The music world has lost a true pioneer of sophisticated pop-soul fusion.
LaMonte McLemore, founding member of the legendary vocal group The 5th Dimension, passed away Tuesday at age 90 at his Las Vegas home, surrounded by family.
His death marks the end of an era for a group that defined crossover success in the 1960s and ’70s, blending smooth harmonies with psychedelic touches that captivated audiences across racial and genre boundaries.
According to his representative Jeremy Westby, McLemore died of natural causes following a stroke, leaving behind a musical legacy that earned six Grammy Awards and produced some of the most memorable hits of the late ’60s.
From Baseball Diamond to Recording Studio
McLemore’s path to musical stardom was anything but conventional.
Born in St. Louis, he served in the U.S. Navy as an aerial photographer before pursuing professional baseball in the Los Angeles Dodgers’ farm system. After settling in Southern California, McLemore began channeling his warm bass voice into a burgeoning music career while maintaining a parallel profession as a sports and celebrity photographer.
His photography work appeared in prestigious publications including Jet magazine, showcasing his artistic versatility that extended far beyond the recording booth.
The Birth of a Vocal Powerhouse
McLemore’s musical journey began with a jazz ensemble called the Hi-Fi’s, where he first collaborated with Marilyn McCoo, his future 5th Dimension bandmate.
The group opened for Ray Charles in 1963 but disbanded the following year. However, this wasn’t the end—it was merely the beginning of something much bigger.
In 1965, McLemore brought together an extraordinary collection of talent: McCoo, two childhood friends from St. Louis—Billy Davis Jr. and Ronald Towson—and schoolteacher Florence LaRue. They initially called themselves the Versatiles and signed to singer Johnny Rivers’ brand-new label, Soul City Records.
A Name That Captured an Era
Rivers immediately told his first signees that their name needed updating for the changing times.
Towson proposed “The 5th Dimension,” a moniker that perfectly captured the group’s embrace of psychedelia and hippie culture while maintaining their sophisticated vocal arrangements. The name would become synonymous with musical innovation and crossover appeal.
Chart-Topping Success and Grammy Glory
The group’s breakthrough arrived in 1967 with their cover of The Mamas & the Papas’ “Go Where You Wanna Go.”
That same year, they released the Jimmy Webb-penned masterpiece “Up, Up and Away,” which soared to No. 7 on the Billboard Hot 100. The song’s success was unprecedented, earning four Grammy Awards:
- Record of the Year
- Best Contemporary Single
- Best Performance by a Vocal Group
- Best Contemporary Group Performance
But their biggest triumph was yet to come.
The “Aquarius” Phenomenon
In 1969, The 5th Dimension released “Aquarius/Let the Sunshine In,” an innovative mashup of songs from the groundbreaking musical “Hair.”
The track dominated the charts for six consecutive weeks at No. 1 and won the group their second Record of the Year Grammy. This achievement solidified their status as one of the most successful vocal groups of the era, demonstrating remarkable broad crossover appeal that few artists could match.
A Legacy of Six Grammys
Throughout their career, The 5th Dimension accumulated six Grammy Awards total.
Their winning Record of the Year twice—a rare feat that underscored their consistent quality and cultural impact—placed them among music’s elite. The group’s sound, which seamlessly blended pop sensibilities with soul depth and psychedelic experimentation, created a template that influenced countless artists who followed.
McLemore’s bass vocals provided essential foundation to the group’s distinctive harmonies, anchoring their sophisticated arrangements while his bandmates soared above.
Remembering a Multifaceted Artist
What set McLemore apart was his refusal to be defined by a single talent.
His photography career ran parallel to his musical achievements, capturing iconic moments in sports and entertainment. This dual artistic identity reflected the versatility that characterized both his personal journey and The 5th Dimension’s musical approach.
From naval photographer to professional baseball player to Grammy-winning vocalist to published photographer, McLemore’s life embodied the American dream of reinvention and artistic pursuit.
Family and Final Years
McLemore is survived by his wife of 30 years, Mieko McLemore, daughter Ciara, son Darin, sister Joan, and three grandchildren.
His passing at home, surrounded by loved ones, brought peaceful closure to a life lived in pursuit of artistic excellence and cultural bridge-building. The 90-year-old legend leaves behind not just hit records and awards, but a blueprint for how music can transcend boundaries and bring people together.
The 5th Dimension’s music continues to resonate across generations, introducing new listeners to an era when vocal groups could dominate both pop and soul charts while maintaining artistic integrity.
McLemore’s contributions to that sound—his steady bass, his eye for talent, and his willingness to embrace both tradition and innovation—ensured that The 5th Dimension became more than just another group. They became a cultural phenomenon that defined an era and influenced the trajectory of popular music for decades to come.