Five Americans was a 1960s American band, most famous for the song "Western Union",[1] which reached #5 in the U.S. Billboard chart and was their only single to chart in the Top 20. In Casey Kasem's "Book of Records" category of most repetitive word or phrase in a Hot 100 top 10 hit, "Western Union" holds the record (in this case, the two 40-fold and one 50-plus-fold repetition of the imitative word "dit").
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The Five Americans, previously known as The Mutineers, were from Durant, Oklahoma (Southeastern State College). For a short while after their hits "I See The Light", "Western Union", "Sound of Love", "Evol Not Love" and "Zipcode", they toured. However, their manager, Jon Abdnor Senior, president and owner of Abnak Records and Bankers Management and Services Insurance Co., was allowed control of their finances. After Abdnor's death in 1996, all rights to their songs should have reverted to the original group, but Sundazed Records bought the original tapes. The Five Americans had at least five singles in, or close to, the Top 40 and are now receiving the sales and publishing royalties.
The Five Americans broke up in 1969 and went their separate ways. Mike Rabon had a successful touring career afterwards, released two albums that sold well, and played guitar for the Tyler, Texas, pop group, Gladstone, whose "A Piece of Paper" reached #45 in October 1972. He later returned to college, acquiring a master's degree in public school administration, and has been in the Oklahoma school systems for 28 years. John Durrill, the keyboardist, wrote "Dark Lady" for Cher and "Misery and Gin" for Merle Haggard, and was also a member of the touring band The Ventures. He now lives in Los Angeles. Bassist Jim Grant died on November 29, 2004. Norman Ezell (guitar and harmonica), who became a teacher and minister in Northern California, died of cancer on May 8, 2010 at the age of 68.[2] Jimmy Wright (drummer) is living in Texas and is a freelance videographer.
As of July 2008, there was an online petition to induct the Five Americans into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. The petition amassed over 400 signatures.[3]