Grammy-winning singer LaMonte McLemore passes away at 90
LaMonte McLemore, a founding member of the Grammy-winning American vocal group The 5th Dimension, has died at the age of 90.
McLemore died on Tuesday at his home in Las Vegas, surrounded by family, his representative Jeremy Westby confirmed in a statement. He died of natural causes following a stroke.
For all latest news, follow The Daily Star's Google News channel. A key voice in one of the most successful pop-soul groups of the late 1960s and early 1970s, McLemore helped shape a sound that bridged mainstream pop and Black vocal harmony. The 5th Dimension scored a string of global hits and won six Grammy Awards, including Record of the Year twice—for “Up, Up and Away” in 1967 and “Aquarius/Let the Sunshine In” in 1969.
“Aquarius/Let the Sunshine In,” a medley from the musical Hair, spent six weeks at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 and became one of the defining songs of its era. “Up, Up and Away,” written by Jimmy Webb, reached No. 7 on the same chart and went on to win four Grammy Awards.
Born in St Louis, Missouri, McLemore served in the US Navy as an aerial photographer before pursuing a brief professional baseball career in the Los Angeles Dodgers’ farm system. He later settled in Southern California, where he developed parallel careers in music and photography.
Before forming The 5th Dimension, McLemore sang in a jazz group called the Hi-Fi’s alongside Marilyn McCoo. The group opened for Ray Charles in 1963 before disbanding the following year.
In 1965, McLemore, McCoo, childhood friends Billy Davis Jr and Ronald Towson, and schoolteacher Florence LaRue formed a new ensemble initially known as the Versatiles. After signing with Johnny Rivers’ Soul City Records, the group adopted the name The 5th Dimension at Rivers’ suggestion.
Outside music, McLemore built a respected career as a sports and celebrity photographer. His work appeared in several publications, including Jet magazine.
McLemore is survived by his wife of 30 years, Mieko McLemore, his daughter Ciara, son Darin, sister Joan, and three grandchildren.
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