Tag Archives: FROM HOBO FLATS TO THE 5th DIMENSION

LaMonte’s Top 5, A Celebration of “Mac!”

Posted on September 6, 2025 | Leave a comment

At FOREVER 5th DIMENSION, September is always a spectacular month with the birthdays of LaMonte McLemore on the 17th and Marilyn McCoo on the 30th. We are celebrating Mac’s special day early (due to personal travel plans that have me arriving back in the country on the night of LaMonte’s birthday!) Surely, it’s time for LaMonte to get his own Top 5 curated playlist, press the player here, for non-stop musical memories (and a bonus.) Including an exclusive glossary of the selections (below):

Forever 5th Dimension Exclusive Liner Notes:

  1. “A Love Like Ours,” co-written by LaMonte, a top fan-favorite from the seminal PORTRAIT album, with the guys (Mac, Sweets & Billy) in full force for The 5th Dimension. “Wanting to be together yet wanting to be free” is the eternal theme.
  2. “Cease Fire,” written by LaMonte, a recent “viral hit” is a potent plea for peace. LaMonte provides the spoken-word intro & outro, the talented Julio Hanson sings lead.
  3. “Black Patch” is an all-time favorite masterpiece album cut written by Laura Nyro, from INDIDUALLY & COLLECTIVELY. It features LaMonte’s solo punctuating the panoramic party with a mischievous, full-out bass line. In his memoir “From Hobo Flats to The 5th Dimension” LaMonte laughs, “It’s my most notable recorded solo spot…and I never, ever smoked reefer!”
  4. The Tonight Show appearance of The 5th Dimension featuring Florence, Ron, LaMonte, Joyce and Michael. Wait for the medley from Broadway’s “Ain’t Misbehavin’” and LaMonte’s charming MC and solo moment. In his memoir Mac proudly stated about The 5th Dimension’s innovative touring with such a musical show, “It’s the hardest I ever worked on the road…we kept a true Broadway schedule! A rewarding experience.”
  5. “The Singer,” co-written by LaMonte from The 5th Dimension’s LOVE’S LINES, ANGLES & RHYMES album is touchingly emoted with Billy in the lead. Mac shares, “Frank Sinatra strongly considered recording the tune, instead my dear friend Gladys Knight did a version with the Pips on the ALL I NEED IS TIME album.”
  6. BONUS 1: Lamonte refers to The 5th Dimension’s “Ashes to Ashes” as a “turntable hit”…from the LIVING TOGETHER, GROWING TOGETHER album, it’s a song about changing times and ultimate forgiveness…themes near and dear to Mac. This is a casual, yet staged performance as featured on The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson providing the tune more “oomph” and social relevance.
  7. BONUS 2: The Original 5th Dimension took part in many high-profile commercials, whether for radio jingles like Coca Cola or on TV for JELLO and Chevrolet. From ’69, this is LaMonte’s personal “Move Along with Me” favorite, where each member gets a spoken word part, too!

–Curated by Robert-Allan Arno, Biographer, The Original 5th Dimension and LaMonte McLemore

“LaMonte, it’s been an honor of a lifetime to co-pen your memoir, curate your social media, and above all, have your mentorship and trusting friendship of many years. You are a true role model who has taught me (and so many others in your wide sphere) life lessons, the most important being: ‘We are only in the world to help one another.’ Thank you, too, for gracing our Board at the America to Africa Higher Education Foundation. Love and blessings always, to you, Sir Mac and Mieko.” —“Reverend Arno”

To our many FOREVER 5th DIMENSION fans & friends, please consider a tax-deductible donation to the America to Africa Higher Education Foundation (website link, below). We support the collegiate tuitions & related needs of brilliant Nigerian scholars, making their educational dreams come true. –Robert-Allan Arno, Executive Director

Visit & donate at https://www.AmericatoAfricaHigherEducationFoundation.com

Limited Edition Poster size print, “The World of LaMonte” charcoal composite by Ephraim Udoka now available for a tax-deductible donation to AAHEF, see link for details: https://forever5thdimension.com/2024/08/11/limited-edition-poster-offer-the-world-of-lamonte/

You may also enjoy our good friends at SoulTrack’s birthday tribute to LaMonte at this link: https://soultracks.com/story-lamonte-mclemore-birthday/

Forever 5th Dimension by Arno, a production of The Soul of The Voice, Ltd., copyright 2008-2025, intellectual property, all rights reserved.

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We Wish Legendary Johnny Mathis a Happy Retirement

Posted on May 19, 2025 | Leave a comment

FOREVER 5th DIMENSION is wishing “The Voice of Romance,” Johnny Mathis, a wonderful retirement. Yesterday, May 18, he took the concert stage for the final time at the Bergen Performing Arts Center in New Jersey concluding an illustrious nearly seven-decade career in extensive live touring and on recording. Mathis released over 70 albums and sold more than 350 million records worldwide

His hits “Wonderful! Wonderful!” and “It’s Not for Me to Say,” catapulted him to fame in the late 50s, followed by the chart-topping “Chances Are.” His 1958 album, “Johnny’s Greatest Hits” spent nearly 500 consecutive weeks on the Billboard charts, according to the Smithsonian. In the late 70’s, his chart-topping soulful hit with Denise Williams, “Too Much, Too Little, Too Late” expanded his reputation as crooner of romantic ballads and beloved Christmas classics.

OUR PERSONAL REFLECTION: A friend to the members of The 5th Dimension, Johnny was a fan. In fact, he went out of his way to issue a quote for the back of LaMonte McLemore’s hit memoir “From Hobo Flats to The 5th Dimension,” which I co-wrote, telling me, “Robert, I took some time…I wanted to get it just right for LaMonte!” He stated, “When a tall, handsome young man came to my house many years ago to photograph me for Elegant magazine, I had no idea that his other job as a singer would propel him and his fellow members of The 5th Dimension to world fame. I am so proud of LaMonte and cherish his friendship.”

“Elegant” was the short-lived but trailblazing first life & style magazine for both Black men and woman, and it was McLemore who created it in the early 60’s. He writes about Mr. Mathis in his memoir, noting the way he’d discuss with Marilyn McCoo, “how someone like Johnny carried on the tradition of Nat King Cole before him, how his smooth groove crossed over, how much we admired that quality of connecting with people through pure class.”

Mac continues, sharing this touching anecdote that makes Johnny’s back-of-the-memoir quote all the more poignant, “And Johnny proved that to me personally when we interviewed and photographed him. While he charmingly accommodated the more established reporters from the Associated Press, he asked Elegant to stay behind. ‘Let me help you guys get off the ground,’ he stated giving extra attention to our fledgling, Black-oriented magazine. He proceeded to not only give a tour of his home but to feed us—Johnny was quite a chef, too. This brotherly act defied the cold reputation of Hollywood.”

(Above: Billy Davis, Jr. having sing-along fun with Johnny Mathis and Diana Ross when The 5th Dimension headlined at the Royal Box, Manhattan)

Mathis who will be 90 on September 30th, shares a birthday with Marilyn McCoo. FOREVER 5th DIMENSION wishes Johnny the many blessings of retirement as we honor the joy he has brought to millions through his musical magic and understated, yet history-making elegance.

–Robert-Allan Arno

Bonus Forever 5th Dimension Fact: Johnny Mathis recorded a number of tunes that were hits for The 5th Dimension including “Up-Up and Away,” “Aquarius/Let the Sunshine In,” “(Last Night) I Didn’t Get to Sleep at All,” and “If I Could Reach You.”

Forever 5th Dimension by Arno, a production of The Soul of The Voice, Ltd., copyright 2008-2025, intellectual property, all rights reserved. Excerpts from “From Hobo Flats to The 5th Dimension,” copyright 2014 McLemore/Arno, all rights reserved.

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Remembering Tito Jackson, Founding Member of The Jackson 5

Posted on September 16, 2024 | Leave a comment

From LaMonte McLemore‘s social media: We’re very sorry to note the passing of LaMonte’s friend, Tito Jackson, founding member of legends, The Jackson 5. LaMonte writes in his memoir, “From Hobo Flats to The 5th Dimension”: “When the Jacksons came to California from Detroit in the early seventies, we both lived on the same block in Hollywood, and I’d give the kids a lift up the long, long hill of Queens Boulevard.” Our friends at Soul Tracks remember Tito’s musical accomplishments with this detailed tribute, here: https://soultracks.com/ We extend our prayers for the Jackson family.

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Summer Sunday Smiles

Posted on August 20, 2023 | Leave a comment

#SundaySummerSmiles It’s late August beach weather across the US, and we bring you this special shot. Who’s the gifted young man portrayed, and who took this photo?

Here’s our exclusive answer, from LaMonte McLemore‘s hit memoir “From Hobo Flats to The 5th Dimension,” of which I’m the as-told-to author. It’s a really cute, rib-tickling one: The photo of Stevie Wonder was taken by our famed photographer, LaMonte in ’64, and graced Stevie’s album cover for, “At the Beach.” LaMonte shared:

Then there was “Little” Stevie Wonder, the boy prodigy. Our photo session took place on Hermosa Beach, where Stevie, complete with harmonica, asked me, “Mac, can you get me some wine?” “You’re underage and I don’t wanna go to jail,” I replied loud enough for all to hear then whispered, “OK, but don’t tell nobody!” So, we sat on the sand, sipping the grape, and to this day, every time I know someone is going to be seeing Stevie, I’ll request, “Just walk up to him and say, ‘Now, about that wine!’ Stevie always laughs. “Oh, it’s that damn LaMonte, still telling everyone!”

—Robert-Allan Arno

It’s a great summer read, the hip, hit memoir by LaMonte McLemore as told to Robert-Allan Arno, “From Hobo Flats to The 5th Dimension,” 2nd Edition, available at Amazon! LINK: https://www.amazon.com/Hobo-Flats-5th…/dp/0692307362

Bonus Read! Our friend, esteemed musicologist Adam White features the “LaMonte/Stevie/Beach” story in his latest blog entry at: https://www.adampwhite.com/westgrandblog/hollywood

Forever 5th Dimension and From Hobo Flats to The 5th Dimension, a production/imprint of The Soul of The Voice, Ltd., copyright 2008-2023, 2014, respectively, intellectual property, all rights reserved.

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LaMonte McLemore Thanks Worldwide Fans for the Holidays

Posted on December 11, 2021 | Leave a comment

#SaturdayChristmasShopping We sincerely wish to thank the worldwide fans—this year, due to the excitement of “Summer of Soul,” LaMonte’s popular memoir, “From Hobo Flats to The 5th Dimension: A Life Fulfilled in Baseball, Photography and Music,” had its own resurgence, selling better than ever, globally, in 2021! Enjoy stories as only LaMonte McLemore could tell his biographer Robert-Allan Arno of music & magic, the greatest hits, history, Champagne Soul, Civil Rights, romance, celebrity friends, Grandma’s wisdom, and always with lotsa’ laughs…and love. It’s all there with recommendations by Johnny Mathis, Nancy Sinatra and Marilyn & Billy! Perfect for Christmas gift-giving, purchase your copies at Amazon! Under $19!

With Love & Holiday Blessings from “Mac” & Team

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Summer of Champagne Soul: Our FOREVER 5th DIMENSION Top 5!

Posted on July 14, 2021 | Leave a comment

FOREVER 5th DIMENSION presents the Top 5 for Summer of 2021 for your listening, reading & viewing pleasure–in no necessary order…they’re all spectacular with kudos to Marilyn McCoo & Billy Davis, Jr., Florence LaRue and LaMonte McLemore. Oh, and don’t forget our exclusive online magazine interview with Marilyn & Billy coming for their 52nd wedding anniversary, the end of July! OK, let’s countdown…or count up “Up and Away!”

  1. Marilyn & Billy‘s latest CD, “Blackbird: Lennon/McCartney Icons” is a statement piece in their recording legacy. Our “MarBill” add their inimitable approach with freshness, and a distinct Civil Rights bent to the music of Lennon/McCartney. Critically, celebrity and fan-acclaimed, available at Amazon here: Blackbird: Lennon-McCartney Icons by Marilyn McCoo & Billy Davis Jr. on Amazon Music – Amazon.com
  2. I just reviewed Florence‘s new book “Grace in Your Second Act– A Guide to Aging Gracefully” (see our previous Forever 5th article) and I am still marveling at the amount of research and anecdotal information our “delightful diva” has compiled. It’s an important self-help & faith-based book with strategies that are practical, revelation-al, and oftentimes cute, poignant and celebrity-inspired. Read it “On the Beach (In the Summertime),” available at Amazon here: Grace in Your Second Act: A Guide to Aging Gracefully: LaRue, Florence, Paschall, Jenny: 9781664227088: Amazon.com: Books
  3. LaMonte‘s hit memoir “From Hobo Flats to The 5th Dimension,” now in its 2nd edition, and something I am so honored to have co-written with Mac, is one hip literary trip. Recommended by Johnny Mathis, Nancy Sinatra, Otis Williams of the Temptations, more, LaMonte talks music history, Black history, and shares the secrets that made The 5th Dimension harmonic unifiers–bringing together generations, races and crossing record chart boundaries. Lots of laughs and celeb anecdotes…as only “Mac” can tell a story! Available at Amazon…another great beach read!: Amazon.com: From Hobo Flats to The 5th Dimension: A Life Fulfilled in Baseball, Photography and Music (9780692307366): McLemore, LaMonte, Arno, Robert-Allan: Books
  4. The Ultimate 5th Dimension CD reviewed as “the best-sounding, best-annotated anthology”​ of the quintet by All Music Guide is a 21 song overview of The 5th’s recorded hit magic. And yes, I was so proud to compile the tunes with mega-producer Bones Howe for this project and write the extensive liners. Ultimate is a perennial AND back on the charts due to the “5th resurgence” created by “Summer of Soul,” and now at the “nice price,” at Amazon: The 5th Dimension – Ultimate 5th Dimension – Amazon.com Music
  5. Last by not least, “Summer of Soul” is the hit docu-film of the summer! Producer Questlove unearthed countless pristine celluloid hours of African American musical luminaries performing at The Harlem Cultural Festival, circa 1969. Akin to a “Black Woodstock,” Nina Simone, Stevie Wonder, Gladys Knight & The Pips, Mahalia Jackson, Sly & The Family Stone, and more took to the stage before hundreds of thousands. The #1 song of the day (and the year for that matter), actually a “mash-up” of “Aquarius/Let the Sunshine In” courtesy of Broadway’s HAIR, performed with verve and optimistic joy by a brightly attired The 5th Dimension (Marilyn McCoo, Florence LaRue, Billy Davis, Jr., Ron Townson and McLemore) is one of the movie’s centerpieces. As biographer of The Original 5th Dimension and Mr. McLemore, I stated to SoulTracks and the St. Louis Post-Dispatch: “To see The 5th Dimension on the big screen at the apex of their career is thrilling for their many fans, more so it underscores the unexpected power of the group’s unique ebullient flavor.” Be sure to see “Summer of Soul” at a theater near you…or enjoy at home on Hulu! ~~Robert-Allan Arno

(Hit right arrow to experience slideshow!)

Forever 5th Dimension by Robert-Allan Arno, a production of The Soul of The Voice, Ltd., copyright 2008-21, intellectual property, all rights reserved

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Happy Birthday, Mieko McLemore!

Posted on February 10, 2021 | Leave a comment
LaMonte & Mieko McLemore

Dateline Feb 10—We’re wishing LaMonte’s lovely wife, Mieko, a Happy & Blessed Birthday today. As humble as she can be, Mieko will wring my neck for posting this, lol, but she deserves a glowing tribute. Many of you know, Mieko’s integrity is her hallmark; personally, she is my honorary sister, and it is ever a pleasure to confab with her and Mac whether keeping LaMonte’s various social media informative, reflective & current, or when we were working tirelessly on LaMonte’s popular memoir. In his book “From Hobo Flats to The 5th Dimension” LaMonte highlights Mieko’s delightful sense of humor…and sums up the tale of their charming love story so touchingly, re-working the lyric of a fan favorite song he penned: “A love like ours…was meant to be.” In their Vegas home, Mieko proudly showed me a precious photo of LaMonte’s mother, Mama June and Mieko’s father, walking hand-in-hand. It touchingly stands for Mieko’s heartfelt spirit of unity and exceptional grace. Please join LaMonte and myself, his biographer in celebrating this special lady.  ~~Robert-Allan Arno

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

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We Remember Artist, Kenneth “Kenny” Green

Posted on June 24, 2020 | Leave a comment

Dateline June 24:  On the occasion of his birthday, FOREVER 5th DIMENSION honors the beloved artist Kenneth Green who we recently lost due to complications of Covid-19. The remembrance posted on LaMonte McLemore’s page a few weeks ago, expresses our sentiments so well:

LaMonte by Kenny Greene

Portrait of LaMonte McLemore by Kenneth Green

Today’s post is in memory of New York City artist, singer and special fan & friend of The 5th Dimension, Mr. Kenneth Green who we just learned passed away from complications of Covid-19 last month. According to my biographer, Robert-Allan Arno, Kenny got his original inspiration to be a sketch artist and portrait painter from our 5th Dimension: PORTRAIT album– with those amazing drawings by the renowned Leroy Neiman. Robert commissioned Kenny to paint my portrait and then come surprise me at my NYC book event 5 years ago, the onstage talk show & signing for my memoir “From Hobo Flats to The 5th Dimension” held at the charming Ashford & Simpson’s Sugar Bar. Here is the portrait–unsigned version–Kenny did of me, then us happily posing together with it signed…it is timeless just like Kenny’s eternally sweet and talented spirit and the warm memory of knowing him.

Kenneth Mac

Kenneth Green, LaMonte McLemore holding Kenny’s signed artwork, and Robert-Allan Arno

My lovely wife Mieko adds, “We remember Mr. Green fondly and are so sorry to learn of his passing. His portrait of LaMonte sits proudly in our Las Vegas home.” ~~♥ Mieko & LaMonte McLemore

For their 40th wedding anniversary, Kenny also portrayed Marilyn McCoo & Billy Davis, Jr…something FOREVER 5th DIMENSION was so pleased to use in our social media…Keneth Green MarBill

“Earth hath no sorrow that heaven can not heal”….we will always remember the magical artistic muse of, and endearing, caring soul that is Kenneth Green. —Robert-Allan Arno

Kenneth Green Me

Arno by Green

 

Kenneth Greene

In Loving Memory of Kenneth Green

 

 

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Catching up with LaMonte McLemore!

Posted on May 4, 2020 | Leave a comment

May 4, 2020: FOREVER 5th DIMENSION is so pleased to unveil something extra-fresh off the press! Enjoy an all-new “spotlight interview” with LaMonte McLemore for BACKBEAT R & B Magazine! LaMonte talks with Belinda Barnes about his trailblazing vision, his favorite tunes by The 5th Dimension, and his life’s greatest inspirations and achievements. Learn all about what “Mac” is up to today and read a heartfelt message he has for you, his special fans. As LaMonte’s biographer & press rep, I was so happy to “orchestrate” this lovely feature, thanks Belinda & BACKBEAT!  –Robert-Allan Arno

Dig into “Up-Up and Away with LaMonte McLemore” here, at this link:

https://backbeatrnb.net/up-up-and-away-with-lamonte-mclemore-of-the-5th-dimension/

 

 

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Join LaMonte for “Mac’s Music Mondays!”

Posted on March 14, 2020 | Leave a comment

The 5th Dimension’s uplifting song choices, and smooth, harmonic blend of “Champagne Soul” were known to soothe souls during our country’s turbulent times. And so, for our current trying days of 2020, LaMonte and I put our heads together and decided that starting this Monday, March 16 on his very popular Facebook page, we’ll be presenting “Mac’s Music Mondays.” Each week, LaMonte will bring you his favorite 5th Dimension mega-hits, their also-delightful “turntable hits,” not to mention the songs he wrote, both yesterday and today. As his biographer, Mac & myself have curated some tasty tunes and very special stories in Q & A form…so, “come on and surry down” & be sure to tune-in at his Facebook page, fans & friends!   –Robert-Allan Arno

Mac and MiekoLaMonte & his lovely wife Mieko, thank each & everyone of you for your support, he’s doing great in his continued recovery and is looking forward to “Music Mondays” and more adventures, too!

Find LaMonte on Facebook here: https://www.facebook.com/lamonte.mclemore

MemoirAccompany “Mac’s Music Mondays” with his hip, hit memoir, “From Hobo Flats to The 5th Dimension,” recommended by Johnny Mathis, Nancy Sinatra, Neil Sedaka and McCoo/Davis, available on Amazon, here: https://www.amazon.com/Hobo-Flats-5th-Dimension-Photography/dp/0692307362

lamonte mac final final final

Mac & Arno, Grammy legend & Biographer

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