AccuRadio Song Of The Day-The Five Americans

Artist:The Five Americans

Song:Western Union

Album:Their Greatest Hits

The 1967 single Western Union was a top ten hit and the biggest hit for The Five Americans. Some of their other songs charted. But most listeners will only remember Western Union. The members of The Five Americans were from Dallas. They were called The Mutineers when they formed in 1962 at  Southeastern State College in Durant, OK. The band members were Mike Rabon on lead vocals and lead guitar, John Durrill on rhythm guitar, Norman Ezell on keyboards, Jim Grant on bass and Jimmy Wright on drums. They started out as a cover band and they released a 1963 single that was popular at school. The key acquisition was when Ezell got a Vox Continental electronic organ which gave them a unique sound. They got the attention of Abnak Records owner John Abdnor Sr. he signed them and changed the band name to The Five Americans. Abdnor was a Fort Worth insurance man who started Abnak for his son's musical act Jon & Robin. They were distributed by Hanna-Barbera who were in the record business at the time. The Five Americans were Abnak's only successful act. A couple of The Five Americans' songs charted. But Western Union was the biggest hit. It reached #5 on the Billboard Hot 100. The album Western Union was produced by swamp rocker Dale Hawkins. Rabon, Durrill and Ezell usually wrote songs together. According to Ezell, Rabon was messing around with his guitar when he came up with the unique sound effect featured on Western Union. They wrote the song around that. The Five Americans stalled after that plus Abdnor had control of the band's finances and got a little greedy. This budget comp has all their hits. The Five Americans split up Rabon continued to use The Five Americans name on the 1969 album Now and Then. The rest of the band was all new members. He continued to tour until he returned to school and earned a degree in public school administration. Then he worked in the Oklahoma school system for 28 years. He died in 2022. Durrill is the only surviving member. Grant died in 2004. Ezell died in 2010. Wright died in 2014. Here's The Five Americans performing Western Union on The Steve Allen Show 1968.