{{Short description|American rock band}} {{Use mdy dates|date=April 2025}} {{Infobox musical artist | name = Five Americans | image = Five Americans.png | landscape = <!-- yes, if wide image, otherwise leave blank --> | alt = | caption = The Five Americans in 1967 | background = group_or_band | alias = The Mutineers | origin = Durant, Oklahoma, U.S. | genre = {{hlist|Rock|pop rock|garage rock}} | years_active = {{start date|1965}}–{{end date|1969}} | label = | website = <!-- {{URL|example.com}} --> | current_members = | past_members = * Mike Rabon * John Durrill * Norman Ezell * Jim Grant * Jimmy Wright }} The '''Five Americans''' was a 1960s American rock band, best known for their song "Western Union",<ref>{{cite book|title=45 RPM: The History, Heroes & Villains of a Pop Music Revolution |first1= Jim |last1=Dawson |first2=Steve |last2=Propes |author2-link=Steve Propes |year= 2003 |publisher=Hal Leonard |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=FUpK9VqOrU0C&q=%22Five+Americans%22+%22Western+Union%22&pg=PA114|isbn=0-87930-757-9 }}</ref> which reached number five in the U.S. ''Billboard'' chart and was their only single to chart in the Top 20. In Canada, they had three in the Top 20.
==Career== The Mutineers formed in Durant, Oklahoma, Southeastern State College in 1962.<ref name="LarkinGE">{{cite book|title=The Guinness Encyclopedia of Popular Music |editor-first=Colin |editor-last=Larkin |editor-link=Colin Larkin |publisher=Guinness Publishing|date=1992|edition=First|isbn=0-85112-939-0|page=869}}</ref> 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.<ref name="LarkinGE"/><ref name=James>{{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}}</ref> However, their most impactful acquisition was their utilization of the Vox Continental electronic organ, a later highlight of the group's sound.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.allmusic.com/artist/the-five-americans-mn0000051063#biography |title=The Five Americans Biography |website=AllMusic |first=Richie |last=Unterberger |access-date=November 1, 2025}}</ref> 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.<ref name="LarkinGE"/> Shortly thereafter, the band identified themselves as the Five Americans.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.classicbands.com/fiveamericans.html|title=Five Americans|website=Classicbands.com|accessdate=May 18, 2015}}</ref>
For a short while after their five top singles "I See The Light", "Western Union", "Sound of Love", "Evol - Not Love",<ref>Ironically, the Five Americans' first four hit singles all charted higher in Canada than they did in the US.</ref> 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}}
==="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". "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.{{'"}}<ref>{{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}}</ref>{{Failed verification|date=November 2025}}
==Break-up and the deaths of band members== The Five Americans broke up in 1969, after several singles only scraped the ''Billboard'' Hot 100 ("7:30 Guided Tour" stalled at No. 96) or missed the chart entirely ("Virginia Girl" managed to "bubble under" at No. 133, while a new version of an earlier hit, entitled "I See The Light '69", couldn't even manage that).<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.thefiveamericans.com/History.html|title=Brief History|website=Thefiveamericans.com}}</ref>
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 No. 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.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.praterlampton.com/obituary/Michael-Rabon | title=Obituary for Michael Lee Rabon | Prater-Lampton-Mills & Coffey }}</ref>
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,<ref name=Heckmann>{{cite web|url=https://memoriesofdallas.org/mikerabon/|website=MemoriesofDallas.org|title=Music: Mike Rabon, The Five Americans |last=Heckmann |first=Paul |access-date=2 May 2020}}</ref> 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.<ref name=Heckmann /><ref>{{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}}</ref>
Norman Ezell (guitar and harmonica) became a teacher and minister in Northern California.<ref name=Heckmann /> He died of cancer on May 8, 2010, at the age of 68.<ref>{{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}}</ref>
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.
==Discography== ===Albums=== {| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;" |+ List of studio albums, showing all relevant details ! rowspan="2" scope="col" style="width:15em;" | Title ! rowspan="2" scope="col" style="width:15em;" | Album details ! colspan="4" |Peak chart positions |- ! scope="col" style="width:2em;font-size:90%;" | US<br /><ref name="Whitburn">{{cite book | last = Whitburn | first = Joel | title = Top LPs, 1955–1972 | year = 1973 | publisher = Record Research | page = 52 | url = https://archive.org/details/joelwhitburnstoplp00whit/page/52/mode/2up | access-date = April 30, 2026}}</ref> ! scope="col" style="width:2em;font-size:90%;" | US CB<br /><ref name="Cashbox">{{cite book |last=Hoffmann |first=Frank W. |title=The Cash Box Album Charts, 1955–1974 |publisher=Scarecrow Press |year=1975 |page=122 |url=https://archive.org/details/cashboxalbumchar0000hoff/page/122/mode/2up |access-date= April 30, 2026}}</ref> |- ! scope="row" |''I See the Light'' | * Released: 1966 * Label: HBR Records * Catalogue: HLP-8503 (mono)/HST-9503 (stereo) * Formats: LP | 136 | — |- ! scope="row" |''Western Union'' | * Released: 1967 * Label: Abnak Records * Catalogue: ABLP-1967 (mono)/ABST-2067 * Formats: LP | 121 | 66 |- ! scope="row" |''Progressions'' | * Released: 1967 * Label: Abnak Records * Catalogue: Abnak ABLP (mono)/ABST-2069 (stereo) * Formats: LP | — | — |- ! scope="row" |''Now and Then''<ref name="LarkinGE"/> | * Released: 1968 * Label: Abnak Records * Catalogue: ABST-2071 * Formats: LP | — | — |- |}
===Singles=== {| class="wikitable" ! rowspan="2"| Year ! rowspan="2"| Single ! colspan="4"| Chart positions ! rowspan="2"| Label ! rowspan="2"|Album |-style="font-size:smaller;" ! style="width:4em;"|US<br/>Hot 100<br/><ref>{{cite magazine|url=http://www.billboard.com/artist/406718/five-americans/chart|title=Five Americans Chart History - ''Billboard''|magazine=Billboard |accessdate=January 29, 2017}}</ref> ! style="width:4em;"|US <br />Cashbox<br /><ref name=":02222">{{Cite book |last=Downey |first=Pat |url=https://archive.org/details/cashboxpopsingle00down/page/120/mode/2up |title=Cash box pop singles charts, 1950-1993 |date=1994 |publisher=Libraries Unlimited |isbn=1-56308-316-7 |location=Englewood, Colo. |page=120|access-date=April 30, 2026}}</ref> ! style="width:4em;"|CAN <br />RPM ! style="width:4em;"|AUS |- |rowspan="3"|1965 |"Show Me"<br /><small>b/w "Love, Love Love"</small> |align="center"|– |align="center"|– |align="center"|– |align="center"|– |ABC-Paramount 10686 |rowspan="2"|Non-LP tracks |- |"Say That You Love Me"<br /><small>b/w "Without You"</small> |align="center"|– |align="center"|– |align="center"|– |align="center"|– |Abnak 106 |- |"I See the Light"<br /><small>b/w "The Outcast"</small> |align="center"|– |align="center"|– |align="center"|– |align="center"|– |Abnak 109 |rowspan="2"|''I See the Light'' |- |rowspan="7"|1966 |"I See the Light"<br /><small>b/w "The Outcast" (re-release)</small> |align="center"|26 |align="center"|41 |align="center"|18 |align="center"|– |HBR 454 |- |"Evol-Not Love"<br /><small>b/w "Don't You Dare Blame Me" (from ''I See The Light'')</small> |align="center"|52 |align="center"|68 |align="center"|41 |align="center"|– |HBR 468 |rowspan="1"|''Progressions'' |- |"Good Times"<br /><small>b/w "The Losing Game" (from ''I See The Light'')</small> |align="center"|– |align="center"|– |align="center"|– |align="center"|– |HBR 483 |rowspan="3"|Non-LP tracks |- |"It's You Girl"<br /><small>b/w "I'm Gonna Leave Ya"</small> |align="center"|– |align="center"|– |align="center"|– |align="center"|– |Jetstar 104 |- |"I'm Feeling OK"<br /><small>b/w "Slippin' and Slidin{{'"}}</small> |align="center"|– |align="center"|– |align="center"|– |align="center"|– |Jetstar 105 |- |"Reality"<br /><small>b/w "Sympathy"</small> |align="center"|– |align="center"|– |align="center"|– |align="center"|– |Abnak 114 |rowspan="4"|''Western Union'' |- |"If I Could"<br /><small>b/w "Now That It's Over"</small> |align="center"|– |align="center"|– |align="center"|– |align="center"|– |Abnak 116 |- |rowspan="4"|1967 |"Western Union"<br /><small>b/w "Now That It's Over"</small> |align="center"|5 |align="center"|7 |align="center"|3 |align="center"|35 |Abnak 118 |- |"Sound of Love"<br /><small>b/w "Sympathy"</small> |align="center"|36 |align="center"|31 |align="center"|20 |align="center"|– |Abnak 120 |- |"Zip Code"<br /><small>b/w "Sweet Bird of Youth"</small> |align="center"|36 |align="center"|55 |align="center"|50 |align="center"|89 |Abnak 123 |rowspan="2"|''Progressions'' |- |"Stop Light"<br /><small>b/w "Tell Ann I Love Her" (from ''Western Union'')</small> |align="center"|132 |align="center"|– |align="center"|– |align="center"|– |Abnak 125 |- |rowspan="4"|1968 |"7:30 Guided Tour"<br /><small>b/w "See Saw Man" (from ''Western Union'')</small> |align="center"|96 |align="center"|– |align="center"|– |align="center"|– |Abnak 126 |rowspan="1"|''Now and Then'' |- |"No Communication"<br /><small>b/w "The Rain Maker" (from ''Progressions'')</small> |align="center"|– |align="center"|– |align="center"|– |align="center"|– |Abnak 128 |rowspan="2"|Non-LP tracks |- |"Lovin' Is Livin{{'"}}<br /><small>b/w "Con Man" (from ''Progressions'')</small> |align="center"|– |align="center"|– |align="center"|– |align="center"|– |Abnak 131 |- |"Generation Gap"<br /><small>b/w "The Source" (Non-LP track)</small> |align="center"|– |align="center"|– |align="center"|– |align="center"|– |Abnak 132 |rowspan="5"|''Now and Then'' |- |rowspan="4"|1969 |"Virginia Girl"<br /><small>b/w "Call On Me" (Non-LP track)</small> |align="center"|133 |align="center"|– |align="center"|– |align="center"|– |Abnak 134 |- |"Ignert Woman"<br /><small>b/w "Scrooge"</small> |align="center"|– |align="center"|– |align="center"|– |align="center"|– |Abnak 137 |- |"I See the Light '69"<br /><small>b/w "Red Cape"</small> |align="center"|– |align="center"|– |align="center"|– |align="center"|– |Abnak 139 |- |"She's Too Good to Me"<br /><small>b/w "Molly Black"</small> |align="center"|– |align="center"|– |align="center"|– |align="center"|– |Abnak 142 |}
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== * {{discogs artist|The Five Americans}} * {{IMDb name|1744465}}
{{Authority control}}
Category:American organizations established in 1965 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