In the 18 years the Forever 5th Dimension blog has continued, so beautifully supported by our shining stars, Marilyn & Billy, Florence and our beloved LaMonte, plus their families and respective management, not to mention the thousands of worldwide special fans who come to visit here each year, we’ve never taken this long a time-out. It’s been a couple of months since LaMonte’s Celebration of Life (he passed away on February 3) and as his biographer and that of The Original 5th Dimension, I sincerely confess to needing some time for personal prayer and meditation.
LaMonte’s Celebration of Life was a private affair, and as such, it takes discernment to decide what is appropriate to share in the most respectfully uplifting way. When we were writing his memoir, a seemingly brief book, “From Hobo Flats to The 5th Dimension: A Life Fulfilled in Baseball, Photography and Music,” we joked that we not only chose small print but trusted that the pages were chock full of a life of achievement from humble beginnings to appearing on the world stages. As much of a raconteur as LaMonte was, and a premier jokester, his main goal was to be inspirational. And all those elements were front and center at the Celebration of Life held on a Sunday in late February in a scenic Las Vegas Country Club setting with over 200 attending.
Our MC was the charming Bubba Knight of Gladys Knight and the Pips. Because LaMonte’s best pal, Harry Elston of The Friends of Distinction had also left us a while earlier, LaMonte’s dedicated wife, Mieko found the right man for the job who was also a star crony of LaMonte’s. Billy Davis, Jr., in his gentle pastoral manner, blessed the proceedings in prayer as one of LaMonte’s favorite recordings by The 5th Dimension, Billy’s solo of “A Change is Gonna Come,” played after. Florence LaRue then stepped forward to sing a live version of “Healing Hands.” You could hear the proverbial pin drop as she emoted so tenderly and emotionally. Marilyn McCoo came to the podium to give an expansive, thoughtful dissertation on LaMonte’s muti-faceted trajectory which highlighted the genuine love the members of The Original 5th Dimension had for one another, sharing, “And at every rehearsal at Mac’s home, delicious food was cooking on the stove.” She moved us with, “He stood elegantly in the background while many of us stepped forward for our solos, but today, it’s LaMonte who’s in the lead.” She went on to talk about the massive media outpouring for LaMonte. Indeed, it was my honor as his biographer along with 5th Dimension legacy manager, Susan Muneo to orchestrate coverage in myriad publications including extensive articles in the New York Times, the Washington Post, Ebony magazine, the Grio, Billboard, the St. Louis Post Dispatch, AP Wire Service, and so many more. There was also compelling coverage on CBS News Sunday Morning and ABC’s Good Morning America. It was a lovely and unexpected moment when Marilyn noted my contributions to LaMonte’s and The 5th Dimension’s legacy, before Bubba called me up to such a warm reception.
LaMonte always schooled me on the secret of giving a good speech. And I’ll share it with you as it helped me prepare my presentation. He taught: “Have a beginning, middle and end, don’t be afraid of using humor, be inspiring but don’t preach, and then get the heck off the stage!” So, before I unveiled LaMonte’s official Celebration of Life 6-minute bio film which I was asked to produce and announce for the event, I acknowledged the millions of worldwide fans of The 5th Dimension and gave a shout-out to some in attendance, Andy, Martha, Loretta and Deniserose. Then I talked about LaMonte’s uncanny ability to see the heart of every person he encountered. And to intrinsically know their gift, to encourage them to fuel it with passion, and that would become their offering to the world. Many including Florence laughed in acknowledgement when I added, “Truly, Mac would not take no for an answer!” in this self-actualizing regard. In fact, I reached out to the crowd for an informal survey, and surely LaMonte had this effect on the majority of attendees, conveyed with knowing “Amens” and applause. And then it was my great pleasure to “say their names,” as I continued, “He did it for the incomparable Billy Davis, Jr., the beautiful Marilyn McCoo, the radiant and lovely Florence LaRue…and let’s not forget the beloved Ron ‘Sweets’ Townson.” More applause. And how nice that Ron’s son Kyle could join us. I also noted that each and every Christmastime, no matter if we were ensconced in a project, LaMonte and Mieko would send a festive gift and a card cutely containing both their handwritten notes. Mac always punctuated his using block print, YOU AIN’T SEEN NOTHING YET! about the coming new year. I concluded, “So think about it, if LaMonte could orchestrate so much for each of us on earth, now as an angel from heaven above…well, as he would say, WE AIN’T SEEN NOTHIN’ YET!”
Here’s “The Story of LaMonte McLemore” video that followed. At its conclusion, we all put our hands together for Mac as we sang with faithful joy, “Let the Sunshine In”:
Then LaMonte’s cherished wife, Mieko (pictured left) presented a poignant personal slide show of memories, and his daughter Ciara (pictured right), son Darin, sister Joan, grandson Shane (“L’il Mac”), nephew Donny, niece Melanie, and luminaries like Tony Orlando, Jayne Kennedy, comedian George Wallace, and manager Jason Winters shared heartfelt stories.
Pictured l to r: Florence LaRue, Tony Orlando, Marilyn McCoo, Billy Davis, Jr., Susan Muneo, back: Robert-Allan Arno
On this Memorial Day weekend, we remember LaMonte by, as the song says, “going where he’d want us to go”—to look forward to wondrous new adventures, both personal and 5th Dimension-related. We love you forever, Mac! –Robert-Allan Arno
Forever 5th Dimension, a production of The Soul of The Voice, Ltd., copyright 2008-26, intellectual property, all rights reserved. Photography and archival materials from The Arno 5th Legacy Collection.
© Robert-Allan Arno / FOREVER 5th DIMENSION
Reproduction or reposting without permission is prohibited.
*****
America to Africa Higher Education Foundation
Mr. McLemore proudly served on the Board of Directors of AAHEF, supporting educational scholarships for deserving Nigerian college students. Donations in his memory may be made at the Foundation’s website.
from 
FOREVER 5TH DIMENSION 
You must be logged in to post a comment.