Remembering Marc Gordon

I had just been thinking of Marc Gordon, the beloved manager of The 5^th Dimension when the lovely Florence LaRue contacted me, reflecting on Marc’s important history-changing impact, too. This summertime 2021, with there being a resurgence in interest in The Original 5^th Dimension due to their vibrant appearance in the docu-film hit of the season, “Summer of Soul” circa the Harlem Cultural Festival, ’69, it is timely to remember Marc’s contributions. Florence expresses, “What many people don’t realize is that without Marc Gordon, The 5^th Dimension would not be what it wound up being! He never got the notoriety he deserved; I hope to give it to him.”

Here’s an excerpt of what Florence and I put together via his written memorial tribute as featured in “Goldmine” and JET magazines over a decade ago, and today, it bears reiteration at Forever 5^th Dimension:

Marcus Melvin Gordon, known professionally as Marc Gordon, the manager of The 5th Dimension circa its heyday of the late ’60’s through the ’70s, passed away June 16, 2010, according to the original group’s biographer, Robert-Allan Arno, and group member Florence LaRue. He was 74.

An executive at Motown in the early ’60s, Gordon departed the label in 1966 while discovering The Versatiles, who auditioned for but were not signed to the label. He asked the quintet to find a hipper moniker —The 5th Dimension — and connected them with Johnny River’s Soul City label. The rest was Grammy, Gold and Platinum record history. Gordon co-produced The 5th Dimension’s signature tune, Jimmy Webb’s “Up-Up and Away.”

“We had so much respect for Marc Gordon and his vision…his faith and hard work,” said founding former members Marilyn McCoo and Billy Davis Jr. Retired founding member, LaMonte McLemore stated, “Marc spoke gently but his plans for us were mighty.” “Marc envisioned The 5^th Dimension as ‘the Black Beatles,’” Florence LaRue reflected. Ms. LaRue had been married to Gordon and has a son, Geoffrey, with him. She continues to tour as Florence LaRue and The 5th Dimension.

Mr. Gordon also managed Tony Orlando and Dawn, Thelma Houston and Willie Hutch. His Rocky Road records garnered mega-hits hits for Al Wilson (“Show and Tell”) and Climax (“Precious and Few”) in the ’70s.

As Forever 5^th Dimension remembers Marc Gordon, Florence & I invite you to view his appearance on this classic “Soul Train,” talking with Don Cornelius in his charming manner, at this link: https://youtu.be/LrWeiGI3EVg

Bonus! And here are Florence and Marc (along with Jimmy Webb’s minister dad!) on this vintage game show, “I’ve Got a Secret,” celebrating the magic of “Up-Up and Away.” View here: https://youtu.be/iA7yyspHdek

(Forever 5^th Dimension by Robert-Allan Arno, a production of The Soul of The Voice, Ltd., copyright 2008-2021, Intellectual Property, All Rights Reserved)