Ron Schmidt (vocals)
Jim Grabowski (keyboards)
Melvyn C. Ksionzek (lead guitar/bass; switched to bass after Gwizdak left band)
Barry Zabiak (drums)
Richard Gwizdak (bass)
Doug Love (lead guitar)
Craig Hamblin (drums; replaced Zabiak)
Kurt Winter (guitar)
Ralph Watts (guitar; replaced Winter)
Ron Rene (vocals; replaced Schmidt)
Vance Master (drums; replaced Hamblin)
George Belanger (vocals; replaced Rene)
Brian Sellar (bass; replaced Ksionzek)
Al Johnson (drums; replaced Master)
The Fifth formed in Gimli, Manitoba. The band moved to Winnipeg and eventually signed with London Records. Their first single, "Yesterday's Today" became a regional hit and received the Lloyd C. Moffat Award for Best Canadian Produced Rock Recording in 1968 and managed to place #93 on the charts.
At the time of the award the band was flying high on their second legitimate hit "Tears" which placed even higher at #64 on the charts.
Rene had played with The Quid; Winter had been in Gettysburg Address; Master had played in 5 A.M. Event who tried unsuccessfully to conquer the UK with a failed single on Pye before returning to Winnipeg; Belanger was recruited from Chopping Block.
After the band split up Belanger, Grabowski, Watts, Johnson and Sellar formed Next... (and later added Ksionzek on bass); Winter joined The Guess Who as did Master, though, in a later Jim Kale incarnation; Belanger later joined Harlequin; Rene joined Minneapolis band The Litter; Watts has since passed away.
with notes from Vic Giggani, Colvin Don, Doug Donahue and Rick Smith.
Singles
1967 Yesterday's Today/Something You've Got (London) M-17355
1967 Tears/Wild Things (London) M-17358
1967 Caprice/All I Want Is Love (London) M-17362
1968 Sunshine People/Don't Worry About Me Baby (London) M-17366
1970 Tobacco Road/You Don't Seem To Care (Franklin) 635
1970 Gotta Get Up/Really Doesn't Matter (Franklin) 637
Albums
Video
Compilation Tracks
2009 "Yesterday's Today", "Sunshine People", "All I Want Is Love", "Caprice", and "Tears" on 'Buried Treasures: Winnipeg Rock Gems 1958-1974' (Super Oldies) SOCD-9
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