Our 19th Year! A TRIBUTE TO THE MULTI-GRAMMY WINNING LEGENDARY STARS of THE ORIGINAL 5TH DIMENSION, Curated by Biographer, Robert-Allan Arno. Featuring History & Current Events, Exclusive Quotes & Interviews, Rare Photo Collection! Recommended by Marilyn McCoo & Billy Davis, Jr., Florence LaRue, & Remembering LaMonte McLemore
1/23/21: Huge kudos on behalf of the stars of The Original 5th Dimension–Marilyn & Billy, Florence, and LaMonte–to lovely & vibrant, GG Townson, for her starring role in tonight’s Lifetime TV debut of the Salt-N-Pepa bio-pic. Marilyn & Billy told me, “Robert, how exciting…we’ll definitely be watching her star continue to rise!” View GG’s charming chat with Amy Robach and TJ Holmes on Good Morning America 3, at this link:
With familial music in her blood as the granddaughter of Ron “Sweets” Townson, the late original member of multi-Grammy legends The 5th Dimension, GG recently told the Big 95 Morning Show something of great interest to readers of FOREVER 5th DIMENSION: “‘Wedding Bell Blues’ is actually my favorite song by them. Every once in a while, I’ll just find myself yelling the first line, ‘Biiiilll!’ ‘Aquarius,’ for sure, just makes me smile. It’s such a feel-good song. ‘Up-Up, and Away’…they just have really good music. And I’m not saying that because he’s my grandfather, but The 5th Dimension really put out great music and broke so many barriers.”
The beloved Ron Townson, pictured center with The Original 5th Dimension comrades, Billy Davis, Jr., Florence LaRue, Marilyn McCoo and LaMonte McLemore
–By Robert-Allan Arno
(Forever 5th Dimension by Robert-Allan Arno, a production of The Soul of The Voice, Ltd., copyright 2008-21, Intellectual Property, All Rights Reserved)
#HolidayCool Many thanks to our good friends at the #1 oldies internet station, Rewound Radio. Their year-end Top 77 hits of all time for 2020 is in, and “Aquarius/Let the Sunshine In,” “Stoned Soul Picnic,” and “One Less Bell to Answer” by The 5th Dimension all made the Top 77 with “Aquarius/Sunshine” at #19! With special appreciation to program director Allan Sniffen, and YOU, the wonderful fans who voted for their fave all-time Rock n’ Soul hits! You can listen to Rewound and enjoy the Top 77 all this week through New Year’s day at: www.rewoundradio.com
With the following poignant and timely message, the current 5th Dimension brings this delightfully harmonic Christmas video featuring a charming “Winter Wonderland.” Florence LaRue with Patrice Morris, Floyd Smith, Leonard Tucker and Sidney Jacobs express:
Happy holidays to all of our fans, friends and family. We pray that all of you are healthy and blessed in the company of your loved ones during this difficult time. We wish you a peaceful and prosperous holiday season, and hope you continue to stay safe. Here is a holiday video to keep your spirits lifted. ‘Tis the season! We canât wait to see you at one of our shows when the time is right in 2021.
Much Love, The 5th Dimension Family
Enjoy “Winter Wonderland” by The 5th Dimension at their official Facebook page, here:
#SpecialAnnouncement#ANewMusical We know many â5th Dimension aficionadosâ hold âThe Singerâ co-written by LaMonte McLemore & Elliot Willensky, soloed so powerfully by Billy Davis, Jr. on The 5th Dimensionâs iconic âLoveâs Linesâ album as a fan favorite! Guess what? There is a new play called âElliot & Meâ–a musical comedy based on the life of songwriter Elliot Willensky and his bond with younger brother Steven (Willensky). Itâs a heartfelt story of brotherly love including Elliot’s rise to âwriting stardomâ penning hits for The 5th Dimension, Michael Jackson, and Whitney Houston. The score includes all these songs and yes, the show-stopping number âThe Singerâ delivered by Broadway actor Eric Briarley with tenderness, fire and passion. âElliot & Meâ is filled with humor, colorful personalities, unexpected situations, and uplifting musical moments.
#OrderforChristmas #Thankyou to special fans, music aficionado Tony Spriglia, writer/blogger Monica Haynes, and entertainer extraordinaire Alton Fitzgerald White (of âThe Lion Kingâ fame!) for their recent holiday purchases of LaMonte McLemoreâs hit memoir, âFrom Hobo Flats to The 5th Dimension.â Each will receive an autographed bookplate to affix in their book. When you order from Amazon, let us know and weâll mail you a bookplate!
Explore the music of The 5th Dimension, the climate of the times, the laughs, the romance, the loveâŚand even Macâs grandmaâs Top 10 âWisdom Hits!â Recommended by Johnny Mathis, Nancy Sinatra, Neil Sedaka, Marilyn & BillyâŚ.and Tony (above) who shares: âEvery 5th fan should have a copy. It’s fascinating, entertaining & easy to readâŚand enjoy!â
Order in time for Christmas (press above)…and thank you to our worldwide fans & friends for making “From Hobo Flats to The 5th Dimension” the hip, hit memoir…as “Mac” says, “Right on!”
#NewChristmasSong Our dear friends, Billy & Marilyn have a delightful new Christmas song, “It Wouldn’t Be Christmas” as part of their Coming2Gether (Soldiers for the Second Coming) endeavor. Press this link to purchase & digitally download the Christmas music cheer! –Robert-Allan Arno
#TuesdayToDo#VoteRewound Happy New Month, fans & friends! Our good friends at the top internet oldies radio station, Rewound Radio are conducting their exciting annual Top 77 of all-time survey. Program Director Allan Sniffen has been so kind to the legacy of The 5th Dimension & so many other legendary groups & singers. And now it’s your chance to support Rewound and your favorite artists & songs of the Rock n’ Soul era. Vote for your Top 10…it’s fun n’ easy…at this link. Results will play Christmas to New Year week on Rewound! Vote here: https://musicradio77.com/voting2020.html
It is with great solemnity we report that LaMonte McLemoreâs cherished mother, known warmly by all as âMama Juneâ has passed away peacefully at age 106. Mama June had remained the only surviving parent of the members of The Original 5th Dimension. Always beautifully groomed & attired, and wonderfully wise, LaMonte proudly shared in his memoir, “From Hobo Flats to The 5th Dimension,” and with many an interviewer: âDon’t let the homespun name fool you…my ever-glamorous Mama Juneâs memory is better than yours and mine, combinedâŚsheâs as sharp as a tack!â Marilyn McCoo & Billy Davis, Jr. expressed on the occasion of her centennial birthday: âMama June is one of the true gems in our lives, sheâs always been full of joy, love, and acceptance for all–a true treasure.â Florence LaRue made a special appearance at Mama Juneâs 105th birthday celebration in St. Louis delivering a prayer and song in her honor. LaMonteâs biographer, Robert-Allan Arno states: âMama June possessed a warm godly lightânot only coming from inside but surrounding herâthat was simply breathtaking when in her presence.â
June McLemore (1914-2020) lived through many decades, eras, US presidents, and positive changes in Civil Rights. She always embraced a âcan-doâ spirit of diligence, grace, optimism, fairness, and inclusivity through it all, attributes that are reflected in the ethos of The 5th Dimensionâs harmoniously uplifting hits like âAquarius/Let the Sunshine Inâ and âUp-Up and Away.â The McLemore family states, âShe was elated to witness our first Black president and lived to see our first Black woman, South Asian vice president-elect.â
Mama June McLemore, 1914-2020
Mama June is also survived by her daughter Joan and numerous grandchildren, nieces, nephews, and great-grandchildren. Visitation and funeral services will be held privately in her hometown of St. Louis. The family thanks fans for their outpouring of sympathetic sentiments on Mr. McLemoreâs Facebook page.
With appreciation to the publications: The St. Louis Post-Dispatch,” “Soul Tracks,” and “Backbeat R & B Magazine” for their special tributes to Mama June.
Mama Juneâs presence will be greatly missed, yet âEarth hath no sorrow that heaven cannot heal.â âRobert-Allan Arno for LaMonte McLemore
From LaMonte McLemore, founding member of The 5th Dimension:
Dateline Sept 30: Today is the birthday of a lovely lady whose voice is woven so beautifully into the tapestry of American Pop-Soul CultureâŚas equally beautiful as she is! Yes, letâs wish my forever friend, my colleague in The Original 5th Dimension, Ms. Marilyn McCoo a #HappyBirthday. Canât you just hear her rich, lilting, and sometimes soaring tones with âOne Less Bell,â âWedding Bell Blues,â âLoveâs Lineâs, Angles & Rhymes,â âNever My Love,â “If I Could Reach You,” and âLast Night I Didnât Get to Sleep,â reflecting her recorded âvocal solosâ with The 5th! Marilyn just celebrated her 51st wedding anniversary with Billy Davis, Jr., and today we honor her special day with Love & Godâs blessings…
~~LaMonte McLemore, as told to Robert-Allan Arno
Birthday Bonus! Go to the ComingTogether site to get a free copy of Marilyn’s latest inspirationally-based solo, “My Tribute” (To God Be the Glory) here: www.coming2gether.net.
Dateline Sept. 17: It’s #LaMonteDay with a Special Update: Today is an incredibly momentous day, the birthday of a gentleman we all respect and love: LaMonte McLemore. The world knows him as the founder & âmellow bassâ of The Original 5th Dimension, Pop-Soul 6-time Grammy-winning royalty that blazed trails âUp-Up and Awayâ through the âAge of Aquarius.â Their âChampagne Soulâ is still relevant and ever uplifting. The world also knows him as the premier freelance photographer for JET magazineâŚhis âBeauty of the Weekâ feature edified the loveliness of Black women and helped make historic shifts in the pop culture. But we who know âMacâ through his friendship or âfamilial being”âwhether youâve played softball with him, have posed as his model, have chatted warmly with him backstage, have been mentored and encouraged by his visionary eye for talent, and so many instances more âknow a man of abounding compassion, kindness, humor, and his motto: âWe are only in this world to help one anotherââsomething his prophetic Grandma Gertrude always instilled .
Approximately one year ago, Mac suffered a stroke and we wanted to keep you, his fans, friends & family informedâŚand his birthday is a perfect time to bring you up-to-date. LaMonteâalong with his luminous, diligent wife Mieko each step of the wayâhas worked tirelessly, making great strides this past year with the latest advances in physical and speech therapy, and so much more. Mieko shares, âWe have made every day a new adventure, and our hearts have been continually warmed by so many caring people weâve met along the way.â From celebrating simple sunsets at Christmastime, to Mama Juneâs 106th birthday this June (LaMonteâs cherished mom), to watching the new Civil Rights movement unfold this springtime, and taking healthy summertime strolls while others have marched, Mac with Mieko has continued to blaze trails with courage, smiles and a can-do spiritâŚcharacteristics LaMonte has always represented. And here on his lively Facebook page of 5,000 followers, we love bringing you all sorts of memories and acknowledging current milestones. Itâs part of LaMonteâs âvital vibe,â and as his biographer and social media curator, I am so proud to do so, confabbing with Mac & Mieko regularlyâŚit is a special 3-way bond I am so happy to mention in this birthday salute.
LaMonte expresses to you with that âfamous twinkleâ in his eyes, âThank you EVERYONE for your heartfelt wishes, prayers, the good times we continue to shareâŚand sometimes, difficult things like the pandemicâŚwhere we still see the hope for a brighter day.â LaMonte continues, âCan I end with a joke? Grandma always used to say: âThe sun rises and sets for everyoneâŚweâre the only ones who screw it up in between!â So on my birthday I say, donât screw it up! Seriously, let us continue in joy and with love for one another.â
And with Mac having those final golden words, please join us here with your birthday wishes for this legendary manâŚour friendâŚour familyâŚour role model. âRobert-Allan Arno for “Team LaMonte”(as published on LaMonte McLemore’s Facebook page)
Marilyn McCoo & Billy Davis, Jr.–the 1st Couple of Pop n’ Soul bring this message:
“Happy Birthday, Mac! Man, you’re getting up there; well we all are! đ Do you remember when The 5th Dimension used to joke about one day all of us rolling around onstage in our wheelchairs singing ‘Up-Up & Away’?!’ đ We’re wishing you a beautiful day of celebration and we’ll see you soon!” Love, Billy & Marilyn; P. S. Love to Mieko
You can listen to Rewound and enjoy the Top 77 all this week through New Year’s day at: 
đ Do you remember when The 5th Dimension used to joke about one day all of us rolling around onstage in our wheelchairs singing ‘Up-Up & Away’?!’ 
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