LaMonte McLemore

LaMonte McLemore was a vocalist and one of the founding members of the pop-soul group The 5th Dimension—boasting 20 Top 40 hits on the Billboard Hot 100 (with “Aquarius/Let the Sunshine In” reaching number one), nine Grammy nominations, and six wins, including two Records of the Year—known for their versatile sound and diverse appeal that transcended race, age, and nationality. In 1991, McLemore and the original lineup of the group received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. While touring the world and receiving critical acclaim with the group, McLemore was also a photographer for JET magazine, taking over 30,000 photographs for their “Beauty of the Week” feature. He was also the photographer for Stevie Wonder’s first album cover, and the first African American athlete to try out for the St. Louis Cardinals, followed by a short stint playing for the LA Dodgers until an arm injury.

LaMonte McLemore’s work with The 5th Dimension and JET magazine left a significant impact on popular culture, one that can still be seen today.