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
The Original 5th Dimension (Arno 5th Legacy Collection)
#RightOn! FOREVER 5th DIMENSION is pleased to report that in Rewound Radio’s (the #1 Oldies Internet Radio Station) year-end Top 77 All Time Hits Listener Voted Survey, The 5th Dimension scored 5 hits: “Stoned Soul Picnic,” “Wedding Bell Blues,” “Up-Up and Away,” “One Less Bell to Answer,” and “Aquarius/Let the Sunshine In.” Thank you, fans & friends, for casting your votes, and to Program Director Allan Sniffen who shows such great respect for The 5th Dimension legacy, all year through. Listen to Rewound through New Year’s Day to hear the Top 77, and guess what? LaMonte McLemore, Florence LaRue, Marilyn McCoo, and Billy Davis, Jr. intro the 5th hits, themselves, with fresh ID’s that I was so pleased to coordinate with the stars & Rewound!! ~~Robert-Allan Arno
EnJOY our updated-for-2021 comprehensive guide to the holiday music of the members of The Original 5th Dimension, featuring latest song entries, exclusive quotes given to Forever 5th Dimension from the stars, and fun photos!
Joyful Christmas Blessings to fans, friends & family the world over and special thanks to the stars, Marilyn & Billy, Florence, and LaMonte, plus their respective management. ~~Robert-Allan Arno
For our East Coast Fans, premieres onstage, live Dec 2 — Dec 12 at Hudson Theater Works!
Elliot and Me is a musical comedy based on the lives of songwriter Elliot Willensky and his younger brother Steven. The brothers have written a 2-man show they are preparing to pitch to legendary Broadway producer Max Stone. It’s a heartfelt story of brotherly love based on a powerful bond that has grown through the years. Elliot is a charming, free-spirited ladies’ man overflowing with talent and joie-de-vivre… with a knack to drive Steven crazy. Elliot and Steven both reflect on the volatile ups and downs of their shared experiences: from their raucous “wonder years” growing up in Bayonne, NJ; to the painful conflict when Elliot defies the expectations of his traditional middle-class Jewish family and drops out of medical school to write pop songs; to Elliot’s rise to stardom writing hits for Michael Jackson, WhitneyHouston, The 5th Dimension and Steven’s starry-eyed admiration for his Hollywood lifestyle; and eventually to their role reversals when Elliot’s career hits a few bumps in the road and he needs to rely on Steven for help. The play culminates with a supersonic rendition of The 5th Dimension fan-favorite, “The Singer” co-written by group founding member, LaMonte McLemore and Elliot Willensky. Each of the surviving members of The Original 5th Dimension (Mac, FlorenceLaRue, and Marilyn McCoo & BillyDavis, Jr.) gave their enthusiastic approval of the song to be utilized in the musical as its apex…certainly another exciting “new dimension” to the group’s legacy!
“A contemporary musical of passion, dreams and brotherly pathos…featuring re-imagined versions of classics by Whitney, Michael plus 5th Dimension powerhouse, “The Singer” culminating the festivities! Starring top flight Broadway actors & singers, EricBriarley & Drew Seigla deliver the goods with abounding energies.” ~~Robert-Allan Arno, Biographer–The Original 5th Dimension
Forever 5th Dimension, a production of The Soul of The Voice, Ltd., copyright 2008-2021, all rights reserved
#Forever5thDimension is Honoring Veterans Day 2021 and all who have served in the US Military including original members Billy Davis, Jr. (US Army, where Billy sung on stage under Army auspices while stationed in Germany), and LaMonte McLemore (who served as a US Navy Seal and did photography for government medical-illustration purposes). God bless each of you who have served our country.
Billy and LaMonte at the St. Louis Walk of Fame Ceremony for The 5th Dimension
Quote from LaMonte McLemore as featured in his memoir, “From Hobo Flats to The 5th Dimension,” as told to Robert-Allan Arno:
“Seriously, when a Vietnam Vet tells me he can never forget the feeling of hearing ‘Aquarius/Let the Sunshine In’ for the first time on Armed Forces Radio, that our harmonies kept him connected to home while so far away, it surely warms my heart. When other Vets confide with pride that one of my JET ‘Beauty’s’ was their prime pinup…hey now, I smile!”
(Forever 5th Dimension by Robert-Allan Arno, a production of The Soul of The Voice, Ltd.,, copyright 2008-2021, intellectual property, all rights reserved)
“Wedding Bell Blues” by The 5th Dimension: the song went to #1 on this date, November 8 in 1969 and stayed at the top of the charts for 3 weeks. “It’s a song written by Laura Nyro that I always liked and held onto for just the right moment,” told producer Bones Howe to 5th/Mac biographer Robert-Allan Arno. Howe continued, “And when LaMonte whispered to me that Marilyn & Billy had been dating…that was it! We had Marilyn record it as a kinda’ wink…then the group came in to do the backgrounds and Billy was certainly pleasantly surprised!”
Dateline September 17: Today is a sweet celebration, the birthday of the one & only LaMonte McLemore. Some know him worldwide as the multi-Grammy winning “mellow bass” and stylish, visionary founder of legends, The 5th Dimension. Others know him as the premier freelance photographer for JET magazine’s trailblazing Beauty of the Week feature. In your own life’s journey, you may have been in a 5th Dimension sold-out audience, modeled for & been photographed by him, or played a cool game of softball sharing the field. And everyone who has had a personal “moment with Mac” is made to feel special because LaMonte has a knack for seeing everyone’s individual “greatest hit!”
About 2 years ago, LaMonte suffered a stroke. May this greeting also serve as an update, since many of you have inquired. He is progressing well and via this message reaches out to each of you to say “Right on,” and even remember your own birthdays! Like you, LaMonte was thrilled with The 5th Dimension’s appearance in this summer’s Indy film blockbuster, “Summer of Soul.” And he appreciated your sympathies at the passing of his cherished “Mama June” at age 106, this past year. And guess what? Something you probably know…LaMonte always “keeps on steppin’!” He will soon announce some very exciting new projects he & his team have been working on, always pleasing friends, fans, and family!
We appreciate LaMonte’s capacity 5,000 Facebook friends here, we keep his page fresh and up-to-date with not only rare photos & select memories but current events…and making it inclusive, supporting the projects of the other members of The Original 5th Dimension, the married team of Marilyn & Billy, plus Florence & The current 5th Dimension…we call them “5th Family.” And in that family spirit, LaMonte, Mieko and myself, his biographer & social media curator/media spokesman love putting our heads together to bring you our lively best.
So please leave your birthday greetings for LaMonte…he will certainly enjoy reading them and sends you his love & blessings on his special day! ~~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)
What a charming & charmed “Champagne Soul” summer of ’21…we could certainly say it was a “Summer of Soul,” literally all the world over! The Original 5th Dimension made the cover of 2 international magazines, “Shindig” out of England, and “Blues & Soul” from Japan in honor of their appearance in this summer’s hit docu-movie, “Summer of Soul.” (Thank you to our friend Ryuji for bringing the latter cover to our attention.)
Forever 5th Dimension celebrated our 14th year and I did so, personally by seeing Florence LaRue & The 5th Dimension for my pre-birthday weekend in the quaint town of Sellersville in early August. Right now, I’m wearing the beautiful silver crucifix Florence had so thoughtfully gifted me for the occassion…it truly symbolizes the love and protective essence that The 5th Dimension has provided since I was a young boy. And so many of you have a similar story of feeling that warmth in your early life…all the way to today because of what “The 5th” has meant to you…the stories people have shared with me over the years define fellowship…and I hope to compile them in the near future.
More birthday gifts from LaMonte & Mieko (delectable biscuits & coffee!) and these extra-special words from Marilyn & Billy capped off quite a sweet celebration: “Robert, you are such a blessing in our personal & professional lives. We appreciate the many loving ways you show how much you care. We’re proud to call you our friend. Love, Billy and Marilyn.”
Yes, today, to be in a position to work with and showcase my artistic heroes–Marilyn & Billy, Florence & The 5th Dimension, and LaMonte via various social media and other projects is always a “gotta’ pinch myself” moment–something I never take for granted amid my other media, teaching and humanitarian work. But above all, to have their valued friendship and love re-defines the “Up-Up and Away” lyric: “the world’s a nicer place.”
“Love is waiting there!” Do see The 5th Dimension on tour…it’s family fun, “fresh” nostalgia and Florence, Patrice, Leonard, Floyd and Sidney make sure the harmonies are precise, pristine and exhilarating. ALL the hits…and superlative presentations like the extensive “Rain Medley”…and intimate moments when Florence sits on a stool and talks from the heart to an enraptured audience sharing her life philosophy & cute humor make for a thoroughly memorable experience.
Coming for later September, it’s birthday time for both LaMonte and Marilyn! Then in early October, I’ll be with Marilyn & Billy in New Hope, PA for a special charitable gala & their performance. Stay tuned to Forever 5th for the latest & greatest! For now, I’ll leave you with this indelible Labor Day weekend memory from 50 years ago, yes 50–it truly seems like yesterday!! ~~Robert-AllanArno
Enjoy The Original 5th Dimension on the Jerry Lewis MDA Labor Day telethon. LaMonte shares, “We had just completed a major summer tour and were so happy to be there with ‘Light Sings,’ ‘Never My Love,’ and more so, to help an important cause for Muscular Dystrophy. Remember, we are only in this world to help one another.”
Visit Marilyn McCoo & Billy Davis, Jr. at http://www.mccoodavis.com ~Featuring their critically-acclaimed CD, “Blackbird: Lennon/McCartney Icons”
Visit LaMonte McLemore on Facebook! ~Big News from Mac coming for the holiday season!
Select Photo Credits: Robert w/ The 5th Dimension, and Florence & Patrice courtesy M. Robinson; Marilyn & Billy commissioned artwork by Ephraim David Udoka; Marilyn & LaMonte by Arnie Lee
(Forever 5th Dimension by Robert-Allan Arno, a production of The Soul of The Voice, Ltd., copyright 2008-2021, Intellectual Property, All Rights Reserved.)
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!”
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
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
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
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
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
We’re coming out of a difficult time and leave it to the essence of the original stars of The 5th Dimension, just as they did during the turbulent times of the late ’60’s, to STILL bring their inimitable sunshine for the summer of 2021, a time where we also celebrate our 14th year of Forever 5th Dimension. And I can’t thank the stars, my dearest of friends and personal mentors, Marilyn & Billy, Florence, and LaMonte for their “forever soul & inspiration!” Now let’s dig in to the latest & greatest…
Who I call “my angels,” Marilyn McCoo & Billy Davis, Jr. have a critically acclaimed new CD project, “Blackbird: Lennon/McCartney Icons” and the song selection and interpretations make this glowing affair “milestone & magnificent” with a call to Civil and Human Rights…and a winning vote for the twosome’s eternal artistry. I’m simply leaving the Amazon link, fans & friends, if you have not already purchased. (And what an honor to be mentioned, personally, in their liner notes for the project.) Forever 5th Dimension announces a very special interview between yours truly, Robert-Allan Arno and “MarBill” about this equally special endeavor in time for their 52nd wedding anniversary (7/26), at a very cool literary venue…details upcoming! We’re gonna take a deep dive with the Q & A! Order “Blackbird: Lennon/McCartney Icons” at Amazon, here: Marilyn McCoo & Billy Davis Jr. – Blackbird: Lennon-McCartney Icons – Amazon.com Music
The docufilm “Summer of Soul,” already an award-winner at this year’s Sundance Film Festival, produced by Questlove, makes its theatrical debut on July 2nd. The Original 5th Dimension, at the apex of their prowess, perform the No. 1 song of the time, and the year, for that matter, “Aquarius/Let the Sunshine In,” and more. Yes, the year is 1969, it’s the Harlem Cultural Festival and all of the artists who performed including Nina Simone, Mahalia Jackson, BB King, Stevie Wonder, David Ruffin, and Sly & The Family Stone, have literally been unearthed with this priceless un-vaulted and restored archival footage complete with new interviews. Featuring an emotionally compelling one with McCoo and Davis…roll out the Red Carpet and don’t miss it!
The ever vivacious “delightful diva,” Florence LaRue and The 5th Dimension (Patrice, Floyd, Leonard & Sidney) are back touring this summer, with tasty dates from east coast to west! (Please scroll down and see our article) Ms. LaRue and The 5th never disappoint their sold-out crowds with the best “Champagne Soul” in town…and lots of surprises!
“From Hobo Flats to The 5th Dimension,” the hip hit memoir, on Amazon!
LaMonte McLemore thanks each of you, his memoir “From Hobo Flats to The 5th Dimension” (which I had the pleasure to co-author) continues to sell well, the world over…a shout-out to fans in England, Japan, France, Canada, and of course, the USA! We have great fun on his Facebook page which I get to curate with Mac and his lovely wife Mieko, currently celebrating #BlackMusicMonth…and there’s always a plethora of rare and classic photos everyone seems to love. “Mac” has some surprises up his magical sleeve, too…stay tuned, and as he winks, “Right on!”
(Forever 5th Dimension by Robert-Allan Arno, a production of The Soul of The Voice, Ltd., copyright 2008-21, all rights reserved)
We are saddened by the loss of the great B.J. Thomas who excelled in Pop, Country & Gospel–he always brought Soul to every note! It was an honor for me to solo with “Raindrops Keep Fallin’ on my Head” during The 5th Dimension’s “Rain Medley” in our live shows. Our condolences & prayers, LaMonte & Team
Marilyn McCoo recounted at the FOREVER 5th DIMENSION interview, “Marilyn & Billy’s Livingroom” and in a feature I conducted with Marilyn & Billy (Davis, Jr.) at Culture Sonar for their 50th wedding anniversary, that among her favorite duet partners while hosting TV’s memorable “Solid Gold” was B. J. Thomas. Marilyn & Billy also expressed that it was so good to be performing at the Jimmy Webb Carnegie Hall tribute a few years back, with cherished friends like B. J. ~~Robert-Allan Arno
2 of the Best: Here are Marilyn & B. J. duet-ing with 3 of Mr. Thomas’s greatest hits: “Raindrops,” “Hooked on a Feelin'” and “Somebody Done Somebody Wrong Song”:
(Forever 5th Dimension by Robert-Allan Arno, a production of The Soul of The Voice, Ltd. copyright 2008-21, all rights reserved)
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