Five Americans
| Five Americans | |
|---|---|
|
Five Americans in 1967 | |
| Background information | |
| Also known as | The Mutineers |
| Origin | Durant, Oklahoma, United States |
| Genres | Rock • pop rock • garage rock |
| Years active | 1965–1969 |
| Past members |
|
Five Americans was a 1960s American rock band, most famous for the song, "Western Union",[1] which reached number five in the U.S. Billboard chart and was their only single to chart in the Top 20.
Career
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" were released, they toured. However, their manager, Jon Abdnor Sr., 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 receiving the sales and publishing royalties.
"Western Union"
In a March 1967 interview that appeared in Michael Oberman's "Top Tunes" column in the Evening Star newspaper (Washington, D.C.), Norman Ezell, guitarist for the group, explained how they came up with "Western Union Man". "Mike Rabon, our lead guitar player, was just fooling around with his guitar when he came up with a unique sound," Norman said. It sort of reminded us of a telegraph key. "That's when we decided to write 'Western Union Man.'"[2]
Break-up
The Five Americans broke up in 1969 and went their separate ways after their single "7:30 Guided Tour" only reached No. 96 on the Billboard 200.[3]
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 No. 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 from a heart attack on November 29, 2004.[4]
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.[5]
Drummer Jimmy Wright left the music industry to become a freelance photographer. He died at Texoma Medical Center on January 30, 2012.
Personnel
- Mike Rabon
- John Durrill
- Norm Ezell
- Jim Grant
- Jimmy Wright
Discography
Albums
- I See The Light (BB No. 136) – HBR HLP-8503 (mono) / HST-9503 (stereo) (1966)
- Western Union (BB No. 121, CB No. 66) – Abnak ABLP-1967 (mono) / ABST-2067 (stereo) (1967)
- Progressions – Abnak ABLP (mono) / ABST-2069 (stereo) (1967)
- Now and Then – Abnak ABST-2071 (1968)
Singles
| Year | Single | Chart positions | Label | Album | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| US | US CB |
AU | ||||
| 1965 | "Show Me" b/w "Love, Love Love" |
– | – | – | ABC-Paramount 10686 | Non-LP tracks |
| "Say That You Love Me" b/w "Without You" |
- | - | - | Abnak 106 | ||
| "I See The Light" b/w "The Outcast" |
- | - | - | Abnak 109 | I See The Light | |
| 1966 | "I See The Light" b/w "The Outcast"(re-release) |
26 | 41 | - | HBR 454 | |
| "Evol-Not Love" b/w "Don't You Dare Blame Me" (from I See The Light) |
52 | 68 | - | HBR 468 | Progressions | |
| "Good Times" b/w "The Losing Game" (from I See The Light) |
- | - | - | HBR 483 | Non-LP tracks | |
| "It's You Girl" b/w "I'm Gonna Leave Ya" |
- | - | - | Jetstar 104 | ||
| "I'm Feeling OK" b/w "Slippin' and Slidin'" |
- | - | - | Jetstar 105 | ||
| "Reality" b/w "Sympathy" |
- | - | - | Abnak 114 | Western Union | |
| "If I Could" b/w "Now That It's Over" |
- | - | - | Abnak 116 | ||
| 1967 | "Western Union" b/w "Now That It's Over" |
5 | 7 | 35 | Abnak 118 | |
| "Sound of Love" b/w "Sympathy" |
36 | 31 | - | Abnak 120 | ||
| "Zip Code" b/w "Sweet Bird of Youth" |
36 | 55 | 89 | Abnak 123 | Progressions | |
| "Stop Light" b/w "Tell Ann I Love Her" (from Western Union) |
132 | - | - | Abnak 125 | ||
| 1968 | "7:30 Guided Tour" b/w "See Saw Man" (from Western Union) |
96 | - | - | Abnak 126 | Now and Then |
| "No Communication" b/w "The Rain Maker" (from Progressions) |
- | - | - | Abnak 128 | Non-LP tracks | |
| "Lovin' Is Livin'" b/w "Con Man" (from Progressions) |
- | - | - | Abnak 131 | ||
| "Generation Gap" b/w "The Source" (Non-LP track) |
- | - | - | Abnak 132 | Now and Then | |
| 1969 | "Virginia Girl" b/w "Call On Me" (Non-LP track) |
133 | - | - | Abnak 134 | |
| "Ignert Woman" b/w "Scrooge" |
- | - | - | Abnak 137 | ||
| "I See The Light '69" b/w "Red Cape" |
- | - | - | Abnak 139 | ||
| "She's Too Good To Me" b/w "Molly Black" |
– | – | – | Abnak 142 | ||
References
- ↑ Jim Dawson, Steve Propes (2003). 45 RPM: The History, Heroes & Villains of a Pop Music Revolution. ISBN 0-87930-757-9.
- ↑ Pore-Lee-Dunn Productions. "Five Americans". Classicbands.com. Retrieved 16 February 2015.
- ↑ "Brief History". thefiveamericans.com.
- ↑ "The Dead Rock Stars Club : July To December 2004". Thedeadrockstarsclub.com. Retrieved 16 February 2015.
- ↑ "The Dead Rock Stars Club : January to June 2010". Thedeadrockstarsclub.com. Retrieved 16 February 2015.