Originally formed simply by vocalist Lee Jackson, guitarist Larry Leishman, Dave McDevitt, Al Dorsey and Michael Fontara, Jon and Lee as well as the Checkmates formed afterwards from Jackson, Leishman, vocalist John Finley, drummer Jeff Cutler and bassist Peter Hodgson. The just popular single within their indigenous Canada was “TAKE IT Down Front side” in 1967. Leishman, Hodgson and Finley afterwards joined Rhinoceros.