The unifying, harmonic, and unique “Champagne Soul” essence of The 5th Dimension is timeless. This blog, entering its 18th year this summer, celebrates the group and its original stars’ trailblazing achievements and ongoing positive influence. More recently, the Oscar-winning musical documentary “Summer of Soul,” produced by Questlove, underscored The 5th Dimension’s relevance and joyful acceptance at the Harlem Cultural Festival in 1969, during the chart-topping height of their medley of peace and hope for a generation, “Aquarius/Let the Sunshine In.”
Questlove’s newest documentary, “Sly Lives (aka The Burden of Black Genius),” about Sly Stone of Sly and the Family Stone, alludes to The 5th Dimension (via the above photo flashed onscreen) as a family-friendly quintet that Sly was advised to emulate early in his group’s career, to which he firmly declined. This does not, in any way, disparage The 5th Dimension. As the song “Everyday People” says, “different strokes for different folks.” Plus, the hit commercial sounds of both groups intersected in a tangible and metaphorical harmonious wash. In fact, The 5th Dimension performed “I Want to Take You Higher” in their live act as an audience participation crowd-pleaser, and later, Marilyn & Billy (McCoo & Davis) opened their live shows with “Everyday People.” Maurice White even told 5th mega producer Bones Howe that “Stoned Soul Picnic” quote, did it for him and inspired him to form Earth, Wind & Fire. However, let’s not digress too far, as today’s entry of FOREVER 5th DIMENSION focuses on the following “quintet” of major achievements amid the group’s long history of milestones.
*Grammy History: The official Grammy Awards website states, “The 5th Dimension had two big Grammy nights in 1968 and 1970, scooping up six awards between the two. With those six wins, they became the first group or duo to win twice for Record of the Year: “Up, Up and Away” in 1968, and “Aquarius/Let the Sunshine In (The Flesh Failures)” in 1970.” According to LaMonte McLemore, what they fail to mention is that The 5th Dimension was the first African American group to do so.
*Television First: Similarly, Marilyn and Billy were the first African American married couple to have their own network TV variety series, The Marilyn McCoo & Billy Davis, Jr. Show in the summer of ’77.
*As Ambassadors: The 5th Dimension traveled behind ‘The Iron Curtain’ in April of 1973 as US Cultural Ambassadors, performing concerts for audiences in Turkey, Romania, Czechoslovakia, and Poland. In TV variety show host Ed Sullivan’s newspaper column of the time, Florence LaRue is quoted: “The young people rushed the stages…they wanted to touch Black people who they had never seen before.” Later in other interviews, she added, “We were their connection to freedom.” Two points by Ms. LaRue when placed together, that are profoundly meaningful. Returning home, The 5th Dimension were the first entertainers to be featured on TV’s politically oriented “Issues and Answers.”
*On Broadway: The 5th Dimension appeared on Broadway at the Uris Theatre from Nov 27, 1974, and played through Dec 8, 1974. in a musical extravaganza that presented their hits and fresh tunes spotlighting a new musical attitude in a two-part act, complete with comedic skits and poetry selections. Later, other musical artists like Diana Ross and Lena Horne adopted this Broadway concept. My impressionable high school self was present at one of the 2 week-long shows, taking copious notes. Never would I think they’d appear in what would be known as a blog some 50 years later but now seems the right time to give our readers a glimpse into this theatrical spectacular. The show began with a choreographed party skit of “Harlem,” the group’s latest single from the newly released “Soul and Inspiration” album. Marilyn, in long pearls and a feather boa, and Florence’s fluid modern dance moves, made the song a living canvas, not to mention the guys getting down, too, for the tableau that included the support of Jo Jo’s Dance Factory. Solos included Ron’s “One Hell of a Woman,” (yet according to critics, his operatic virtuosity shone other nights with his rendering from “Pagliacci”), Marilyn’s “Loneliness” while intimately sitting centerstage on a stool for this ballad penned by Paul Williams, and Florence’s powerful yet wistful “My Love” by Paul McCartney. In the political commentary medley of “I Just Want to Celebrate/Ball of Confusion” amid strobe lighting and smoke, the complete version of “The Flesh Failures” from HAIR was also included with the familiar “let the sunshine” part delivered differently than usual, as a melancholy battle cry. A scorching “Fire” ensued with lyrics that included, “When you were a baby, your mama told you not to play with fire,” a song recorded by Osibisa, a British-Ghanaian-Caribbean Afro rock band. This was followed by a touching “Tomorrow Belongs to the Children,” from The 5th Dimension’s “Individually and Collectively” album.
After intermission with the Dance Factory, “Celebrate Life” (a reggae-tinged hit made popular by Johnny Nash) had Marilyn, Florence, Billy, LaMonte and Ron coming down the aisles from the back of the theater, and later, “What is Hip?” by Tower of Power had Billy effortlessly shaking the rafters. Cleverly, this was the first time the audience was asked to shout-out their favorite 5th song requests. Besides “Up, Up and Away,” “One Less Bell,” “Wedding Bell Blues,” “Stoned Soul Picnic,” and “Aquarius/Let the Sunshine In,” Music Director, John Myles was ready with The 5th to treat us to such older gems as “Paper Cup,” “Carpet Man,” “Sweet Blindness,” and “Never My Love.”
Before the funky finale of “Dancin’ Machine” made popular by The Jackson 5, comedy segments where Billy was mistaken for Sammy Davis, Jr., and Florence spoofed Diana Ross brought laughs. But the moment of revelation was what Playbill noted as the Black Poetry segment featuring the works of Langston Hughes, Jaci Early, Sandra Sharper, and Paul Lawrence Dunbar. Marilyn coming forward to deliver Nikki Giovanni’s “Revolutionary Dreams” was a stand-out. We recently lost this beloved nationally renowned poet of Civil Rights, and as a tribute, we respectfully share Ms. Giovanni’s poem:
Revolutionary Dreams
i used to dream militant
dreams of taking
over america to show
these white folks how it should be
done
i used to dream radical dreams
of blowing everyone away with my perceptive powers
of correct analysis
i even used to think i’d be the one
to stop the riot and negotiate the peace
then i awoke and dug
that if i dreamed natural
dreams of being a natural
woman doing what a woman
does when she’s natural
i would have a revolution
Source | Giovanni, Nikki. “Revolutionary Dreams” (1970) in The Women and the Men. New York City: William Morrow, 1975.
Footnote: While The 5th Dimension was co-hosting The Mike Douglas Show, Ms. Giovanni was on the panel. Very quietly, Marilyn mentioned, “We performed your poem during our show,” to which Nikki humbly nodded with an appreciative smile.
Speaking of Broadway, The 5th Dimension (Florence, LaMonte, Ron with Joyce Wright and Michael Procter) were the first singing group to take a Broadway show, Fats Waller’s “Ain’t Misbehavin’” on the road, in the ‘80’s. Marilyn starred on Broadway in the 1990’s revival of “Showboat,” in the leading role of Julie.
*Reunion & A Star: The Original 5th Dimension’s successful reunion tour (described extensively in LaMonte McLemore’s memoir, “From Hobo Flats to The 5th Dimension”) began in Atlantic City, New Year’s Eve of 1990 to sell-out crowds and toured for a few years. On August 9, 1991, after a memorable appearance on The Arsenio Hall Show, The Original 5th Dimension received their star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
Today, while Florence leads the current 5th Dimension in-concert to sold-out crowds, Marilyn & Billy perform as a well-respected duo. McCoo & Davis’s recent critically acclaimed CD, “Blackbird: Lennon-McCartney Icons” was a musical call for Civil and Human Rights. Pastor Billy’s ministry along with wife, Marilyn named Soldiers for the Second Coming brings praise and worship to their west coast congregation and can be seen on YouTube and internet TV. Last year, Marilyn & Billy and Florence attended and gave speeches at LaMonte’s “Black is Beautiful” event in Las Vegas, celebrating his accomplishments and coffee table book of the same title, reflecting his legacy photographic work for JET magazine’s “Beauty of the Week.” In separate interviews, Florence and Billy agree, “The 5th Dimension…we’ll always be a family.”
UPCOMING EXCLUSIVE! In March, FOREVER 5th DIMENSION brings an exclusive interview with the producer John Florez, featuring never-before-shared commentary AND an alternative take tune from the vaults…a true “Soul & Inspiration” experience we look forward to!
Special thanks to Marilyn & Billy, Florence, LaMonte, and their respective representation for their eternal soul & inspiration, kindness, mentorship and abiding friendship. In Loving Memory of Ron “Sweets” Townson
Consider! To the amazing global fans & our thousands of visitors, as the Executive Director, I ask you to please consider a tax-deductible donation to the America to Africa Higher Education Foundation, where LaMonte is on the Board at: www.AmericatoAfricaHigherEducationFoundation.com
–Robert-Allan Arno
Forever 5th Dimension by Robert-Allan Arno, and “The 5th Dimension Milestones,” a production of The Soul of The Voice, Ltd., copyright 2008-2025, intellectual property, all rights reserved.
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