Singer LaMonte McLemore has died. He was a founding member of the 5th (*90*), a vocal group whose clean pop and soul sounds with a contact of psychedelia introduced them large hits in the Sixties and ’70s.
McLemore died Tuesday at age 90 at his residence in Las Vegas, surrounded by his household, his consultant Jeremy Westby stated in an announcement. He died of pure causes after having a stroke.
The 5th (*90*) had broad crossover success and gained six Grammy Awards together with file of the yr twice, for 1967’s “Up, Up and Away” and 1969’s “Aquarius/Let the Sunshine In.” Both songs have been additionally high 10 pop hits, with “Aquarius/Let the Sunshine In,” a mashup of songs from the musical “Hair,” spending six weeks at No. 1.
McLemore had a parallel profession as a sports activities and superstar photographer whose footage appeared in magazines together with Jet.
The St. Louis-born McLemore had served in the US Navy, the place he labored as an aerial photographer. He performed baseball in the Los Angeles Dodgers’ farm system and settled in Southern California, the place he started making use of his heat bass voice and ability with a digital camera.
He sang in a jazz ensemble, the Hi-Fi’s, with future 5th (*90*) bandmate Marilyn McCoo. The group opened for Ray Charles in 1963, however broke up the following yr.
Later, McLemore, McCoo, and two of his childhood associates from St. Louis, Billy Davis Jr. and Ronald Towson, together with schoolteacher Florence LaRue, fashioned a singing group known as the Versatiles in 1965, and signed to singer Johnny Rivers’ new label, Soul City Records,
Rivers informed the group, his first signees, that their identify wasn’t present sufficient. Towson got here up with the 5th (*90*), a reputation that may echo the sprinkling of psychedelia and hippy tradition the group embraced.
Their breakthrough hit got here in 1967 with a canopy of the Mamas & the Papas’ track “Go Where You Wanna Go.”
That similar yr they launched the Jimmy Webb-penned “Up, Up and Away,” which might go to No. 7 on the Billboard Hot 100. The track would later win 4 Grammys: file of the yr, finest modern single, finest efficiency by a vocal group and finest modern group efficiency.
McLemore is survived by his spouse of 30 years, Mieko McLemore, daughter Ciara, son Darin, sister Joan and three grandchildren.