Five Americans

The Mutineers formed in Durant, Oklahoma (Southeastern State College) in 1962.{{cite book|title=The Guinness Encyclopedia of Popular Music|editor=Colin Larkin|publisher=Guinness Publishing|date=1992|edition=First|isbn=0-85112-939-0|page=869}} The band members crossed paths at the university, and began performing a repertoire of Bo Diddley and Duane Eddy standards within the campus. In 1963, the band recorded their debut single, "Jackin' Around", in Dallas, Texas, an instrumental which received extensive airplay in their college. The British Invasion influenced The Mutineers to include Beatles numbers to their repertoire, a change in outfitting, and a slight emphasis to vocals.{{cite web|url=http://www.classicbands.com/FiveAmericansInterview.html|title=Gary James' Interview With Mike Rabon Of Five Americans|author=James, Gary|website=ClassicBands.com|access-date=16 August 2022}} However, their most impactful acquisition was their utilization of the Vox Continental electronic organ, a later highlight of the group's sound.{{cite web|url=http://www.allmusic.com/artist/the-five-americans-mn0000051063|title=The Five Americans - Biography|website=AllMusic|author=Bruce Eder|access-date=May 18, 2015}} While in Dallas, the band achieved prominence playing as a frequent attraction in a venue called The Pirate's Nook. There they came to the attention of Abnak Records, whose president John Abdnor took the group under his wing. Shortly thereafter, the band identified themselves as the Five Americans.{{cite web|url=http://www.classicbands.com/fiveamericans.html|title=Five Americans|website=Classicbands.com|accessdate=May 18, 2015}}

For a short while after their five top singles "I See The Light", "Western Union", "Sound of Love", "Evol - Not Love",Ironically, the Five Americans' first four hit singles all charted higher in Canada than they did in the US. and "Zip Code" were released, they toured. However, their manager, Jon Abdnor Sr., owner/president 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 group, but Sundazed Music bought the original tapes. The Five Americans are now receiving their share of the sales and publishing royalties.{{Citation needed|date=August 2009}}

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." "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.{{'"}}{{cite web|url=http://www.classicbands.com/fiveamericans.html|title=Five Americans|author=Pore-Lee-Dunn Productions|website=Classicbands.com|access-date=16 February 2015}}

The Five Americans broke up in 1969, after several singles only scraped the Billboard Hot 100 ("7:30 Guided Tour" stalled at #96) or missed the chart entirely ("Virginia Girl" managed to "bubble under" at #133, while a new version of an earlier hit, entitled "I See The Light '69", couldn't even manage that).{{cite web |url=http://www.thefiveamericans.com/History.html|title=Brief History|website=Thefiveamericans.com}}

Mike Rabon had a successful touring career afterwards, released two albums that sold well{{Clarify|reason=vague|date=July 2014}} and played guitar for the Tyler, Texas, pop group Gladstone, whose "A Piece of Paper" reached number 45 in October 1972. He later returned to college, acquired a master's degree in public school administration, and worked in the Oklahoma school systems for 28 years. Rabon married Cara Beth Whitworth in 1979. He died on February 11, 2022, at the age of 78.{{cite web | url=https://www.praterlampton.com/obituary/Michael-Rabon | title=Obituary for Michael Lee Rabon | Prater-Lampton-Mills & Coffey }}

John Durrill, the keyboardist, who wrote "Dark Lady" for Cher and "Misery and Gin" for Merle Haggard and was also a member of the band The Ventures,{{cite web|url=https://memoriesofdallas.org/mikerabon/|website=MemoriesofDallas.org|title=Music : MIKE RABON, THE FIVE AMERICANS|author=Heckmann, Paul|access-date=2 May 2020}} now lives in Los Angeles; as of 2024, he is the group's only surviving member.

Bassist Jim Grant died from a heart attack on November 29, 2004, at the age of 61.{{cite web|url=http://thedeadrockstarsclub.com/2004b.html|title=The Dead Rock Stars Club : July To December 2004|website=Thedeadrockstarsclub.com|access-date=16 February 2015}}

Norman Ezell (guitar and harmonica) became a teacher and minister in Northern California. He died of cancer on May 8, 2010, at the age of 68.{{cite web|url=http://www.thedeadrockstarsclub.com/2010.html|title=The Dead Rock Stars Club : January to June 2010|website=Thedeadrockstarsclub.com|accessdate=16 February 2015}}

Drummer Jimmy Wright (born James Thomas Wright on December 2, 1947) left the music industry to become a freelance photographer. He died at Texoma Medical Center on January 30, 2012, at the age of 64.

• 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)

{{Reflist}}

• [http://classicbands.com/fiveamericans.html Five Americans at ClassicBands.com]
• {{AllMusic|class=artist|id=p4258|label=Five Americans}}
• {{discogs artist|The Five Americans}}
• {{IMDb name|1744465}}

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Category:1965 establishments in the United States

Category:1969 disestablishments in the United States

Category:Rock music groups from Texas

Category:American garage rock groups

Category:Musical groups established in 1965

Category:Musical groups disestablished in 1969