History records We Five as the first major rock group to emerge from the Bay Area 1960s folk–rock revolution and laid the template for the San Francisco sound of subsequent artists such as Jefferson Airplane with their million-selling hit “You Were on My Mind” in the summer of 1965.

Yet, even as their first hit went toe-to-toe with the first wave of Los Angeles’ folk–rock pioneers, the Grammy-nominated We Five’s road to legend actually began here in the foothills where they were the first to bridge the gap between the joyous good-time folk scene of the late ’50s with the literate socially-conscious folk-rock revolution of the 1960s.

Musical journey And now We Five founding singer/multi-instrumentalist Jerry Burgan will finally reveal the whole story of the musical journey that began in a church choir and now connects up a family tree of foothills community artists such as John Stewart and Terry Kirkman.

His memoir “Wounds to Bind,” co-authored by Alan Rifkin, hit bookstalls this month.

Burgan met future We Five co-founder Michael “Mike” Stewart at Saint Joseph’s School in Pomona, where they sang in the church’s boys’ choir. Yet, it wasn’t until Stewart’s older brother John – who became a major singer/songwriter with The Kingston Trio and then as a solo artist – gave Stewart a banjo.

Stewart began looking for guitar players to form a group and was told “I’ve seen (a guitar) at Jerry Burgan’s house.”

“Michael showed up at my house with a banjo,” Burgan said. “We played for five hours.”

When older brother John heard the burgeoning duo, “he mentored us.”

Over time, the band evolved into The Ridgerunners and performed regularly at Upland’s legendary The Meeting Place until The Association founder Terry Kirkman (who composed the classic “Cherish”) introduced Stewart and Burgan to singer Beverly Bivens in Chino.

“She sang and it clicked instantly.” for years from judging in competitions,” said Geiger. “It is excellent - light and dry with a crisp finish.

At Sycamore Inn, the SB is $10 by the glass and $29 per bottle. At the Cask, it is $7.95 a glass and $24 bottle. It is half price by the glass during happy hour at both restaurants. Bottle price at South Coast Winery is $14. Visit www.wineresort.com/winery.

The Sycamore Inn presents special tasting events at 6 p.m. on the third Thursday of the month.

“On Thursday, May 15, we will be featuring South Coast wines including the 2013 SB, plus other selections from other wineries. The cost is $15 per adult with light hors d’oeuvres included,” I’ll see you at the Sycamore. For more information, visit www.thesy camoreinn.com.

Gino L. Filippi is a fourth-generation Cucamonga Valley vintner.

He can be reached at Ginoffvine@aol.com