The Fifth Dimension Biography, Photos and Posters

The Fifth Dimension

Biography

Started: 1966
City and Country of Origin: Los Angeles, CA
Music Background: Lamonte McLemore and Marilyn McCoo took vocal lessons in the early 60s; Florence LaRue took singing, dance and violin lessons while growing up; Ron Townson started singing in choirs at age 6 and took vocal and acting lessons; Billy Davis, Jr sang in gospel choirs at an early age
Awards: Grammy 1969 Record Of The Year, "Aquarius/Let The Sunshine In;" Best Contemporary Vocal Performance By A Group, "Aquarius/Let The Sunshine In;" 1967 Record Of The Year, "Up, Up And Away;" Best Performance By A Vocal Group, "Up, Up And Away"
Top Recordings: "Up, Up and Away," "One Less Bell to Answer," "Aquarius/Let the Sunshine In," "(Last Night) I Didn't Get To Sleep At All," "Stoned Soul Picnic," "Sweet Blindness," "Workin' on a Groovy Thing," "Love's Lines, Angles And Rhymes," "Never My Love," "(Last Night) I Didn't Get To Sleep At All"
The Fifth Dimension Biography: The Fifth or 5th Dimension was at the peak of its popularity during the late 1960s and 1970s. The five original members were Billy Davis, Jr., Florence LaRue, Marilyn McCoo, Lamonte McLemore, and Ron Townson. Oveer the years they have recorded for several different record labels. Their first work appeared on Imperial Records/United Artists Records recording artist Johnny Rivers Soul City label. The group would later record for Bell/Arista Records ABC Records and Motown Records. The group most popular efforts were recordings of the compositions of a small group of songwriters like the young Jimmy Webb, Ashford & Simpson and Laura Nyro.

The group laid down its roots in early 60s when Lamonte McLemore teamed up with former beauty pageant queen Marilyn McCoo and two other friends from Los Angeles, Harry Elston and Floyd Butler to form a group called the Hi-Fis. During 1963 the group sang in local clubs while its members took vocal lessons. In 1964 the group caught the attention of Ray Charles who took them on tour with him. He even produced a single for the group "Lonesome Mood," which garnered some local attention, but internal friction caused Butler and Elston to go their own way. They would eventuall form The Friends of Distinction.

McLemore and McCoo sought to put the group back together. One of their friends Florence LaRue, also a beauty pageant winner, had taken singing, dancing and violin lessons as a youngster. About the time that she was asked to join the group Lamonte recruited Ron Townson who had started sining in choirs at age 6 and vocal training while growing up. Billy Davis, Jr. was Lamonte's cousin who sang in gospel choirs as a boy and owned his own cocktail lounge in St. Louis. When asked to join the group he immediately said yes. In 1966 the group began rehearsing under the name the Versatiles. After they were turned down by Motwon Records the group caught the attention of singer Johnny Rivers who had just started his own label Soul City Records. Rivers agreed to sign the group under the condition that they update their image and change their name. Thus the Fifth Dimension was born. Their first recording "I'll Be Lovin' You Forever," turned out to be a flop, but a cover of the Mamas and Papas hit "Go Where You Wanna Go" made the top 20 on both the pop and r and b charts.

Budding young songwriter Jimmy Webb would supply them with their breakthrough hit "Up, Up and Away," a top 10 hit in mid-1967, which garnered 5 Grammys. The following year they scored with a duo of Laura Nyro songs "Stoned Soul Picnic" and "Sweet Blindness." They received a gold record for their album Stoned Soul Picnic which also included the Ashford & Simpson written "California Soul." The group had 2 number 1 singles "Aquarius/Let The Sunshine In" from the musical Hair and the Nyro composition "Wedding Bell Blues." Later hits included "One Less Bell To Answer" (1970), "Love's Lines, Angles and Rhymes," "Never My Love" (1971) and "(Last Night) I Didn't Get To Sleep At All" (1972).

In 1975 Billy Davis, Jr. and Marilyn McCoo who had been married while with the group left the group to do other projects. The duo went on to a successful recording career of their own with hits like "I Hope You Get To Love In Time" and the chart topper "You Don't Have To Be A Star (To Be In My Show)." McCoo also served a stint as the host of the TV show Solid Gold. The remaining members of the group carried on adding new members to the ensemble and although they almost had a hit with"Love Hangover" till Diana Ross stole their thunder, the group never again had the popularity that they enjoyed during the late 60s and early 70s.

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