5th Dimension To Cap Music by the Lake Series Aug. 4

Williams Bay, Wis., July 23, 2007 — The 5th Dimension finishes the 2007  Music by Lake season with a performance on Saturday, Aug. 4, at 7:30 p.m.  

The performance will be held in the Allyn Pavilion for the Performing Arts at George Williams College of Aurora University, located on the shores of Geneva Lake in Williams Bay, Wis.

The artist underwriter for this performance is The J.B. and M.K. Pritzker Family Foundation.

For ticket information and prices, please visit the Web site at www.aurora.edu/mbtl or call (866) 843-5200, toll free, or 262-245-8501.

Billy Davis, Jr., Ron Townsend and LeMonte McLemore, who formed The 5th Dimension, grew up in St. Louis, Mo.  They went separate directions in their teens, but all ended up in Los Angeles with hopes of making the big time. 

Davis studied at Washington Tech, sang in several gospel and soul groups, then moved to L.A. hoping to sign with Motown’s west coast recording company.  McLemore went into professional baseball, and later discovered his love for singing while serving in the U.S. Navy. Townsend graduated from Lincoln University where he studied opera, then moved to Los Angeles with aspirations to become a professional singer.

While working as a photographer in 1962, McLemore met Marilyn McCoo, a beauty contestant in the Miss California Bronze Talent Award Competition.  Born in New Jersey, Marilyn grew up in Los Angeles with a desire to go into the entertainment business.  Convinced to finish school, she graduated from UCLA, then accepted the invitation to join LaMonte’s new singing group.

McLemore connected with another gifted singer while photographing the same beauty contest the following year, and competition winner, Florence LaRue was asked to fill a fifth spot.  As a graduate of Cal State with a new teaching job, Florence joined as a hobby, initially, but the newly formed quintet, called The Versatiles made a demo tape for Berry Gordy at Motown Records.  Gordy felt he had not heard chart hits in the first demo, and asked for more songs.

Future manager Marc Gordon at Motown introduced the group to Johnny Rivers at Soul City Records, who liked their sound, but suggested they get a new name and “look.”  With new “mod” outfits The 5th Dimension was formed, quickly producing their first single, “I’ll Be Lovin’ You Forever/Train Keep On Movin” in 1966.  Though it didn’t create much excitement, the follow up single, “Go Where You Wanna Go” written by John Phillips (also recorded by The Mamas and Papas) made the Top 20, peaking at No.16.

In 1967, The 5th Dimension recorded a blockbuster song by Jimmy Webb called “Up, Up, and Away,” and the single was an apt description of the group’s career.  The song entered the Top 10 and peaked at No. 7, staying on the Top 40 for 10 weeks, bringing the quintet to fame.  The song was awarded Best Performance By A Vocal Group, Best Contemporary Group Performance, Best Contemporary Single, Song Of The Year, and Record Of The Year at the Grammy Awards.

The popularity of the group continued unabated through hit after hit, and throughout nearly three decades of performing and recording, The 5th Dimension received a Star on Hollywood’s Walk of Fame in 1991.  But with the untimely death from renal failure of Townsend in 2001, and the retirement of McLemore in 2006 (and after the group’s 40th year in show business), the quintet re-grouped.  The 5th Dimension today includes Florence LaRue, Willie Williams, Michael Mishaw, Valerie Davis and Leonard Tucker.

The 2007 Music by the Lake concert series is generously supported by presenting sponsor Keefe Real Estate; platinum sponsors AT&T, FairWyn Investment & Development, and Gage Marine and Lake Geneva Cruise Line; gold sponsors are The Abbey Resort, Boldt Construction, Scherrer Construction Co., Inc., Aurora Health Care, and Grand Geneva Resort and Spa; and silver sponsors are Balestrieri Environmental and Development, Inc., M&I Bank, locally-owned Mid-America Bank, First Banking Center, and WLKG 96.1.

Aurora University is an inclusive community dedicated to the transformative power of learning. The university is comprised of two campuses: a 30-acre campus in Aurora, Ill., with academic, administrative, and residential buildings; and the more than 200-acre George Williams College on Geneva Lake in Williams Bay, Wis. Approximately 4,000 degree-seeking students are enrolled each year on the university’s Illinois and Wisconsin campuses, and the university is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association to award degrees at the baccalaureate, master’s, and doctoral levels. The George Williams College campus offers 12 academic programs, unique conference facilities, and is home to Music by the Lake and other education and enrichment programs.

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Note: Media may download print-quality photos by going to the Music by the Lake press room at www.aurora.edu/mbtl/press.