LaMonte McLemore, Pioneer of The 5th Dimension, Passes Away at 90

February 4, 2026, marked the passing of LaMonte McLemore, a founding member of The 5th Dimension, whose music graced the 1960s and 1970s with a blend of pop, soul, and a hint of psychedelia. The beloved singer, aged 90, died at home in Las Vegas, surrounded by family. According to his representative, Jeremy Westby, McLemore succumbed to natural causes following a stroke.

The 5th Dimension gained widespread acclaim, securing six Grammy Awards. They achieved record of the year twice with 1967’s “Up, Up and Away” and 1969’s “Aquarius/Let the Sunshine In.” The latter, a combination of songs from the musical “Hair,” dominated the charts at No. 1 for six weeks.

Aside from his musical career, McLemore excelled as a sports and celebrity photographer, with his work featured in notable publications like Jet. In the early 1960s, McLemore served in the Navy as an aerial photographer and played baseball in the Los Angeles Dodgers’ farm system before settling in Southern California.

His musical journey began with the jazz ensemble the Hi-Fi’s, where he performed alongside future 5th Dimension member Marilyn McCoo. Although the group disbanded after opening for Ray Charles in 1963, McLemore went on to form the Versatiles with McCoo and childhood friends Billy Davis Jr. and Ronald Towson. Joined by Florence LaRue, a schoolteacher McLemore met through photography, they signed with Soul City Records in 1965 and rebranded as The 5th Dimension to reflect the era’s cultural vibe.

Their breakthrough came with the hit “Go Where You Wanna Go.” In 1967, they released Jimmy Webb’s “Up, Up and Away,” which climbed to No. 7 on the Billboard Hot 100, earning four Grammy Awards. In 1968, they scored hits with Laura Nyro’s “Stoned Soul Picnic” and “Sweet Blindness.”

The group’s commercial zenith was 1969’s “Aquarius/Let the Sunshine In,” garnering awards for record of the year and best contemporary group performance. The same year, they performed at the Harlem Cultural Festival, later chronicled in the documentary “Summer of Soul” by Questlove.

The 5th Dimension found extraordinary success with white audiences, despite facing criticism for not conforming to traditional expectations for a Black group. In the documentary, McCoo stated, “We were constantly being attacked because we weren’t, quote, unquote, ‘Black enough.’ Sometimes we were called the Black group with the white sound, and we didn’t like that. We happened to be artists who are Black, and our voices sound the way they sound.”

Throughout the 1970s, they continued to produce hits such as “One Less Bell to Answer,” “(Last Night) I Didn’t Get to Sleep at All,” and “If I Could Reach You.” The group graced TV variety shows, performed at the White House, and participated in international tours organized by the State Department.

The original ensemble remained intact until 1975 when McCoo and Davis pursued their own musical endeavors. In a joint statement, McCoo and Davis expressed their sorrow, saying, “All of us who knew and loved him will definitely miss his energy and wonderful sense of humor.” LaRue added, “McLemore’s cheerfulness and laughter often brought strength and refreshment to me in difficult times. We were more like brother and sister than singing partners.”

McLemore leaves behind his wife of 30 years, Mieko McLemore, his daughter Ciara, his son Darin, his sister Joan, and three grandchildren.