Happy Birthday Billy Davis, Jr. — His Greatest Solos!
Dateline June 26: Billy Davis, Jr. is truly an American treasure. The multi-Grammy winning soul stylist, with roots as lead singer of The Original 5th Dimension, along with his beautiful wife of soon-to-be 51 years, Marilyn McCoo, has an instantly recognizable voice like no other. Fellow-5th mate Florence LaRue declares, “No one sounds like Billy…he can break your heart!” And his best comrade, 5th-founder LaMonte McLemore punctuates his own memoir (“From Hobo Flats to The 5th Dimension’) acknowledging, “Billy’s lead on ‘A Change is Gonna Come’ says it all.” Mac adds, “Not to mention his ‘havin’ church’ on our biggest hit ‘Aquarius/Let the Sunshine In.'” Yes, the man who implored the world to “Sing along with The 5th Dimension” invited us to share in his own harmonic journey….that of an incomparable legacy artist, a stellar showman, and an inspiring faith-based figure.
Marilyn reminds, “Billy always says, ‘What comes from the heart, goes to the heart.'” Heralded by the likes of Jimmy Webb (“Up-Up and Away”), Eddie Levert (The O’Jays) and Maurice White (Earth, Wind & Fire), Billy humbly sums up his talents best of all, “That’s not me…it’s God working through me!”
Happy Birthday Billy, we love you and celebrate you with these memorable 15 solos to savor at this link: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLaK9iR0FOkJGaF5VqOKcXiTsZZc38Pdpz
Robert-Allan Arno & The Fans
Forever 5th Dimension
copyright 2020, The Soul of The Voice, Ltd., all rights reserved
50 was also magical for Marilyn McCoo & Billy Davis, Jr. as the First Couple of Pop n’ Soul celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary in July. Marilyn, Billy and I got to “croon” about the romantic milestone and their 7-time Grammy winning favorite hits, too, also at “Culture Sonar.”
The ever vivacious 6-time Grammy winning Florence LaRue and The 5th Dimension brought their “Champagne Soul” myriad hits all through the country, in concert, selling out every venue where they performed! Florence, Patrice, Leonard, Floyd and Sidney are already racking up important appearances for 2020. See their exciting developing schedule here: 
In June, LaMonte celebrated the 105th birthday of his cherished mom, “Mama June.” On Sept 29th, a few hours after he and I confabbed as his social media/press coordinator, about saluting Marilyn’s birthday the following day on his Facebook page, I and subsequently global fans learned that Mac had suffered a mild stroke. I am pleased to report that his recovery has been “sparkling.” He and his lovely wife Mieko are constantly out and about in their hometown of Las Vegas and his trademark rich bass offered a resounding:”Merry Christmas and Happy New Year, Rev. Arno!” (his nickname for me) just the other day on the phone! As Mac says, “The best is yet to come!” Look for a new coffee table book on the photos of icon Jayne Kennedy, as historically photographed by LaMonte coming in early 2020.
This year we even un-vaulted a tune by The Original 5th circa ’70: “A Pocketful of Seeds.” And thank you fans, friends and “5th Family” from all over the world, for stopping by these soon-to-be dozen years at our information central, FOREVER 5th DIMENSION. We love and appreciate our favorite stars: Florence, LaMonte and Marilyn & Billy…and we thank YOU most certainly, for your continued support! Indeed, we know you agree…The 5th Dimension…is forever! Light Sings!
—Robert-Allan Arno 
Number 15, in All-time Hits! To Program Director 
To accompany these events, I got to talk to LaMonte McLemore about the legend of “Aquarius” for the popular “Culture Sonar” in late spring, the article is at this link: 
And then I got to visit with Marilyn & Billy about their greatest hits and fondest memories this summer, also for “Culture Sonar” at this link: 
Enjoy this Chevrolet jingle in the spirit of musical versatility that always reflected The 5th Dimension’s essence. Some great jazzy-pop, matchless harmonies, stratospheric high notes from “the girls,” and a sensual mini solo from Florence and a “soul-licious” one from Billy…all in one commercial! 
What an exhilarating late spring & summer of 2019, where 50 seemed to be a magical number! You see, the anniversary of The 5th Dimension’s greatest hit of all time–spending 6 straight weeks at #1 in 1969–the medley of “Aquarius/Let the Sunshine In” hit its 5 decades. We talked all about it at the popular CULTURE SONAR with this exclusive Q & A between myself & LaMonte McLemore. Here’s the link to “The 5th Dimension: The Age of Aquarius at 50”:
So put on some hazelnut-flavored coffee, put up a pot of spicy herbal tea, grab some delectable cookies, too…and let’s get cozy with our very gracious, favorite couple, who’ll make YOU “a star in their show”…
Our friend Loretta Sorensen has a couple of thoughtful inquires of each of you: “If you were not in the entertainment business, what other career would you see yourself in? She continues with: “What was your favorite song growing up?”
In this regard, Duane Edwards submitted a reflection: “Does a second commercial for Jello exist? I either dreamed it or saw it once on afternoon TV during the soaps. It went something like this: hands are seen carrying a tray with bowls of Jello into a recording studio to a receptive group. The members of The 5th Dimension are then seen enjoying the treat while listening to their Jello jingle!”
INTRODUCING “Marilyn & Billy’s Living Room“…and Special Fans, YOU’RE INVITED! Over the past 9 years, each time the globally-acclaimed FOREVER 5th DIMENSION blog has had the pleasure of interviewing the 7-time Grammy award-winning “First Couple of Pop & Soul,” hands-down your consistent feedback has been: “It’s like I’m in their living room, being part of the conversation with Marilyn and Billy!” The blog’s creator and trusted biographer of The Original 5th Dimension, 
FOREVER 5TH DIMENSION 
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