 In 1967, at a time of racial tension in America, an attractive group of African
American singers introduced a breezy, harmony-laden pop/soul sound that appeared
to transcend all issues of race, capturing America with their dreamy uplifting
version of Jimmy Webb’s “Up Up and Away.”
The group was the 5th
Dimension, and the song was the beginning of an impressive string of light, airy
hits that virtually defined California soul. Formed in 1965 by St. Louis singers Ron Townsend, Billy Davis, Jr. and LaMonte
McLemore (who were respectively opera, gospel and jazz enthusiasts) and beauty
pageant winners Florence LaRue and Marilyn McCoo, the group was originally
formed as the Versatiles. After being put off by Motown head Berry Gordy, the
quintet was signed by singer Johnny Rivers to his fledgling Soul City label and
was renamed the 5th Dimension.
Following a couple of minor hits, the act hit pay dirt with its cover of “Up Up
and Away,” landing in the Pop and Soul Top 10 and earning a slew of Grammy
Awards for the song and the group. Producer Bones Howe teamed them with hot
young writers Webb, Laura Nero and Burt Bacharach and Hal David for a number of
terrific hits over the next several years that would highlight the 5th
Dimension’s exquisite harmonies, while the group's frequent television
appearances captured America with their mod, upbeat style and physical
attractiveness.
In 1968 Nyro’s “Stoned Soul Picnic” became the group’s second top 10 smash, only
to be surpassed by their joyous wedding proposal “Wedding Bell Blues,” on which
McCoo appeared to be singing directly to longtime boyfriend Davis (the duo soon
married in 1969). A definitive career moment for the 5th Dimension
was the decision to create a medley of two songs from the musical Hair.
“Aquarius/Let The Sun Shine In” became the biggest selling song of 1969 and
arguably made the 5th Dimension the top pop/soul group in the world.
As the 70s arrived, the group’s sound changed somewhat, focusing less on
harmonies than on individual leads, and their music took on an increasingly
pop-oriented sound. Consequently, their Soul music following slipped, even as
they maintained a leading position on the pop and adult contemporary charts.
The next few years brought the wonderful Marilyn McCoo performance on “One Less
Bell to Answer” and a number of midrange hits such as “Save the Country,” “Last
Night (I Didn’t Get to Sleep at All)” and a cover of “Never My Love,” but it
also brought generally lower pop success and a nearly complete loss of Soul
charting.
With the group’s
fortunes lagging, McCoo and Davis left in 1975 and had an out-of-the-box smash
with their first single as a duet, the schlocky “You Don’t Have to be a Star.”
McCoo continued on as a successful solo entertainer and television host over the
next three decades, most recently touring as part of the Colors of Christmas
show with Peabo Bryson and James Ingram. LaRue, McLemore and Townson continued
on with the 5th Dimension, moving the group to Motown with new
members Marjorie Barnes and Danny Beard for a couple of unsuccessful albums
before hitting the oldies circuit.
The original version of the group reunited in 1990 for a successful Atlantic
City show and then toured sporadically (and successfully) at various times over
the next few years. In 1995, a reconstituted version of the group, which
included LaRue, McLemore, Townson, former Santana vocalist Greg Walker (he sang
on that group’s fine version of “Stormy”) and Phyllis Battle, released the
group’s final album, In The House, on Dick Clark’s Click label. Townson
left the act due to illness in 1999 and died in 2001. He was replaced by Willie
Williams. This version of the 5th Dimension continues to perform
today.
Contact Grabow for more information or to book the 5th Dimension
for your next corporate or private event.
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