hubert, Sr. and his two sons.

Clearly pleased with the project, and Mr. DeMello's mission, Mr. Smith says: "I think it is long overdue when we had and have such great musicians and entertainers in Bermuda - people like the Four Deuces, the Talbot Brothers, the Esso Steel Band, Joe Hayward, Al Harris.

"Most of these people's music has been lost or forgotten, and I think it is very, very important that Eddie is keeping the memory of what we have all done alive." As a case in point, Mr. DeMello cites an experience in recent weeks where he received a call from a radio station in Las Vegas which offered him "all kinds of money" for some of the vinyl 45 rpms of Bermuda groups he had put out in the early '60s. Unfortunately, he now has no idea where they are.

The second album, 'Swing Softly', features pianist Joe Wylie, bassist Walter Russell and drummer Kenny Harris playing the music of American composer, Arthur Schwartz, who worked in Hollywood and whose music was used in, among others, the Fred Astaire film.

The material on this album is silky smooth jazz, and makes for beautiful, easy listening. Although the pieces were originally recorded 30 years ago, the sound on the album is technologically up to date.

Mr. DeMello explains that his motivation for producing this compact disc was similar to the Smith album, but he also wanted to added jazz to the repertoire of albums he has recorded on his Edmar Records label.

"I have recorded everything from gospel to calypso, but I didn't have a jazz or easy listening album out so I decided I would do this one," he says. "Wally Russell now lives in Scotland, but Joe and Kenny are still going strong. They worked at the Princess and we worked alongside them."

There is also more good news for fans of Bermuda music and artists. Mr. DeMello is currently producing more albums in a similar vein, including one featuring the material of popular calypsonian Stan Seymour.

'We Three' and 'Swing Softly' are currently available at The Music Box, and will be distributed to all other music outlets in due course. The Music Box price is $19.50 for each.