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 & 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/
A special message from our dear friends at REWOUND RADIO, the #1 online Oldies radio station, who are always so kind to the musical legacy of The 5th Dimension and its original stars…
Time’s running out! If you still haven’t chosen your favorite(s) in our once-a-year vote for the Top Songs of All-Time, we want your opinion…so please vote today!
Yes, get your song choices in ASAP for the 27th edition of Rewound Radio’s Top Songs of All-Time. You can choose from one to ten of your favorite songs, and it’s easy to do!
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.”
Remembering legendary and pioneering talk show host, Phil Donahue who has passed away at 88. Growing up on Long Island, New York, it was easy if not thrilling to scour the new week’s TV Guide to see what show or shows The Original 5th Dimension would appear on…so many! In the early ’70’s, the Phil Donahue Show was still not available in the New York area, but we could see (in the TV Guide) that Channel 8, WTNH, the Connecticut ABC affiliate did feature the show. And lo and behold, The 5th Dimension were Phil’s special guest one afternoon, I had noticed! As with the iconic David Frost talk show episode dedicated to The 5th (during the “Light Sings” and “Love’s Line’s” era), at Forever 5th Dimension we hope these rare interviews with Mr. Donahue and Mr. Frost will become available in the future. Today, we remember an interviewer who loved many pop & soul musical artists (including Mary Wilson, Sammy Davis, Jr., as well as The 5th Dimension) and surely brought out their best with compelling questions and trailblazing audience participation. —Robert-Allan Arno
We’re noting the passing of versatile singer, the vivacious Marlena Shaw. Ms. Shaw had the memorable hit of “California Soul” before The 5th Dimension re-envisioned it for the “Stoned Soul Picnic” album and a subsequent single. The musician — who influenced music in the jazz, soul, disco and R&B genres, according to CBS news, “spanned generations and was often featured and sampled in popular media, TV commercials and other songs. Her lyrics often communicated the strength of the Black American community and Black women at a time when there was a great racial divide in the country and its politics.”
Hear the classic “California Soul” as we remember the magical might of Marlena Shaw, here:
A Forever 5th Dimension Exclusive by Robert-Allan Arno:
This past weekend in Las Vegas, LaMonte McLemore celebrated with his angelic wife Mieko and a few hundred closest friends, the dawning of his newest book to be released for Valentine’s Day ’24, an artful one titled “Black is Beautiful,” representing his photographic excellence for JET magazine’s trailblazing Beauty of the Week, featuring some of the loveliest women of our time. Cherished family and musical friends, colleagues from the publishing, modeling and media world, gathered and gave testimonial speeches or sang songs at a special event, for a special man, MC’ed by Harry Elston of the Friends of Distinction. The members of The Original 5th Dimension, Marilyn McCoo & Billy Davis Jr. and Florence LaRue brought extra excitement by their attendance as did Jayne Kennedy Overton. Love was truly in the air for our visionary, Mac! Enjoy some select event photos courtesy of LaMonte’s daughter, Ciara and the Arno/5th Legacy Collection. You can start pre-ordering the luxurious coffee table book “Black is Beautiful” on Amazon and other relevant sites.
Billy, Marilyn and Florence all gave charming recounts of precious “5th history” and how it was LaMonte who was the catalyst for it all…while MC Harry Elston looked on!
Sitting at the head table with my heroes & sheroes, Florence, Marilyn, Billy, and LaMonte and giving a testimonial speech in honor of “Mac” as his biographer plus repping the millions of worldwide fans of The 5th Dimension, saying the star’s names onstage as they are rightfully due and remembering Ron “Sweets” Townson, too…was a dream come true.
Florence LaRue, Robert-Allan Arno, Billy Davis, Jr., Marilyn McCoo
Underscoring LaMonte’s motto: “We are only in this world to help one another,” garnered knowing “Amen’s” from the crowd as I unveiled this wonderful artwork that I had commissioned for the festivities by gifted Nigerian artist Ephraim David Udoka, titled “LaMonte’s World.” It was met by an appreciative collective “Ahhh!”
At Forever 5th Dimension, as we begin our 16th year, we are always happy to take you to exclusive events like the unforgettable “Black is Beautiful” soiree and bring you more up-to-the-minute surprises as 2024 unfolds. –Robert-Allan Arno
Forever 5th Dimension by Arno, intellectual property, all rights reserved, Photo Credits: Arno/5th Legacy Collection, Ciara McLemore, Cynthia Shelby, and artwork by Ephraim Udoka, copyright 2024, a production of The Soul of The Voice, Ltd.
At Forever 5th Dimension we’re gearing up early for Sunday’s birthday celebration of Grammy legend, founder of The 5th Dimension, the group’s mellow bass, and author of such gems as “The Singer,” and “A Love Like Ours”…not to mention a renowned trailblazing photographer, Mr. LaMonte McLemore.
Personally, I’m leaving town to be with my mom upon today’s passing of my dad at age 93. Dad always loved the members of The 5th Dimension because he knew I loved them so much. He made sure to drive me from Long Island to my first 5th Dimension concert at the prestigious Carnegie Hall in New York City, circa ’72–I was too young to even take a subway there, lol! And when he read, cover-to-cover, the memoir I penned with LaMonte, “From Hobo Flats to The 5th Dimension” he expressed, “It’s beautiful!” I replied, “Oh, you mean the pretty picture of The 5th on the cover?” Dad responded, “No…I mean the inspirational and poetic manner you and LaMonte expressed yourselves.” Dad always respected LaMonte, two good looking dudes with cool n’ classy fashion sense. And they always sent regards to one another, through me.
On such a somber day, special thanks to LaMonte & Mieko who took my call at 1am (OK, they were 3 hours earlier in Vegas!), Florence who called immediately with prayerful words, and to Marilyn & Billy’s team at KIWW including Jason Winters and Steve Rosenblum for such edifying sentiments. Marilyn & Billy’s profound call of deep fellowship was incomparable as well as their kind posting, remembering Dad on their social media. The duo also called me right before my August birthday this year…I was in my parents’ home taking care of things for them, and it was so full circle as this was the house as a kid, where I first discovered The 5th Dimension. I know Dad would be proud of such an outpouring from my heroes & sheroes…they were his, too. And he is certainly mine, always.
Dateline June 3: We’re remembering the birthday of LaMonteMcLemore‘s cherished mother, warmly known to all as “Mama June.” So many of you knew of her inspiring example or had the pleasure to be in her incandescent presence. A witness to history, Mama June left us at age 106 in 2020. She will always be deeply meaningful to her family, friends, and to The 5thDimension family & fans. —R-A A for #TeamMac
First, in our 15th year of FOREVER 5th DIMENSION, a big thank you to all those stopping by from around the world. I am continually astounded when WordPress sends the monthly stats, indicating thousands of visitors from Japan, Germany, England, the Philippines, France, Brazil, and the US, of course! The enduring legacy of joy that The 5th Dimension holds, their eternal harmony and excellence surely transcends.
Sharing a little story that seems perfect for #BlackMusicMonth, this past Memorial Day weekend, I finally got to the magnificent Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture in Washington, DC. We had written about it in LaMonte McLemore’s hit memoir, “From Hobo Flats to The 5th Dimension,” when a curator from the museum came for lunch to visit with Mac and wife Mieko in their Las Vegas home, and secure one of The 5th Dimension’s costumes…this was an ornately gold-embroidered black jacket with long golden fringe, circa the 80’s. And yes, I’ve seen photos of this that very kind fans supplied—being Mac’s jacket, reflecting his tall frame, it looked especially spectacular on the museum mannequin.
Upon arrival, I immediately made my way to the fourth floor, where an homage to music, TV, and film icons prevails. It was a rather emotional experience. And I walked and walked in circles, finding LaMonte’s jacket to no avail! After reaching out to a lovely curator, she did a search and lo and behold, the jacket was just rotated out the previous week, to make room for other legend’s outfits! She noted the museum currently has in storage thousands of donated or on-loan costumes to choose from for exhibit. What was thrilling was to see the seemingly lit, majorly jewel-encrusted jacket worn by LutherVandross, the post-mod patchwork design, early 70’s costuming of The Jackson 5, and the elegant velvet tuxedo of Mac’s good friend, Bubba Knight of Gladys Knight and the Pips. The cool denim vibe of Country’s Charlie Pride juxtaposed by a strikingly petite outfit worn by Diana Ross from an early scene of “Lady Sings the Blues” were set off by a long, in-action placard of Tina Turner, extra poignant in that we just lost the Queen of Rock. And as I took more time to “investigate,” yes, there was The 5th Dimension (photo by our friend, Arnie Lee) positioned on top of Nat “King”Cole (one of Billy Davis, Jr.’s personal influences), in the section that highlighted “cross-over artists.” I’ll leave you, dear fans, with a shot of The 5th and Mr. Cole (above), and a copy of the “narrative” that accompanies it (below). Powerful words about that transcendent quality possessed by The 5th Dimension, Mr. Cole, and really, so many more in this hopeful age of diversity, unity and mutual respect.
–Robert-Allan Arno
The 5th Dimension at Eastern Michigan University, ’71. The 5th Dimension’s music crossed genres, hitting the pop, rhythm & blues, and adult contemporary charts.
Forever 5th Dimension by Robert-Allan Arno, a production of The Soul of The Voice, Ltd., copyright 2008-2023, intellectual property, all rights reserved; Photos: The Arno 5th Legacy Collection
FOREVER 5TH DIMENSION 
You must be logged in to post a comment.