Staccatos

Websites:  https://www.fivemanelectricalband.ca/, https://citizenfreak.com/artists/95112-five-man-electrical-band
Origin: Ottawa, Ontario, 🇨🇦
Biography:

The Staccatos formed in Ottawa, Ontario in 1963 around vocalist and local disc jockey Dean Hagopian, guitarist Vern Craig, bassist Brian Rading, and drummer/vocalist Rick Bell (Rick Belanger). The band first appeared on record with an early single on Allied Records, establishing themselves within Ottawa’s developing mid-1960s beat and pop-rock scene.

Hagopian left the group in 1964. Les Emmerson joined on vocals and guitar and quickly became the band’s principal songwriter, often collaborating with Vern Craig. This partnership gave the Staccatos a strong original identity at a time when many Canadian bands still relied heavily on covers.

Their profile expanded in 1965 when A&R manager Paul White brought “Small Town Girl” to Capitol Records (Canada). The single charted nationally and moved the band beyond a purely regional act. With financial backing from journalist Sandy Gardiner, the group followed with “Move(d) to California,” further strengthening their radio presence.

Capitol issued the band’s debut LP, Initially, in 1966. The album highlighted a body of Emmerson/Craig originals alongside select covers, reflecting the band’s blend of jangly guitar pop, tight harmony vocals, and energetic rhythm work. Around this period, Rick Bell’s brother Mike Bell joined as a second drummer and vocalist, giving the group an unusual two-drummer lineup.

In 1967 the single “Half Past Midnight,” written by Les Emmerson, became one of the Staccatos’ most successful national records. During this period the band began playing regularly in Toronto’s Yorkville Village while maintaining a steady schedule across Ontario and Quebec.

Around the same time, the Staccatos recorded a series of Coca-Cola radio jingles, which led to a corporate-sponsored collaboration. This resulted in the split LP A Wild Pair, recorded at Hallmark Studios and released on Jack Richardson’s Nimbus Records, pairing the Staccatos with The Guess Who. The album sold well in Canada and prompted Capitol in the United States to issue “Half Past Midnight,” though the group did not achieve sustained U.S. success.

In late 1968 keyboardist Ted Gerow joined the band. Shortly afterward, Vern Craig departed. By this point, the Staccatos had placed multiple singles on Canadian charts over several years, making them one of Ottawa’s most consistently successful mid-1960s rock acts.

Following Craig’s departure, the group adopted a new name drawn from an Emmerson song title: Five Man Electrical Band.

FIVE MAN ELECTRICAL BAND (1969–1973)
Under the new name, the band released the self-titled LP Five Man Electrical Band in 1969, which included the single “It Never Rains on Maple Lane.”

After waiting out their Capitol contract, the group briefly signed with MGM Records without notable commercial impact. They then moved to Lion Records, owned by songwriter Jimmy Webb and produced by Dallas Smith.

In 1971 they released Good-Byes & Butterflies, originally issued with controversial cover art that was later altered. The album produced the international hit “Signs,” which reached No. 3 in the United States and No. 4 in Canada, selling more than two million copies worldwide. The follow-up single “Absolutely Right” reached No. 3 in Canada and entered the U.S. Top 20.

The band went on to release Coming of Age (1972) and Sweet Paradise (1973) before tiring of the commercial cycle of touring and recording. Members subsequently pursued separate musical paths.

Aftermath and legacy
Les Emmerson later led the Emmerson Electrical Band, formed Blue Blood, and in the 1990s recorded as part of the trio Cooper, King & Emmerson.

In 1986, Five Man Electrical Band reunited for a benefit concert, which evolved into occasional Eastern Canadian performances in later years.

The song “Signs” regained international visibility in 1990 through a cover by Tesla, ensuring the band’s continued recognition beyond Canada.
-Robert Williston