September 17, 2022: Birthday Greetings to the inimitable LaMonte McLemore. The St. Louis-born founder of Grammy legends The 5th Dimension, the group’s mellow bass for over 40 years. Their timeless tunes like “Up-Up and Away,” “Stoned Soul Picnic,” and “Aquarius/Let the Sunshine in” are iconic uplifting anthems for a generation. The premiere freelance photographer for JET magazine’s “Beauty of the Week” for 5 decades with a documentary about this trailblazing feature in the works. Known for his sense of humor & style and overall kindness, “The Bronze Clark Gable” is the author of the popular inspirational memoir “From Hobo Flats to The 5th Dimension (A Life Fulfilled in Baseball, Photography and Music)” as told to Robert-Allan Arno.
September 17, 2022: Birthday Greetings to the inimitable LaMonte McLemore. The St. Louis-born founder of Grammy legends The 5th Dimension, the group’s mellow bass for over 40 years. Their timeless tunes like “Up-Up and Away,” “Stoned Soul Picnic,” and “Aquarius/Let the Sunshine in” are iconic uplifting anthems for a generation. The premiere freelance photographer for JET magazine’s “Beauty of the Week” for 5 decades with a documentary about this trailblazing feature in the works. Known for his sense of humor & style and overall kindness, “The Bronze Clark Gable” is the author of the popular inspirational memoir “From Hobo Flats to The 5th Dimension (A Life Fulfilled in Baseball, Photography and Music)” as told to Robert-Allan Arno. There’s so much more to the tapestry of “Mac”-- from his impactful mentoring by his beloved Grandma Gertrude, a Cherokee Indian, to his philosophies on life, love, happiness, and representation of African Americans in the media.
Today in 2022, LaMonte adds a new humanitarian “dimension” as a member of the Board of Directors to America to Africa Higher Education Foundation, assisting brilliant Nigerian scholars in attending college, making their dreams come true. Mr. McLemore states, “We are only in this world to help one another.” Enjoying life residing in Las Vegas with his lovely wife of over 20 years, Mieko, he continues a smooth recovery from a stroke that occurred shortly after his birthday 3 years ago. The couple shares, “We are grateful for daily simple, joyful pleasures, and the kindness of all people we encounter on the journey.” In celebration of his birthday weekend, on LaMonte’s lively Facebook page of 5,000 followers, fans, friends, and family are invited to share their “memories of Mac.” And in honor of his birthday, LaMonte welcomes charitable contributions to America to Africa Higher Education Foundation at: www.AmericatoAfricaHigherEducationFoundation.com His biographer and social media curator shares, “I send my love, respect and admiration to a personal hero, mentor, dear friend, and brother like no other, LaMonte McLemore.”
–Robert-Allan Arno