originally [http://beta.musicbrainz.org/artist/8279e65a-bcdb-4796-82dd-ddfe577ccc04|Emile Ford] (aka Emile Sweetnam) with his half-brothers Dave Sweetnam (sax) and George Sweetnam (bass, vocals), and Barry Reeves (drums), then collectively known as [http://beta.musicbrainz.org/artist/3bc16b49-843e-4018-93a5-f78bb13d9876|Emile Ford & The Checkmates]. sometime in 1966, [http://beta.musicbrainz.org/artist/3c068062-aa3c-4857-80f8-d781e031255d|Michael Snow] (aka Mike Liston, aka Mike Snow) had left his previous group [http://beta.musicbrainz.org/artist/958606c3-158f-4334-bd4c-6394c887c112|West Five] and joined the group, and in spring 1967, Diane Ferraz became its latest member, and the group became known as [http://beta.musicbrainz.org/artist/49db523c-32a5-4a0c-ac40-d5b362076d66|The Ferris Wheel], deriving its name from Diane's last name (apparently, Emile was no longer with the group by then). in later years, further lineup changes took place.