The world of music lost a true legend with the passing of LaMonte McLemore, a founding member of the iconic vocal group The 5th Dimension. At 90 years old, McLemore's smooth pop and soul sounds, infused with a touch of psychedelia, brought him and his group massive success in the 1960s and 1970s. But here's where it gets controversial... The 5th Dimension's crossover success with white audiences, despite being an all-Black group, sparked criticism. Some questioned their 'Blackness', while others praised their unique sound. And this is the part most people miss... McLemore's parallel career as a sports and celebrity photographer, whose pictures appeared in magazines like Jet, showcased his multifaceted talents. Born in St. Louis, McLemore served in the Navy, where he honed his aerial photography skills. He played baseball in the Los Angeles Dodgers' farm system and settled in Southern California, where he began making use of his warm bass voice and skill with a camera. He sang in a jazz ensemble, the Hi-Fi's, with future 5th Dimension bandmate Marilyn McCoo. The group opened for Ray Charles in 1963 but broke up the following year. McLemore, McCoo, and two of his childhood friends from St. Louis, Billy Davis Jr. and Ronald Towson, later formed a singing group called the Versatiles. They also recruited Florence LaRue, a schoolteacher McLemore met through his photography, to join them. In 1965 they signed to singer Johnny Rivers' new label, Soul City Records, and changed their name to The 5th Dimension to better represent the cultural moment. Their breakthrough hit came in 1967 with the Mamas & the Papas' song "Go Where You Wanna Go." That same year they released the Jimmy Webb-penned "Up, Up and Away," which would go to No. 7 on the Billboard Hot 100 and win four Grammys: record of the year, best contemporary single, best performance by a vocal group, and best contemporary group performance. In 1968 they had hits with a pair of Laura Nyro songs, "Stoned Soul Picnic" and "Sweet Blindness." 1969 brought the peak of their commercial success with "Aquarius/Let the Sunshine In," which along with its long run at No. 1 won Grammys for record of the year and best contemporary vocal performance by a group. That same year they played the Harlem Cultural Festival, which has become known as the "Black Woodstock." The festival, and The 5th Dimension's part in it, were chronicled in the 2021 documentary from Ahmir "Questlove" Thompson, "Summer of Soul." The 5th Dimension also had a rare level of success with white audiences for a group whose members were all Black. The phenomenon came with criticism. "We were constantly being attacked because we weren't, quote, unquote, 'Black enough,'" McCoo said in "Summer of Soul." "Sometimes we were called the Black group with the white sound, and we didn't like that. We happened to be artists who are Black, and our voices sound the way they sound." The group had hits into the 1970s including "One Less Bell to Answer," "(Last Night) I Didn't Get to Sleep at All," and "If I Could Reach You." They became regulars on TV variety shows and performed at the White House and on an international cultural tour organized by the State Department. The original lineup lasted until 1975, when McCoo and Davis left to make their own music. "All of us who knew and loved him will definitely miss his energy and wonderful sense of humor," McCoo and Davis, who married in 1969, said in a statement. "LaRue said in her own statement that McLemore's 'cheerfulness and laughter often brought strength and refreshment to me in difficult times. We were more like brother and sister than singing partners.' McLemore is survived by his wife of 30 years, Mieko McLemore, daughter Ciara, son Darin, sister Joan, and three grandchildren.
