LaMonte McLemore, 5th Dimension Founder, Dies at 90
The 5th Dimension founding member died at home in Las Vegas after a stroke, his representative Jeremy Westby said.
Overview
LaMonte McLemore, a founding member of the 5th Dimension, died Tuesday at age 90 at his Las Vegas home of natural causes after a stroke, his representative Jeremy Westby said.
The 5th Dimension won six Grammy Awards, including record of the year in 1967 for "Up, Up and Away" and in 1969 for "Aquarius/Let the Sunshine In," which spent six weeks at No. 1, records show.
Marilyn McCoo and Billy Davis Jr. said in a joint statement they will miss his "energy and wonderful sense of humor," and Florence LaRue said his "cheerfulness and laughter" provided strength, according to released statements.
McLemore served in the U.S. Navy as an aerial photographer, played in the Los Angeles Dodgers' farm system and built a career as a sports and celebrity photographer whose work appeared in Jet, biographies and his representative say.
He is survived by his wife of 30 years, Mieko McLemore; daughter Ciara; son Darin; sister Joan; and three grandchildren, his representative Jeremy Westby said, and tributes and retrospectives are expected in coming days.
Analysis
Center-leaning sources present this obituary neutrally, focusing on factual career milestones, biographical detail, and attributed quotes. The piece emphasizes achievements (Grammy wins, hit songs), notes context (Harlem Cultural Festival) and includes criticism only as direct source quotes, avoiding loaded language or selective omission that would indicate editorial framing.
Sources (4)
FAQ
The 5th Dimension had hits like 'Up, Up and Away' (1967, Grammy for Record of the Year), 'Aquarius/Let the Sunshine In' (1969, six weeks at No. 1, another Record of the Year Grammy), 'Wedding Bell Blues,' and 'Stoned Soul Picnic.' They won six Grammy Awards total and received a Hollywood Walk of Fame star in 1991.
The founding members were LaMonte McLemore, Marilyn McCoo, Billy Davis Jr., Florence LaRue, and Ron Townson (also referred to as Ronald Towson).
McLemore served in the U.S. Navy as an aerial photographer, played baseball in the Los Angeles Dodgers' farm system, and had a career as a sports and celebrity photographer for Jet, Ebony, Harper's Bazaar, and others.
He is survived by his wife of 30 years, Mieko McLemore; daughter Ciara; son Darin; sister Joan; and three grandchildren.
Originally the Hi-Fi's or Versatiles, they were discovered by Johnny Rivers and signed to Soul City Records. The name '5th Dimension' was suggested by Ron Townson, and their breakthrough was 'Up, Up and Away' produced by Bones Howe.
History
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