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Honoring Nat “King” Cole featuring “5th Dimension Connections”

Posted on March 17, 2022 | Leave a comment

Dateline March 17: Today is the birthday of the beloved, trailblazing, iconic smooth crooner and jazz pianist extraordinaire, Nat “King” Cole. There are “5th Dimension connections” with Nat and the “original guys” have it! Mr. Cole is deemed as one of Billy Davis, Jr.’s idols when it comes to influencing his balladry and way with telling the story of a song…Billy noted to Forever 5th Dimension and to Michael Feinstein, as well. The late Ron “Sweets” Townson toured with Nat’s sold-out, standing room only concerts in the early ’60’s as one of his back-up troupe, known as “The Merry Young Souls.” You can find photos of Ron with Nat in a rare souvenir book of the time. And LaMonte McLemore photographed the “King” via assignment while Nat’s daughter “Cookie” (Carole Cole) had her cotillion. LaMonte reported to Forever 5th Dimension, “None other than President John F. Kennedy made a special appearance!” Mac continued thoughtfully, “Nat was a true gentleman, in every sense of the word.”

~~Robert-Allan Arno, biographer, The Original 5th Dimension…thank you fans, friends and the stars for our 15th year at FOREVER 5th DIMENSION!

#natkingcole #Forever5thDimension #BillyDavisJr #LaMonteMcLemore #RonSweetsTownson

(Forever 5th Dimension by Robert-Allan Arno, a production of The Soul of The Voice, Ltd., copyright 2008-22, intellectual property, all rights reserved)

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Aquarius Anniversary Spells Eternal Sunshine!

Posted on March 12, 2022 | Leave a comment

3/12: On this day in 1970, The 5th Dimension‘s “Aquarius/Let the Sunshine In” is named Record of the Year at the Grammy Awards. It’s actually one of two for The 5th’s medley plus one for producer, our dear friend, Bones Howe. LaMonte McLemore notes, “We’re the only African American vocal group to have won Record of the Year 2 years in a row (the other for ‘Up-Up and Away.’)” #MarilynBilly (McCoo & Davis) share the medley’s magical story of “the lost wallet” in today’s Oscar-nominated film “Summer of Soul.” In his hit memoir, FROM HOBO FLATS TO THE 5TH DIMENSION, Mac touchingly adds: “I’m heartened to hear from Vietnam Vets to this day, that the medley made them feel closer to home when they would hear it on Armed Forces Radio.” A “mash-up” by way of Broadway’s HAIR, Florence LaRue underscores in concert and interviews, “‘Aquarius/Let the Sunshine In’ truly stands for The 5th Dimension’s message of uplifting harmony and peace, something so relevant in 2022.”

~~Robert-Allan Arno, Forever 5th Dimension…thank you fans, friends & stars for our 15th year!

(Forever 5th Dimension by Robert-Allan Arno, a production of The Soul of The Voice, Ltd., copyright 2008-22, intellectual property, all rights reserved)

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Sunday Reflections

Posted on March 6, 2022 | Leave a comment

It does not go unnoticed at FOREVER 5th DIMENSION that our stars have had a banner weekend! Congratulations to Florence LaRue & The 5th Dimension for their sold out shows at Wolf Trap and at the Tropicana in Atlantic City.

And kudos to the 1st Couple of Pop n’ Soul, Marilyn McCoo & Billy Davis, Jr. for their packed to the rafter’s, standing O garnering sold-out show at the McCullum Theatre in Palm Desert!

It is a blessing that the stars of The Original 5th Dimension continue to soar, pleasing countless global fans for over 5 decades in ’22!

Today, March 6 is the birthday of LaMonte McLemore’s dear friend & neighbor, the beloved Mary Wilson, who we lost last year. One of the founding members of legends, The Supremes, Mary’s energy, and continued commitment to excellence were always a joy to behold. And in that spirit, we celebrate her life & artistry, reminding you of Mary’s new 2-CD Anthology*— her greatest solos, re-mastered, re-mixed and sounding like heaven itself. Among other luminaries, we are so proud to note that LaMonte’s historic & heartfelt quote about Mary is featured in the extensive liners…we’ll let you read it there. We send prayers for Mary’s eternal spirit, and to her family and millions of worldwide fans as we remember her birthday. ~~Robert-Allan Arno

*Mary Wilson Anthology link: https://realgonemusic.com/…/mary-wilson-the-motown…

(Forever 5th Dimension by Robert-Allan Arno, a production of The Soul of The Voice, Ltd. copyright 2008-2022, intellectual property, all rights reserved)

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Florence & The 5th at the Tropicana in Atlantic City this Friday!

Posted on February 28, 2022 | Leave a comment

#AtlanticCity On this final day of #BlackHistoryMonth22 and as March is upon us, we bring you the latest concert schedule reminder for the vivacious 6-time Grammy winning Ms. Florence LaRue and The 5th Dimension with dates in Atlantic City at the Tropicana this Friday, March 4…Wolf Trap, Niagara Falls, more! Don’t miss Florence & The 5th Dimension—Patrice, Floyd, Leonard and Sidney–for a spectacular evening of Champagne Soul! All the hits, the medleys, the dancin’ & special audience participation surprises! Coming to Atlantic City this Thursday or a city near you, Florence & The 5th bring family entertainment to sold-out crowds the world over! Get your tix for the Tropicana, main showroom, March 4, 9pm, here, at this easy link:

https://www.tropicana.net/event/shows/5th-dimension  

The 5th Dimension is performing live at the Tropicana Showroom on Friday, March 4th! A Mini Bio:

The 5th Dimension has secured its position in the Grammy Hall of Fame, with 14 gold records, six platinum records and six Grammy Awards. They have performed on the world’s most famous stages, including Radio City Music Hall alongside Frank Sinatra and the Hollywood Bowl, and delivered unforgettable television performances on the Ed Sullivan Show, Soul Train and The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson. Don’t miss one of the most prolific Pop/Soul groups in musical history. Get your tickets today.

(To see their extended March schedule, scroll down at Forever 5th Dimension!)

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LaMonte talks “Black Patch”

Posted on February 27, 2022 | Leave a comment

#BlackHistoryMonth We conclude this final weekend of Black History Month ’22 with a remarkable song by The 5th Dimension from the “Individually & Collectively” album. In his memoir “From Hobo Flats to The 5th Dimension,” LaMonte McLemore states about “Black Patch,” one of his all-time favorites (as well as the other group members and the fans!): “It always strikes me funny that one of my most remembered solo moments is the line I mischievously croon in full-on bass to punctuate Laura Nyro‘s Harlemesque panorama: ‘With lipstick on the reefer, waiting for a match,’ because I never smoked reefer! The ‘invitations to my party’ feel of ‘Black Patch’ was the cream of the crop of our most soulfully styled five-part output.” However, LaMonte continues to share his response to critics who claimed The 5th Dimension wasn’t “soulful enough” via his offering to Playbill concert magazine as follows:

The problem was that we were doing something different from the Rhythm & Blues that most Black groups were singing. Well, we knew we could sing R & B, Gospel and Jazz well, so we simply wanted to do something else. Now I think everyone understands what we were trying to do, and we never hear these complaints anymore.

Friends & fans, enjoy the #SunshineSunday mood of “Black Patch” here:

(“LaMonte Talks ‘Black Patch'” copyright 2015 from the memoir, “From Hobo Flats to The 5th Dimension” by LaMonte McLemore as told to Robert-Allan Arno, The Soul of The Voice, Ltd., all rights reserved. Forever 5th Dimension copyright 2008-22, intellectual property, all rights reserved)

From Hobo Flats to The 5th Dimension, the hip hit memoir is available at Amazon!:

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Marilyn & Billy Countdown for Fans on Sirius!

Posted on February 26, 2022 | Leave a comment

#WeekendCountdown 

Here’s a treat, our 1st Couple of Pop & Soul, Marilyn McCoo & Billy Davis, Jr. are co-hosting Sirius radios’ “70’s Soul Superstars Countdown.” And they’re having so much fun DJ’ing with the cool, engaging info they provide for this incredible Top 50! Find them at this link* below, it’s available by special podcast (see Shows & Episodes) as well as airing live (replays Sun 2/27 1pm ET) so those with Sirius can tune in at your convenience…but don’t wait too long! 🙂

~~Robert-Allan Arno

P.S. Find out what #’s “One Less Bell to Answer” by The 5th Dimension and “You Don’t Have to be a Star” by MarBill came in at!!

*LINK: https://player.siriusxm.com/query/70’s%20on%207

 #BlackHistoryMonth

(Special thanks, Steve Rosenblum, Sterling/Winters Management, KIW)

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Honoring the Legacy of JET Magazine’s “Beauty of the Week”

Posted on February 24, 2022 | Leave a comment

#BlackHistoryMonth Besides his legacy with The 5th Dimension, for over 5 decades, LaMonte McLemore was the premier freelance photographer for JET magazine’s iconic Beauty of the Week feature. In his acclaimed memoir, “From Hobo Flats to The 5th Dimension,” LaMonte talks a lot about his photographic vision for the history changing feature, including, “I was a Black photographer shooting Black models. I traveled the world with The 5th Dimension so that brought a global perspective…a sensual homage to women of color. And don’t get me wrong, that included their intelligence, intrinsic in their beauty.”

LaMonte’s vision changed the popular culture. Look for more projects on the Beauty of the Week in ’22! Today, we’re so pleased to present former “BotW” lovelies photographed by LaMonte–vivacious, sportive and striking: (top l, r) Tshlene & Tania; (bttm l, r) Sarena & Shana.

~~Robert-Allan Arno, Forever 5th Dimension; Biographer–LaMonte McLemore/The Original 5th Dimension

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Catching Up at SoulTracks!

Posted on February 23, 2022 | Leave a comment

Enjoy this 3-min special feature I penned for SoulTracks! Find out what each of the original members of The 5th Dimension has recently been up to, it’s certainly been a banner year! Special thanks to publisher Chris Rizik, for the opportunity. ~~Robert-Allan Arno, Biographer, The Original 5th Dimension

Read “3-Min Update: Catch up with The 5th Dimension” at this link: https://www.soultracks.com/3-minute-update-5th-dimension

#FlorenceandThe5thDimension

#MarilynBilly

#LaMonte

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51 Years Ago, Ed Sullivan Honors The 5th Dimension’s 5th!

Posted on February 21, 2022 | Leave a comment

#MondayMagic #BlackHistoryMonth22 Our good friends at The Wrecking Crew have done it again with this historic reminder:

On this date February 21, 1971, The Ed Sullivan Show dedicated the entire episode to the 5th anniversary of The 5th Dimension. The group opened the show with “Love’s Lines, Angles and Rhymes” and later joined Connie Stevens for “Puppet Man.” They came back for the last 15 minutes of the program and sang “Up, Up and Away,” “One Less Bell to Answer,” “Stoned Soul Picnic,” “Wedding Bell Blues,” and “Aquarius / Let the Sunshine In.” Watch here:

#the5thdimension

#edsullivanshow5thdimension

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“Summer of Soul” goes Prime Time on ABC…this Sunday!

Posted on February 19, 2022 | Leave a comment

#WeekendSunshine #primetimeviewing How many of you are seeing ABC’s commercial for “Summer of Soul” featuring LaMonte McLemore holding the hand of a young fan, onstage at the Harlem Cultural Festival, ’69?! Yes, tomorrow, Sunday February 20, at 8pm, ABC will be airing the Oscar-nominated docu-hit! Many fans have reported seeing it over & over again in theaters, on Hulu and now, you can catch it prime time on network TV!! Featuring performances by The 5th Dimension (feat. new interviews with #MarilynBilly), Sly & the Family Stone, Gladys Knight & the Pips, Stevie Wonder, Nina Simone, Mahalia Jackson and many more. Be sure to tune in Sunday night and celebrate the “Summer of Soul” experience! ~~Robert-Allan Arno

#BlackHistoryMonth22#the5thdimensionsummerofsoul#SummerofSoulABCPrimetime#OscarNominatedSummerofSoul

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