Celebrating our 18th Year! A TRIBUTE TO THE MULTI-GRAMMY WINNING LEGENDARY STARS of THE ORIGINAL 5TH DIMENSION, Curated by Biographer, Robert-Allan Arno ~~ History & Current Events, Exclusive Quotes & Interviews, Rare Photo Collection! Recommended by McCoo/Davis, LaRue & Remembering LaMonte McLemore
Dateline February 4, 2023: We’re wishing the indomitable, vivacious, and radiant “Delightful Diva,” Ms. Florence LaRue, a joyful birthday celebration. It’s been an exciting past year for Florence, and she continues to tour all throughout 2023 with The 5th Dimension. Read our updated, supersized recap and tribute to Florence with history, special quotes, and music memories at this FOREVER 5th DIMENSION link: https://forever5thdimension.com/2014/02/03/the-delightful-divas-birthday/
God bless my dear, inspiring friend, a true sweetheart of the Rock n’ Soul era.
Tis the season to let the sunshine in! At FOREVER 5th DIMENSION, we bring you “Santa’s goodie bag” of holiday delights by the stars of The Original 5th Dimension. While the original group didn’t perform or record a holiday tune per se (see link below, to our expanded Christmas edition, for the reason why), there have been many instances of Christmas fare over the years by Florence, Florence and today’s 5th, Marilyn, and Marilyn & Billy, as compiled by FOREVER 5th, with EXCLUSIVE commentary by the stars.
First, let’s begin with a new entry that is certainly part of this special season. An astute and heartfelt forum featuring FlorenceLaRue, Billy Davis, Jr. and Marilyn McCoo, shot recently at UCLA, after the screening of The 5th Dimension’s historic first network special, “The 5th Dimension Special: An Odyssey in the Cosmic Universe of Peter Max” (originally broadcast in 1970.) Watch here:
And very special thanks to our stars, Marilyn & Billy, Florence and LaMonte (and their respective management) for their love, support of Forever 5th Dimension, and their continued musical excellence…and to the worldwide fans, you are truly a part of “the 5th Dimension experience” of harmony and unity. –Robert-Allan Arno
(Forever 5th Dimension by Robert-Allan Arno, a production of The Soul of The Voice, Ltd., copyright 2008-22 intellectual property, all rights reserved.
Dateline July 17, 2022: Forever 5th Dimension, our globally acclaimed blog is celebrating its 15th year this month! And I sincerely thank the stars of The Original 5th Dimension for their many enthusiastic, blessed contributions over the years—multi-Grammy winning legends of the Rock n’ Soul era who continue to be actively performing today, that would be Florence LaRue (with the current 5th Dimension,) and the married team of Marilyn McCoo & Billy Davis, Jr. Not to mention the now retired (but never tired!) LaMonte McLemore (I was honored to be the “as told to” author of his popular memoir “From Hobo Flats to The 5th Dimension”), and remembering the late, beloved Ron Townson.
Recently Marilyn & Billy called me—they loved the over 20 “Billy solos” Forever 5th curated for his birthday last month, powerful, poignant and even pretty songs from different genres and different decades of his career…so I thought, why not add one extra to the list?! To celebrate our 15th, Forever 5th Dimension presents, from the vaults, “Hi-Di-Ho” with Billy in the effortless exuberant lead. The song was originally intended for The 5th Dimension’s SOUL & INPSIRATION album (1974) and as producer Bones Howe told me, “I wanted to give it that ‘Black Patch’ gospel feel…and The 5th and Billy certainly delivered!” Twice before as biographer of The Original 5th and liner note writer/music curator, I attempted to get it released as one of the bonus cuts on the S & I CD re-issue and for PLAYLIST: THE VERY BEST OF THE 5th DIMENSION but due to space limitations, it was “omitted.” Well, here it is, making its global debut approximately 48 years later!
WATCH/LISTEN HERE!!
We dedicate its release to countless devoted worldwide fans, many who have become dear friends…and on behalf of #MarilynBilly, Florence, LaMonte, their respective management, the Townson Family and Mr. Bones; with lovingkindness, we hope you savor every second of this spectacular recording!
—Robert-Allan Arno
Video Photos: The Robert-Allan Arno 5th Legacy Collection, and courtesy Michael Collopy, Arnie Lee, Deniserose Torres, and Andy Gard
Forever 5th Dimension by Arno, a production of The Soul of The Voice, Ltd., copyright 2008-2022, intellectual property, all rights reserved
We’re so pleased to share this link to a very special, inspirational, autobiographical interview–actually a first-person narrative– with our lovely Florence LaRue. It’s part of the Jesus Calling Podcast…listen here and be uplifted:
#BlackMusicAppreciationMonth That sexy saga of sand, surf and good lovin’, “California Soul,” recorded by The 5th Dimension from the STONED SOUL PICNIC album is truly a fan fave. In fact, in recent years both Florence LaRue & The 5th Dimension and #MarilynBilly (McCoo & Davis) have brought the sizzler back into their live shows. LaMonte McLemore shares, “When we launched my memoir on the east coast with an onstage chat and book signing, the natural destination to do so was at Ashford & Simpson‘s famed Sugar Bar. It was very full-circle because Nick and Val wrote one of my all-time favorite turntable hits, ‘California Soul.'” Valerie and the late Nickolas, themselves told me for the liners of ULTIMATE 5th DIMENSION, “We loved The 5th Dimension’s heartfelt rendition of our song.”~~Robert-Allan Arno
Enjoy, “California Soul,” remastered, here:
(Forever 5th Dimension a production of The Soul of The Voice, Ltd., by Robert-Allan Arno, copyright 2008-2022, intellectual property, all rights reserved)
Dateline June 3: We’re remembering the birthday of LaMonte McLemore‘s cherished mother, warmly known to all as “Mama June.” So many of you knew of her inspiring example or had the pleasure to be in her incandescent presence. A witness to history, Mama June left us at age 106 in 2020. Read the St. Louis Post-Dispatch’s accounting of her life, and how meaningful she was to The 5th Dimension family, in the following excerpts:
Mama June had remained the only surviving parent of the original stars of Grammy legends, The 5th Dimension of which 3 members of the quintet, including Mr. McLemore emanated from St Louis. Always beautifully groomed and wonderfully wise, LaMonte proudly shared in his recent memoir “From Hobo Flats to The 5th Dimension” as well as with many an interviewer: “Mama June’s memory is better than yours and mine, combined…she’s as sharp as a tack!” Marilyn McCoo & Billy Davis, Jr. expressed on the occasion of her centennial birthday: “Mama June is one of the true gems in our lives, she’s always been full of joy, love, and acceptance.” Florence LaRue made a special appearance at Mama June’s 105th birthday celebration in St. Louis delivering a prayer and song in her honor. LaMonte’s biographer and media spokesman, Robert-Allan Arno states: “Mama June possessed a warm godly light—not only coming from inside but surrounding her—that was simply breathtaking when in her presence.”
June McLemore (1914-2020) lived through many decades, eras, US presidents, and positive changes in Civil Rights. She always embraced a “can-do” spirit of diligence, grace, optimism, fairness, and inclusivity through it all, attributes that are reflected in the ethos of The 5th Dimension. She was elated to witness our first Black president and lived to see our first Black woman, South Asian vice president-elect.
(Forever 5th Dimension by Robert-Allan Arno, a production of The Soul of The Voice, Ltd., copyright 2008-22, Intellectual Property, all rights reserved)
Forever 5th Dimension is honoring the 80th birthday of the legendary songstress, actor, and director, Barbra Streisand with two interpretations by our very own iconic women, Florence LaRue and Marilyn McCoo.
Enjoy Florence’s poignant solo of “Stoney End” from “The 5th Dimension: LIVE” album, which boldly kicks off the Laura Nyro medley:
Here’s Marilyn’s memorablely graceful version of “The Way We Were” from SOLID GOLD. Marilyn & Billy (Davis, Jr.) shared with Forever 5th Dimension quite emotionally, that they also got to perform the tune at a tribute to songwriters Alan & Marilyn Bergman including never-before-heard lyrics which according to them, were “breathtaking.” ~~Robert-Allan Arno
(Forever 5th Dimension by Robert-Allan Arno, a production of The Soul of The Voice, Ltd., copyright 2008-2022, intellectual property, all rights reserved)
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)
Forever 5th Dimension is so pleased to share that #SummerOfSoulMovie has been nominated for the Academy Award for BEST DOCUMENTARY FEATURE! Featuring luminous performances by The 5th Dimension onstage at the Harlem Cultural Festival of ’69, here’s what our stars say…
“Who knew that 50 years later this movie would be out! It was so wonderful to see all these Black performers…some young people, they don’t know that music, those performers, it’s great to be part of that history. And to see Stevie Wonder, Gladys Knight…and to know they are still performing today, just as we are!” –Florence LaRue
“Congratulations, @Questlove, on the ‘Summer Of Soul’ Oscar nomination by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences! Your brilliant work goes into the history books for its groundbreaking social commentary and incredible uncovering and presentation of these music performances. We are truly proud and blessed to be a part of this @SummerOfSoulMovie project!” –Marilyn McCoo & Billy Davis, Jr.
“It is fabulous to be a part of this historic movie along with my fellow members of The Original 5th Dimension! Congratulations to Questlove, Searchlight Pictures and Hulu.” –LaMonte McLemore
(Forever 5th Dimension by Robert-Allan Arno, a production of The Soul of The Voice, Ltd., copyright 2008-2022, intellectual property, all rights reserved)
Don’t miss the vivacious Florence LaRue & The 5th Dimension—Patrice, Floyd, Leonard and Sidney for an evening of Champagne Soul! All the hits, the medleys, the dancin’ and special audience participation surprises! Coming to your city or one near you, Florence & The 5th bring family entertainment to sold-out crowds the world over!
FOREVER 5TH DIMENSION 
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