LaMonte McLemore, whose velvety bass voice helped propel The 5th Dimension to stardom during the late 1960s and early 1970s, passed away Tuesday at his Las Vegas home. He was 90 years old. Family members were present when he died from natural causes following a stroke, his representative Jeremy Westby confirmed.
McLemore’s journey from Navy photographer to Grammy-winning vocalist represents one of the most fascinating trajectories in American music history. As a founding member of The 5th Dimension, he contributed to a sound that blended smooth pop, soul and psychedelic influences, creating timeless hits that continue resonating with audiences today.
From Baseball Dreams to Musical Stardom
Born in St. Louis, McLemore’s early life took unexpected turns before music became his calling. His military service in the Navy introduced him to aerial photography, a skill that would later fuel a parallel career capturing images of sports figures and celebrities for publications like Jet magazine. After his service, he pursued professional baseball in the Los Angeles Dodgers farm system before settling in Southern California.
The West Coast became fertile ground for McLemore’s artistic ambitions. He joined a jazz ensemble called the Hi-Fi’s, where he first collaborated with Marilyn McCoo, who would become his longtime bandmate. The group opened for Ray Charles in 1963, though they disbanded the following year. This setback proved temporary, as McLemore soon reunited with McCoo and recruited childhood friends from St. Louis, Billy Davis Jr. and Ronald Towson, to form a new group called the Versatiles. Florence LaRue, a schoolteacher McLemore discovered through his photography work, completed the lineup.
Building The 5th Dimension
The year 1965 marked a turning point when the group signed with Soul City Records, singer Johnny Rivers’ newly established label. They adopted the name The 5th Dimension to capture the evolving cultural landscape of the mid-1960s. Their breakthrough arrived in 1967 with a cover of the Mamas & the Papas’ song Go Where You Wanna Go, which introduced their sophisticated harmonies to mainstream audiences.
Later that year, The 5th Dimension released Up, Up and Away, written by Jimmy Webb. The song climbed to No. 7 on the Billboard Hot 100 and swept four Grammy Awards: record of the year, best contemporary single, best performance by a vocal group and best contemporary group performance. This achievement established the group as major players in popular music.
The momentum continued in 1968 with successful renditions of Laura Nyro compositions, including Stoned Soul Picnic and Sweet Blindness. These hits showcased the group’s ability to interpret diverse material while maintaining their distinctive style.
Peak Success and Cultural Impact
The 5th Dimension reached their commercial zenith in 1969 with Aquarius/Let the Sunshine In, a medley from the musical Hair. The song dominated the No. 1 spot on the charts for six weeks and earned two Grammy Awards—record of the year and best contemporary vocal performance by a group. This success cemented their status as one of the era’s most important musical acts, influencing generations of artists across genres, from soul and pop to later hip-hop figures like 50 Cent who navigated mainstream crossover in their own eras.
That same year, the group performed at the Harlem Cultural Festival, an event later dubbed the Black Woodstock. Their participation in this historic gathering was featured in the 2021 documentary Summer of Soul, directed by Ahmir Questlove Thompson. The film highlighted both their musical contributions and the complex dynamics they navigated as Black artists achieving unprecedented crossover success with white audiences.
This crossover appeal generated controversy within some segments of the Black community. McCoo addressed these criticisms in Summer of Soul, explaining how they were sometimes called the Black group with the white sound. She emphasized that they were simply artists who happened to be Black, performing music that reflected their authentic voices.
Lasting Legacy and Final Years
The 5th Dimension maintained their hitmaking streak into the 1970s with songs like One Less Bell to Answer, (Last Night) I Didn’t Get to Sleep at All and If I Could Reach You. They became fixtures on television variety shows, performed at the White House and participated in international cultural tours organized by the State Department.
The original lineup remained intact until 1975, when McCoo and Davis, who had married in 1969, departed to pursue their own musical projects. Despite this change, the bonds formed during their years together endured. McCoo and Davis remembered McLemore’s energy and wonderful sense of humor in their statement, while LaRue described him as more like a brother than a singing partner, praising his cheerfulness and laughter during difficult times.
McLemore leaves behind his wife of 30 years, Mieko McLemore, daughter Ciara, son Darin, sister Joan and three grandchildren. His contributions to American music extend beyond chart positions and awards, representing a bridge between different musical traditions and audiences during a transformative period in cultural history.
Source: CBS News
