The Cambridge Five were a South Bend garage band in the 1960’s, having formed after The Tradewinds, also of South Bend, changed their name to avoid confusion with similarly named bands.  The Cambridge Five released two 45’s on the USA label from Chicago. Their sound is characterized by strong vocals and the presence of saxophone and trumpet, somewhat atypical, but overall not unlike their more famous labelmates, The Buckinghams.  One of the 45 cuts, “Floatin” was a remake of one side of the Tradewinds’ Destination Records 45.

According to Rick Morgan, the band was approached by Tom Jackson, who was interested in joining the band in the early days.  It didn’t happen; not long afterwards, Tom Jackson renamed himself Tommy James and launched his band, Tommy James and the Shondells, just across the border in Niles, Michigan.

Guitarist Mike Horton also played in the Princeton Five, returning to the Cambridge Five after members of the Princeton Five were drafted into the military.

The group lasted into the early 1970’s with several personal shuffles, calling it quits after extensive touring in the Midwest.  The late version shortened its name to Cambridge as they ended up with more than five members.