Entertainment
LaMonte McLemore, singer and founding member of The 5th Dimension, dies at 90
Singer LaMonte McLemore, a founding member of vocal group The 5th Dimension, whose smooth pop and soul sounds with a touch of psychedelia brought them big hits in the 1960s and ’70s, has died. He was 90.
McLemore died Tuesday at his home in Las Vegas, surrounded by family, his representative Jeremy Westby said in a statement obtained by CBS News. He died of natural causes after having a stroke.
The 5th Dimension had broad crossover success and won six Grammy Awards , including record of the year twice, for 1967’s “Up, Up and Away” and 1969’s “Aquarius/Let the Sunshine In.” Both were also top 10 pop hits, with the latter, a mashup of songs from the musical “Hair,” spending six weeks at No. 1.
McLemore had a parallel career as a sports and celebrity photographer whose pictures appeared in magazines, including Jet.
Marcel Thomas/FilmMagic via Getty Images
Born in St. Louis, McLemore served in the Navy, where he worked as an aerial photographer. He played baseball in the Los Angeles Dodgers’ farm system and settled in Southern California, where he began making use of his warm bass voice and skill with a camera.
He sang in a jazz ensemble, the Hi-Fi’s, with future 5th Dimension bandmate Marilyn McCoo. The group opened for Ray Charles in 1963 but broke up the following year.
McLemore, McCoo and two of his childhood friends from St. Louis, Billy Davis Jr. and Ronald Towson, later formed a singing group called the Versatiles. They also recruited Florence LaRue, a schoolteacher McLemore met through his photography, to join them. In 1965 they signed to singer Johnny Rivers’ new label, Soul City Records, and changed their name to The 5th Dimension to better represent the cultural moment.
Their breakthrough hit came in 1967 with the Mamas & the Papas’ song “Go Where You Wanna Go.”
Harold P. Matosia / AP 
That same year, they released the Jimmy Webb-penned “Up, Up and Away,” which would go to No. 7 on the Billboard Hot 100 and win four Grammys: record of the year, best contemporary single, best performance by a vocal group and best contemporary group performance.
In 1968 they had hits with a pair of Laura Nyro songs, “Stoned Soul Picnic” and “Sweet Blindness.”
1969 brought the peak of their commercial success with “Aquarius/Let the Sunshine In,” which along with its long run at No. 1 won Grammys for record of the year and best contemporary vocal performance by a group.
That same year they played the Harlem Cultural Festival, which has become known as the “Black Woodstock.” The festival, and The 5th Dimension’s part in it, were chronicled in the 2021 documentary from Ahmir “Questlove” Thompson, “Summer of Soul.”
The 5th Dimension also had a rare level of success with white audiences for a group whose members were all Black. The phenomenon came with criticism.
“We were constantly being attacked because we weren’t, quote, unquote, ‘Black enough,'” McCoo said in “Summer of Soul.” “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.”
The group had hits into the 1970s including “One Less Bell to Answer,” “(Last Night) I Didn’t Get to Sleep at All” and “If I Could Reach You.”
They became regulars on TV variety shows and performed at the White House and on an international cultural tour organized by the State Department.
The original lineup lasted until 1975, when McCoo and Davis left to make their own music.
“All of us who knew and loved him will definitely miss his energy and wonderful sense of humor,” McCoo and Davis, who married in 1969, said in a statement.
LaRue said in her own statement that 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 is survived by his wife of 30 years, Mieko McLemore, daughter Ciara, son Darin, sister Joan and three grandchildren.
Meghan Markle’s recent moves have ignited new tension amid reports of Prince Harry’s bid to return to the UK.
The Duchess’ latest string of appearances left the observers in surprise as she’s trying to play the royal even afetr saying goodbye to the Firm in 2020 over her differences with the senior members and their alleged biased treatment of her.
On the other hand, Harry’s recent interviews and claims reveal as he’s very serious, even desperate, to return to the royal fold, leaving no stone unturned to take his kids, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet, to the UK to experience royal luxuries and duties.
But some of Meghan’s actions are said to be causing pronblems in the process of reconciliation.
Accordiong to an insider, “The royals believe that Duchess is unwilling to let Prince Harry reconcile with his family, and her recent actions have forced them to turn against him.”
They went on to claim: “The Duchess’ moves seem to driving a wedge between Harry and his Family.”
According to royal expert Jennie Bond, “I’m sure questions are going to be asked about Meghan advertising herself as Duchess of Sussex. That is, of course, her title – but things become a little murky if she chooses to use it for commercial activities.”
The recent moveswill have undoubtedly raised eyebrows within the Firm, following the late Queen’s demand that the couple stopped using their HRH titles – a request they have cleverly maneuvered around by utilising Harry’s ‘Prince’ title, his given birthright, and their titles of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex.
Jennie belives Meghan and Harry’s upcoming tour of Australia may have also sparked some confusion behind the Palace walls.
In reaction to the Montecito-based couple’s official announcment, the expert said: “I suppose the King and his family might wonder why Harry and Meghan have chosen to announce their visit to Australia with quite such a flourish.”
The Duchess has already confirmed to be holding a Q and A at a £1700 a ticket women’s retreat in Sydney, where she’ll also pose for photos with guests.
Meanwhile, Meghan’s alleged copycat moves are also apsking angers among the Waleses.
She is being accused of copying the royal playbook to tease or compete with Princess Kate, and allegedly forcing Harry to follow in her footsteps.
Queen Camilla paid no heed to shocking comments which left Prince Harry ‘riled up,’ following a major announcement from the Sussexes.
For the unversed, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex’s spokesperson recently hit back at Tom Bower for writing “deranged conspiracy” in his bombshell book.
One of the remarks in the book was about Camilla’s ‘true feelings’ for Meghan. It has been said that King Charles’ wife said that the Duchess ‘brainwashed’ Harry.
Royal commentator Ingrid Seward claimed that the comments from Camilla seem true, and she is not spending sleepless nights over Harry’s reaction.
As per the Mirror, she said, “My guess is it’s exactly the sort of thing Camilla would have said – you don’t have to be Einstein to realise that.”
“Brainwashing is an expression of someone of Camilla’s age, certainly, and I’m assuming she probably said it to one of her ladies-in-waiting,” Ingrid shared.
The royal expert believes that Queen Camilla is unbothered about the resurfaced remark, which left Prince Harry ‘shocked’ and forced him to defend his wife publicly.
Ingrid stated that Harry and the Queen do not have a close bond.
“I don’t think there is a relationship between Harry and Camilla at this point,” the commentator said.
These comments came after Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s new scripted polo show with Netflix was announced.
King Charles has been urged to stand with the victims of Jeffrey Epstein by extending help to the UK police with a ‘Trump card.’
There are talks surrounding the monarch’s visit to the US, especially after Donald Trump told reporters earlier that the King is coming soon, despite political unrest.
Charles, whose diplomatic skills are not hidden from anyone, could play a crucial role in strengthening ties between the UK and the US after Trump’s remarks about Keith Starmer.
But, the monarch’s visit is not only important for the political alliance, but also he could play a key role in persuading Trump to release full and unredacted Jeffrey Epstein files, helpful in the Andrew probe.
Royal expert Andrew Lownie said, “He (Mr Trump) can be rude to Keir Starmer, but I don’t think he’s going to be rude to the King.”
As per the Mirror, he added, “I think Trump is a bully, and I think you stand up to him. I think the King might well be able to persuade him to do things that might not be possible otherwise.”
Despite strong calls by UK politicians and the public to postpone the US trip, Mr Lownie believes that King Charles should continue with his plans for the sake of Epstein victims.
“This is the sort of soft power in which the monarchy can actually be very effective. They can shame Trump. It’s the old line, ‘When they go low, you go high,’ and I think he should go,” the royal commentator said.
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