Founded by singer/guitarist Trent Yaconelli, guitarist Zach Hammer, bassist Zack Miller, drummer Jed Friesen, and percussionist Benjie Kushins, Five A.M. gained allies in other likeminded rockers like Dishwalla and Train when they started to play out live. Hooking up with producer Bruce Kaphan, the bandmembers began working on their debut album, but soon realized they did not have the money to complete the recording. Asking fans for help, they received over $20,000 to finish Degrees of Falling, their debut. After winning Miller Genuine Draft's North Bay Battle of the Bands, the group released the album and hit the road in the fall of 2002.

The following year saw the release of This Morphine Life, an album that was helped to fruition (in part) by the president of a recording college who happened to catch a campus webcast. In 2007 the band released the single "Still in Love with You," which was accompanied by a short film starring Ice-T, Edward Furlong, and Rumer Willis. With new bassist Jason McGrath, the group's third album, Raise the Sun, produced by Jeff Dawson (Daniel Powter) and mixed by Mike Fraser (Aerosmith, Hinder) arrived the following year. ~ Bradley Torreano