LaMonte McLemore, a founding voice behind one of America’s most distinctive harmony groups, has died at age 90, closing the chapter on a career that helped define a more melodic, optimistic era of popular music.
McLemore passed away Tuesday at his home in Las Vegas surrounded by family, according to his representative. He died of natural causes following a stroke. For millions of fans, his passing marks the loss of a performer whose smooth bass vocals and steady professionalism helped carry The 5th Dimension to the top of the charts — and into American cultural history.
At a time when popular music was increasingly turbulent and politically charged, The 5th Dimension carved out a space built on craftsmanship, harmony, and mass appeal. The group’s polished sound delivered crossover success rarely matched by vocal acts of the era. They won six Grammy Awards, including back-to-back record of the year honors for 1967’s soaring “Up, Up and Away” and 1969’s chart-dominating “Aquarius/Let the Sunshine In,” the latter holding the No. 1 spot for six weeks.
Their music was ambitious without being alienating — psychedelic touches wrapped in tight vocal arrangements that welcomed a broad American audience. It was the kind of pop that united listeners rather than dividing them, and that accessibility became a defining strength.
Born in St. Louis, McLemore’s early life reflected a classic American trajectory of discipline and reinvention. He served in the U.S. Navy as an aerial photographer, later playing baseball in the Los Angeles Dodgers’ farm system before settling in Southern California. Alongside his music career, he maintained a respected parallel life as a photographer, with sports and celebrity portraits appearing in national magazines including *Jet*. He was a working artist in the fullest sense — adaptable, skilled, and relentlessly productive.
His partnership with future bandmate Marilyn McCoo began in a jazz ensemble that opened for Ray Charles in 1963. Though that group dissolved, the creative chemistry endured. McLemore later joined childhood friends Billy Davis Jr. and Ronald Towson to form a new act, eventually recruiting Florence LaRue. By 1965 they signed to Soul City Records and renamed themselves The 5th Dimension, a title that captured the futuristic optimism of mid-60s America.
Their breakthrough came with “Go Where You Wanna Go,” followed quickly by the Jimmy Webb classic “Up, Up and Away,” which won four Grammys and cemented their national presence. Hits continued to stack up: “Stoned Soul Picnic,” “Sweet Blindness,” and the era-defining “Aquarius/Let the Sunshine In.” The group’s success carried into the 1970s with favorites like “One Less Bell to Answer” and “If I Could Reach You,” while frequent television appearances made them household names.
The 5th Dimension occupied a unique place in American culture. As an all-Black group with massive crossover success among white audiences, they sometimes faced criticism from ideological corners that tried to police artistic identity. Yet McLemore and his bandmates stayed focused on the music. They performed at the White House, toured internationally on a State Department cultural mission, and represented a version of American artistry that transcended categories.
Tributes from surviving members reflect the personal warmth behind the polished stage presence. McCoo and Davis remembered McLemore’s humor and energy, while LaRue described him as family — a brother figure whose optimism steadied those around him.
Beyond the accolades, McLemore leaves a legacy of professionalism and joy. His work belonged to an era when melody mattered, when voices blended instead of clashed, and when popular music aspired to bring people together.
He is survived by his wife of 30 years, Mieko McLemore, daughter Ciara, son Darin, sister Joan, and three grandchildren. His voice — and the harmonies he helped build — remain woven into the American soundtrack.
