LaMonte McLemore, one of the original members of The 5th Dimension and an accomplished photographer known for his work with notable magazines such as Jet, Ebony, and Harper’s Bazaar, has sadly passed away at the age of 90.
His death was confirmed by a publicist, revealing that McLemore died from natural causes at his home in Las Vegas on Tuesday. It is worth noting that he had suffered a stroke a few years prior to his passing.
McLemore was a vital force behind The 5th Dimension, contributing alongside fellow members Florence LaRue, Ron Townson, and the married duo Billy Davis Jr. and Marilyn McCoo. Together, they crafted a unique sound that blended various musical genres, significantly impacting American pop and soul music during the late 1960s and early 1970s. Their notable hits include the iconic songs "Up, Up and Away" and "Aquarius/Let the Sunshine In."
The group achieved remarkable success, winning the Grammy Award for Record of the Year twice—first for "Up, Up and Away" in 1968, and then for "Aquarius/Let the Sunshine In (The Flesh Failures)" in 1970. The latter track enjoyed immense popularity, reigning atop the Billboard Hot 100 for six consecutive weeks in the spring of 1969, solidifying its status as one of the defining anthems of that era.
In addition to these classics, The 5th Dimension produced other chart-topping hits such as "Wedding Bell Blues," "Stoned Soul Picnic," "Go Where You Wanna Go," "One Less Bell to Answer," and "(Last Night) I Didn’t Get to Sleep at All." Over their illustrious career, they released seven Gold albums and six Platinum-certified singles by the RIAA.
McLemore's rich bass vocals and laid-back demeanor played a crucial role in anchoring the group's intricate harmonies and contemporary pop style.
Reflecting on her partnership with McLemore, LaRue shared, "Proverbs 17:22 states that ‘A joyful heart is good medicine …’ Well, LaMonte really knew my prescription! His joy and laughter often provided me with comfort during tough times. We were more like siblings than mere singing partners.
"It wasn’t until he was no longer with us that I truly recognized the depth of my love for him. His absence has revealed just how significant he was to me, and that love will forever reside in my heart."
Born on September 17, 1935, in St. Louis—where he became friends with Davis during childhood—Herman Lamonte McLemore initially enlisted in the U.S. Navy, where he trained and worked as an aerial photographer. He briefly pursued a career in professional baseball, pitching in the Los Angeles Dodgers’ farm system before eventually shifting his focus to music and photography after moving to Southern California.
McLemore first crossed paths with McCoo and LaRue during a photo shoot for the Miss Black Beauty Pageant in the mid-1960s. By late 1965, he co-founded a music group called The Versatiles, which would later evolve into The 5th Dimension just a year later.
The group became a staple on nearly every television variety show of their time and toured internationally, including a notable cultural tour in 1973 organized by the U.S. State Department that introduced American pop music behind the Iron Curtain.
In addition to his musical accomplishments, McLemore earned recognition as a photographer, creating a wide array of work in entertainment, sports, and editorial portraiture. His photographs captured many influential figures in 20th-century popular culture, contributing to magazines like Jet and Ebony for decades, along with work for Playboy and People.
"Lamonte had a deep love for music and was incredibly generous, always allowing us the use of his photography studio in our early years before we hit it big," McCoo recollected.
Music from The 5th Dimension also featured in Questlove’s acclaimed 2021 Oscar-winning documentary, "Summer of Soul (… Or, When the Revolution Could Not Be Televised)," which highlighted the 1969 Harlem Cultural Festival.
Reflecting on his life’s journey, McLemore co-authored an autobiography titled "From Hobo Flats to The 5th Dimension: A Life Fulfilled in Baseball, Photography, and Music" with Robert-Allan Arno in 2014.
He is survived by his wife of three decades, Mieko; his daughter Ciara; his adopted son Darin; his sister Joan; and three grandchildren.
In his own words, McLemore once said, "All in all, we are only in this world to help one another. If I can make you smile and recognize the greatness in others, propelling them toward excellence, then I wake up each day a happy man."
