LaMonte McLemore, a beloved singer and one of the founding members of the iconic group The 5th Dimension, passed away on Tuesday at the age of 90.
His representative, Jeremy Westby, confirmed that McLemore died peacefully at his Las Vegas home due to natural causes following a stroke, according to the Associated Press.
The band, which blended pop and soul, had notable hits such as Up, Up and Away in 1967; and Aquarius/Let the Sunshine In, in 1969.
The 5th Dimension rose to fame with hits like “Aquarius/Let the Sunshine In,” a song that held the top spot on the Billboard charts for six weeks. The track, which featured music from the Broadway musical Hair, became a defining anthem of its era.
Group members Billy Davis Jr. and Marilyn McCoo, who have been married since 1969, expressed their sorrow in a statement, saying, “All of us who knew and loved him will definitely miss his energy and wonderful sense of humor.”
Florence LaRue, another member of the group, shared heartfelt reflections on McLemore’s impact, noting that his “cheerfulness and laughter often brought strength and refreshment to me in difficult times.”
The 5th Dimension singer and founding member LaMonte McLemore died Tuesday of at the age of 90. Pictured 1974
The Fifth Dimension (L-R) LaMonte McLemore, Florence LaRue, Ron Townson, Marilyn McCoo, and Billy Davis, Jr., pose with their Grammy Award in LA in 1968
LaRue further remarked on their close bond, saying, “We were more like brother and sister than singing partners.”
The 5th Dimension continued charting hits through the 1970s such as One Less Bell to Answer, (Last Night) I Didn’t Get to Sleep at All and If I Could Reach You.
The group’s other standout tracks include Wedding Bell Blues and Stoned Soul Picnic and Sweet Blindness.
The band were mainstays on TV shows at the time; and had performed at the White House, as well as internationally on a trip sponsored by the State Department.
McLemore, a native of St. Louis, had joined the Navy as a photographer.
He also had a background as an athlete, playing professional baseball in the Los Angeles Dodgers’ organization, prior to pursuing a career in music in the early 1960s.
After the aforementioned endeavors, McLemore would move to Southern California, where he continued to ply his craft in both singing and photography.
McLemore was a member of the jazz ensemble called the Hi-Fi’s with McCoo. After opening for legendary singer Ray Charles in 1963, the group split in 1964.
With McCoo, McLemore co-created a group called the Versatiles, also including two of his longtime friends, Billy Davis Jr. and Ronald Towson.
The ensemble was pictured in 1969, the year Aquarius/Let the Sunshine In was released
McLemore seen April 14, 2012 in Las Vegas
(L-R) McCoo, Larue, Davis, the late Townson and McLemore pictured in 1968
After adding Florence LaRue, they were signed to the Soul City Records and changed their name to The 5th Dimension to reflect what had been going on in society in the late 1960s.
Their breakthrough hit came in 1967 with a cover of the Mamas & the Papas’ song Go Where You Wanna Go.
Later in the year, they hit the seventh spot on the Billboard Hot 100 with their hit Up, Up and Away, which was written by Jimmy Webb.
The track would earn them a total of four Grammys in 1968, including Record of the Year, Best Contemporary Single, Best Performance by a Vocal Group and Best Contemporary Group Performance.
The group took home two more Grammys two years later for Aquarius/Let The Sunshine In: Record Of The Year and Best Contemporary Vocal Performance By A Group.
During the time he was a member of The 5th Dimension, McLemore continued to pursue his passion for photography, as his work was published in magazines such as Playboy and Jet.
McLemore is survived by spouse Mieko McLemore, children Ciara and Darin, sister Joan and three grandchildren.
