LaMonte McLemore, singer and one of the original members of The 5th Dimension, has passed away at 90.

LaMonte McLemore, Founding Member of The Fifth Dimension, Dies at 90

LaMonte McLemore, a key member of the iconic vocal group The Fifth Dimension, has passed away at the age of 90. He died on Tuesday at his home in Las Vegas, with family by his side, according to his agent, Jeremy Westby. The cause was natural, following a stroke.

The Fifth Dimension gained significant acclaim during the 1960s and 70s, winning six Grammy Awards, notably for their hits “Up Up and Away” and “Aquarius/Let the Sunshine In.”

Both songs secured spots in the Top 10, with “Aquarius/Let the Sunshine In” spending six weeks at No. 1. Interestingly, the latter was a medley from the musical “Hair.”

Besides his singing career, McLemore was also known for his work as a sports and celebrity photographer, with his photos appearing in magazines like Jet.

A native of St. Louis, McLemore served in the Navy, where he worked as an aerial photographer. Before his music career took off, he even played baseball in the Los Angeles Dodgers’ farm system.

He initially sang with a jazz group called The Hi-Fis alongside future Fifth Dimension member Marilyn McCoo. They opened for Ray Charles in 1963 but disbanded shortly after.

Later, McLemore, McCoo, and their childhood friends Billy Davis Jr. and Ronald Towson formed the Versatile group. They eventually added Florence LaRue, who McLemore had met through photography, to their lineup.

In 1965, they joined Johnny Rivers’ Soul City Records and rebranded themselves as The Fifth Dimension to better reflect the era’s cultural shifts. Their first big hit came in 1967 with “Go Where You Wanna Go,” followed by the even more successful “Up Up and Away,” which reached number 7 on the Billboard Hot 100 and garnered four Grammys.

They achieved additional hits in 1968 with Laura Nyro’s “Stoned Soul Picnic” and “Sweet Blindness.” Their commercial peak came in 1969 with “Aquarius/Let the Sunshine In,” which topped the charts and won multiple awards.

The Fifth Dimension also made waves performing at the Harlem Cultural Festival, known as “Black Woodstock,” in 1969, an event later featured in the documentary Summer of Soul.

The group enjoyed remarkable success, even among white audiences, despite being an all-Black ensemble, a fact that drew some criticism. McCoo noted their struggle with being perceived as not “black enough,” emphasizing their identity as Black artists.

Throughout the 1970s, the group continued to create popular music, releasing songs like “One Less Bell to Answer” and “(Last Night) I Didn’t Get to Sleep at All.” They frequently appeared on television variety shows and performed at the White House, among other venues.

The original lineup lasted until 1975, after which McCoo and Davis ventured into their own music careers. McCoo and Davis, married since 1969, expressed their sorrow, stating they would miss McLemore’s vibrant energy and humor. LaRue reflected on how McLemore’s positivity provided strength during tough times, noting their close bond.