Our 19th 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: We’re wishing our “Delightful Diva,” the lovely and ever energetic Florence LaRue, a blessed Happy Birthday. For over 50 years, Florence has brought the music & magic of The 5th Dimension to the sold-out masses, worldwide. LaMonte mentions, “Florence has an uncanny knack of knowing everyone’s parts including her own…a great asset in keeping The 5th Dimension sound vibrant.” Marilyn confides, “During the group’s formation, when we were auditioning women for our alto position, I had a friend who was up for the job. But when Florence came to sing, we just knew she had that special something…she was the one.” New York radio legend Cousin Brucie calls Florence one of “the sweethearts of the Rock n’ Soul era.”
Personally, it was Florence who gave me my very first media interview at the great WBAU on Long Island, my college radio station. She took the time to tell me, “You know so much about us…you make me feel like I’m talking to a friend. Keep doing what you’re doing, Robert!” Impactful words from a lady who has always had a special affinity for young people, with her credential in teaching as well as multi-Grammys and millions of fans.
I extend lots of Love & Blessings (and flowers!) to a dear friend who possesses a heart of gold…and we can’t wait to see what adventures she & The 5th Dimension have in store for us in 2025! –Robert-Allan Arno
Forever 5th Dimension by Arno, a production of The Soul of The Voice, Ltd., copyright 2008-25, Intellectual Property, all rights reserved
Dateline January 29–Today we honor the birthday of a gentleman of song who stood for dignity, artistry, pride in bridging musical genres…and making history as a member of The Original 5th Dimension, Ron “Sweets” Townson. There’s not a day that goes by, that dedicated fans of The 5th Dimension don’t smile at the memory of Ron. FOREVER 5th DIMENSION presents our comprehensive tribute to him with song links and quotes from Florence, LaMonte, Marilyn & Billy, his son Kyle, plus fan and management remembrances and exclusive interview memories with Ron at this link: https://forever5thdimension.com/2014/01/
It’s that special time of year where FOREVER 5th DIMENSION brings you our Merry 5th-mas Top 10 Playlist…beloved holiday tunes by our favorite stars at this link:
I just spoke at length with Marilyn & Billy, Florence and LaMonte & wife, Mieko…each are looking forward to a bright, blessed Christmas and have exciting things on the horizon for 2025, personally I am “forever grateful” for their example, their guidance, and their golden friendships…and for the worldwide fans who stop by FOREVER 5th by the thousands, every year. We’ll have a special new year edition recap, too…stay tuned!
God’s abundant blessings,
Robert-Allan Arno
Bonus!Christmas Gift Idea! 50% off! Treat yourself or gift someone with LaMonte McLemore’s new luxurious coffee table book “Black is Beautiful” spotlighting his trailblazing photos for JET Magazine’s iconic Beauty of the Week feature. Available at Amazon here: https://www.amazon.com/Black-Beautiful-JET-Beauties-Week/dp/1648230474
Flashback! Fans & Friends meet with Marilyn & Billy after the show…the Colors of Christmas Tour, 2017, a Forever 5th Dimension memory collage! (Featuring Jeffrey Graham, Jonathan Weitz, Susie Paige, Cynthia M. White, Miguel de Leon, Pastor Martha Vink, Jim Kelly, Ronald Lange, and yours truly, Robert-Allan Arno)
Forever 5th Dimension, copyright 2008-24, all rights reserved
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
FOREVER 5TH DIMENSION 
You must be logged in to post a comment.