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
Exclusive from LaMonte McLemore‘s social media which I’m proud to curate as we celebrate Halloween at FOREVER 5th DIMENSION. —Robert-Allan Arno
“Happy Halloween Friends, Family, and Fans! Here I am as the crystal ball-reading wizard, from The 5th Dimension‘s “Travelling Sunshine Show” TV special circa ’71…and I’m seeing into the future my beautiful daughter, Ciara having holiday fun today!” —LaMonte
Halloween Bonus! Join the Original 5th Dimension for their version of The Adams Family, produced by Forever 5th Dimension, here:
Songs by The 5th Dimension/#MarilynBilly in a Halloween Mood:
–“The River Witch” (Billy Solo) from “Living Together, Growing Together”
–“Night Song” from Marilyn & Billy’s “The Two of Us”
–“Magic in My Life” (Florence Solo) from “Earthbound”
Forever 5th Dimension by Arno, a production of The Soul of The Voice, Ltd., copyright 2008-24, intellectual property, all rights reserved, Photos: Courtesy LaMonte McLemore and Ciara McLemore
September 17, 2024: We celebrate the birthday of the inimitable LaMonte McLemore—the St. Louis-born founder of chart-topping, 6-time Grammy winning legends The 5th Dimension, and the group’s mellow bass for over 40 years. Their timeless tunes like the uplifting and anthemic “Up-Up and Away,” “Stoned Soul Picnic,” and “Aquarius/Let the Sunshine In,” and the romantic “One Less Bell to Answer,” and “Wedding Bell Blues,” are iconic musical tapestries for multi-generations.
LaMonte is also known as the premiere freelance photographer for JET magazine’s “Beauty of the Week” feature for 5 decades. In fact, 2024 ushered in McLemore’s new coffee table book titled “Black is Beautiful—JET Beauties of the Week” at a gala event in Las Vegas attended by over 200 of “Mac’s” closest friends & colleagues including Original 5th Dimension mates Marilyn McCoo & Billy Davis, Jr. and Florence LaRue. The luxurious book spotlights LaMonte’s trailblazing photography, which edifies the all-encompassing beauty of women of color.
Known for his sense of humor & style and overall kindness, “The Bronze Clark Gable” is also the author of the popular inspirational memoir “From Hobo Flats to The 5th Dimension (A Life Fulfilled in Baseball, Photography and Music)” as told to Robert-Allan Arno.
In celebration of his birthday this year, on LaMonte’s lively Facebook page of 5,000 followers, his fans, friends, and family will be invited to share their special “reflections of Mac.” And in honor of his birthday, LaMonte welcomes charitable contributions to the America to Africa Higher Education Foundation (where Mac is on the Board of Directors) at: www.AmericatoAfricaHigherEducationFoundation.com
His biographer and social media curator, Mr. Arno shares, “On behalf of worldwide fans and friends, we send our love, respect and admiration to a hero, mentor, friend, and brother like no other, LaMonte McLemore.”
Special Offer for Special Fans! This charcoal original 16 x 24 collage by the acclaimed Nigerian artist, Ephraim David Udoka is called “The World of LaMonte” and was unveiled to “oohs & ahs” at Mac’s luxurious “Black is Beautiful’ event in Las Vegas early this year. Today by popular request, it’s available in limited edition 16 x 18 high-definition prints, suitable for framing, where ALL proceeds go to the America to Africa Higher Education foundation. Pictured in the artwork, clockwise, is “classic Mac,” LaMonte’s Mama June, “Little Mac” with Grandma Gertrude, LaMonte & wife Mieko, The Original 5th Dimension, and LaMonte with his famed camera.
For a tax-deductible donation of $99 including postage & handling, you’ll receive the print, in protective mailing cylinder. (United States orders, only please.) If you are interested in obtaining this artwork that will help more Nigerian scholars’ educational dreams become a reality, request “The World of LaMonte” at PayPal.
It’s easy–here’s how! Just go to PayPal and enter as payee: VoiceActions@hotmail.com, pay $99 and indicate “LaMonte.” We thank you from the bottom of our cross-cultural hearts and say, “God bless you!”
We share this lovely message from manager & friend, Jason Winters: “Happy Birthday LaMonte! You are the GOAT! Without your talent, creativity, strength and amazing kindness, The Original 5th Dimension would never have happened. Congratulations on another race around the Sun. You are deeply loved by millions, including your Angel Mieko, Sir Robert-Allan, Marilyn & Billy and each member of our tribe. We love you. God bless you. Your Sterling Winters Family.”
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.
Limited Edition Poster Offer! Hi Fans, Friends & Family! This is Robert-Allan Arno and as many of you know, LaMonte McLemore is on the Board of Directors of my foundation, America to Africa Higher Education Foundation–AAHEF, a public charity commencing our 3rd year, that provides collegiate scholarships & related needs to brilliant Nigerian students, who would otherwise not be able to afford university fees. We’re honored, too that Marilyn McCoo & Billy Davis, Jr., their management, and Florence LaRue also support the work of AAHEF.
This charcoal original 16 x 24 collage by the acclaimed Nigerian artist, Ephraim David Udoka is called “The World of LaMonte” and was unveiled to “oohs & ahs” at Mac’s luxurious “Black is Beautiful’ event in Las Vegas early this year. Today by popular request, it’s available in limited edition 16 x 18 high-definition prints, suitable for framing, where ALL proceeds go to the foundation. Pictured in the artwork, clockwise, is “classic Mac,” LaMonte’s Mama June, “Little Mac” with Grandma Gertrude, LaMonte & wife Mieko, The Original 5th Dimension, and LaMonte with his famed camera.
For a tax-deductible donation of $129 including postage & handling, you’ll receive the print, in protective mailing cylinder. (United States orders, only please.) If you are interested in obtaining this artwork that will help more Nigerian scholars’ educational dreams become a reality, request “The World of LaMonte” at PayPal.
Just go to PayPal and enter as payee: VoiceActions@hotmail.com, pay $129 and indicate “LaMonte.” We thank you from the bottom of our cross-cultural hearts and say, “God bless you!”
Forever 5th Dimension by Arno, a production of The Soul of The Voice, Ltd. copyright 2008-24, intellectual property, all rights reserved. “The World of LaMonte” by Ephraim David Udoka, copyright 2024, all rights reserved.
LaMonte McLemore‘s lovely, iconic friend Jayne Kennedy Overton cued us into this thrilling “just in!” LaMonte‘s new coffee table book, available on Amazon, “Black is Beautiful: JET Beauties of the Week” has been featured in an in-depth article by Jennifer Wilson in the New Yorker Magazine. You can read the entire article (complete with beautiful women!) at this link, courtesy of Govinda Gallery. Ms. Wilson observes, “McLemore knew to make the images look as natural as the beauties he was tasked with shooting.” —Robert-Allan Arno
We’re wishing dads, uncles, brothers, mentors, teachers, pastors and yes, superb singers…all the great men who have influenced us in such positive transformative ways…a Happy & Blessed Father’s Day! ❤ Taking this personal opportunity to acknowledge LaMonte McLemore and Billy Davis, Jr. who have greatly impacted me in how to conduct myself in “the entertainment biz”…and in life. These gentle yet dynamic men are dear familial friends, who have guided and mentored me to this day…it is a blessing to have them on the proverbial journey and with this being the 1st Father’s Day without my beloved dad, their presence is underscored, all the more. —Robert-Allan Arno
Happy New Month, Fans, Family & Friends. June 1 marks LaMonte & Mieko McLemore‘s’ 29th wedding anniversary! As LaMonte declares warmly in his memoir “From Hobo Flats to The 5th Dimension,” with a re-write of his classic tune, dedicated to Mieko: “A Love Like Ours…was meant to be.” —Robert-Allan Arno
A Forever 5th Dimension Exclusive by Robert-Allan Arno:
This past weekend in Las Vegas, LaMonte McLemore celebrated with his angelic wife Mieko and a few hundred closest friends, the dawning of his newest book to be released for Valentine’s Day ’24, an artful one titled “Black is Beautiful,” representing his photographic excellence for JET magazine’s trailblazing Beauty of the Week, featuring some of the loveliest women of our time. Cherished family and musical friends, colleagues from the publishing, modeling and media world, gathered and gave testimonial speeches or sang songs at a special event, for a special man, MC’ed by Harry Elston of the Friends of Distinction. The members of The Original 5th Dimension, Marilyn McCoo & Billy Davis Jr. and Florence LaRue brought extra excitement by their attendance as did Jayne Kennedy Overton. Love was truly in the air for our visionary, Mac! Enjoy some select event photos courtesy of LaMonte’s daughter, Ciara and the Arno/5th Legacy Collection. You can start pre-ordering the luxurious coffee table book “Black is Beautiful” on Amazon and other relevant sites.
Billy, Marilyn and Florence all gave charming recounts of precious “5th history” and how it was LaMonte who was the catalyst for it all…while MC Harry Elston looked on!
Sitting at the head table with my heroes & sheroes, Florence, Marilyn, Billy, and LaMonte and giving a testimonial speech in honor of “Mac” as his biographer plus repping the millions of worldwide fans of The 5th Dimension, saying the star’s names onstage as they are rightfully due and remembering Ron “Sweets” Townson, too…was a dream come true.
Florence LaRue, Robert-Allan Arno, Billy Davis, Jr., Marilyn McCoo
Underscoring LaMonte’s motto: “We are only in this world to help one another,” garnered knowing “Amen’s” from the crowd as I unveiled this wonderful artwork that I had commissioned for the festivities by gifted Nigerian artist Ephraim David Udoka, titled “LaMonte’s World.” It was met by an appreciative collective “Ahhh!”
At Forever 5th Dimension, as we begin our 16th year, we are always happy to take you to exclusive events like the unforgettable “Black is Beautiful” soiree and bring you more up-to-the-minute surprises as 2024 unfolds. –Robert-Allan Arno
Forever 5th Dimension by Arno, intellectual property, all rights reserved, Photo Credits: Arno/5th Legacy Collection, Ciara McLemore, Cynthia Shelby, and artwork by Ephraim Udoka, copyright 2024, a production of The Soul of The Voice, Ltd.
LaMonte McLemore is so sorry to announce the passing of his good friend, Richard Roundtree. Born July 9, 1942, he was an iconic actor as well as a former model. Roundtree is noted as being a trendsetting action hero for his portrayal of private detective John Shaft in the 1971 film “Shaft,” and its four sequels, released between 1972 and 2019. For his performance in the original film, Roundtree was nominated for the Golden Globe Award for New Star of the Year – Actor in 1972. LaMonte notes in his memoir “From Hobo Flats to The 5th Dimension,” that Mr. Roundtree was not only a trailblazer as an African American actor (who continued to work over decades), but for courageously bringing public awareness to the sensitive issue of male breast cancer, as a survivor. Richard was part of a circle of dear longtime friends, which includes The Original5th Dimension family, Harry Elston of The Friends of Distinction, Jayne Kennedy, FredaPayne, and more. LaMonte extends heartfelt prayers for Richard’s family and many fans, and punctuates, “Richard was an icon…and always a gentleman.”
—Robert-Allan Arno for Forever 5th Dimension and #TeamMac
Marilyn (McCoo) refers to them as “the precursor group to The 5th Dimension,” they’re the Hi-Fi’s, later called the Vocals! Managed by none other than Ray Charles, their sound was vocal Jazz and one of their tunes (later re-recorded by The Friends of Distinction most excellently) is “Lonesome Mood.” In fact, this rare photo comes to Forever 5th Dimension courtesy of our good friend, Mr. Harry Elston of The Friends. LaMonte (McLemore) writes about a rollicking time with the group in his memoir “From Hobo Flats to The 5th Dimension” in the amusing chapter titled, “Hi-Fi Nights n’ Flights.” Pictured left to right: Harry Elston, Fritz Basket, Lawrence Summers, Rex Middleton (front, conductor), Marilyn McCoo and LaMonte McLemore.
—Robert-Allan Arno
“From Hobo Flats to The 5th Dimension,” the hip hit memoir available at Amazon:
Enjoy “Lonesome Mood” by The Friends of Distinction, here:
Forever 5th Dimension by Arno, a production of The Soul of The Voice, Ltd., copyright 2008-2023, intellectual property, all rights reserved.
FOREVER 5TH DIMENSION 
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