The Singer Helped Propel the Soul-Pop Group to International Success With Hits Like “Up, Up and Away” and “Aquarius/Let the Sunshine In”
LaMonte McLemore, a founding member of the legendary vocal group The 5th Dimension, has died at the age of 90. McLemore passed away Tuesday at his home in Las Vegas, surrounded by family, following a stroke, according to his representative.
McLemore was instrumental in building The 5th Dimension into one of the most successful and distinctive acts of its era, helping bridge pop, soul, and light psychedelia at a time when few Black groups were embraced so broadly by mainstream audiences.
Born in St. Louis, McLemore’s path to fame was far from traditional. Before music took center stage, he served in the U.S. Navy as an aerial photographer and later spent time in the Los Angeles Dodgers’ minor league system. Those early experiences shaped both his artistic discipline and his later work behind the camera.
In 1965, McLemore co-founded a vocal group called the Versatiles alongside Marilyn McCoo, childhood friends Billy Davis Jr. and Ronald Townson, and schoolteacher Florence LaRue. The group soon evolved into The 5th Dimension, a name that would become synonymous with chart-topping harmony and polished performance.
After signing with Soul City Records in the mid-1960s, The 5th Dimension delivered a string of enduring hits that cemented their legacy. “Up, Up and Away” became a top ten pop hit and earned multiple Grammy Awards, while “Aquarius/Let the Sunshine In” spent six weeks at No. 1 and went on to win another Grammy.
Their bright, optimistic sound and smooth vocal arrangements made them household names, and their success helped open doors for Black artists navigating a racially divided music industry.
The group also performed at landmark cultural moments, including the Harlem Cultural Festival—later introduced to new audiences through the documentary Summer of Soul—placing them firmly within the social and artistic history of the era.
Outside of music, McLemore built a respected career as a sports and celebrity photographer. His work appeared in publications such as Jet magazine, highlighting his ability to document Black excellence both on stage and behind the scenes.
Though the original lineup of The 5th Dimension disbanded in the mid-1970s, the group’s influence continued across film, television, and popular culture, inspiring generations of artists who followed.
McLemore is survived by his wife of 30 years, Mieko; his daughter, Ciara; his son, Darin; his sister, Joan; and three grandchildren.
