Lamonte McLemore, Architect of the 5th Dimension’s Sound, Dies at 90

The 5th Dimension features (clockwise from top left) Ron Townson, Florence LaRue, Marilyn McCoo, LaMonte McLemore and Billy Davis Jr. in a promotional photo. McLemore, who recruited the members to form the "Champagne Soul" quintet that broke racial barriers in pop music, died Tuesday at age 90. (Photo by John Engstead/Courtesy of 2911 Media)

The smooth, anchoring bass of “Champagne Soul” has gone silent.

LaMonte McLemore, the founding member of The 5th Dimension whose vision — both musical and photographic — helped define the aesthetic of the 1960s and 70s, died Tuesday at his home in Las Vegas. He was 90.

According to a statement confirmed by Jeremy Westby of 2911 Media, McLemore passed peacefully from natural causes, surrounded by his family. He had been recovering from a stroke suffered several years ago.

It is impossible to overstate just how critical “Mac” was to the architecture of pop culture. He wasn't just he figure with the warm baritone on “Up, Up and Away.” He was the connector, the scout and the glue. McLemore was the one who assembled the Avengers of vocal harmony. A former minor league baseball pitcher with a golden ear, he first recruited Marilyn McCoo — whom he met during a photo shoot — for a group called the Hi-Fi’s. When that dissolved, he called up his old St. Louis friends Billy Davis Jr. and Ron Townson, and then brought in a schoolteacher named Florence LaRue.

LaMonte McLemore, the founder and bass vocalist of The 5th Dimension, poses for a portrait. McLemore, known as the "glue" of the six-time Grammy-winning group and a groundbreaking photographer, died Tuesday at his home in Las Vegas. He was 90. (Photo by Benny Clay/Courtesy of 2911 Media)

The result was The 5th Dimension, a group that smashed the color barrier of pop radio. In an era when Black artists were often boxed into specific R&B lanes, McLemore’s group wore colorful bell-bottoms and sang Jimmy Webb and Laura Nyro songs with a sophistication that forced the world to listen. They were “Black joy” before the term existed, winning six Grammys and topping the charts with anthems like “Aquarius/Let the Sunshine In” and “Stoned Soul Picnic.”

McLemore’s legacy extended far beyond the grooves of a vinyl record. For over 40 years, he was the lens behind the legendary “Beauty of the Week” feature in Jet magazine. He didn't just take pictures; he celebrated the Black woman in a way that mainstream fashion magazines of the era refused to do. He shot the cover of Stevie Wonder’s first album, became the first African American photographer hired by Harper’s Bazaar and saw the culture when the rest of the media looked away.

LaMonte McLemore looks through his camera lens in this undated photo. Beyond his musical legacy, McLemore was a celebrated visual artist who spent four decades shooting the iconic "Beauty of the Week" feature for Jet magazine and became the first African American photographer hired by Harper’s Bazaar. (Courtesy of 2911 Media)

In a joint statement, his longtime friends and bandmates Marilyn McCoo and Billy Davis Jr. said, “All of us who knew and loved him will definitely miss his energy and wonderful sense of humor.” Florence LaRue added that his “cheerfulness and laughter often brought strength and refreshment to me in difficult times,” noting that they were “more like brother and sister than singing partners.”

McLemore is survived by his wife of 30 years, Mieko, his daughter Ciara, his son Darin and his sister Joan. 

Search Intensifies for DJ Young Slade, Son of Rapper Lil Jon, in Metro Atlanta

A missing person flyer issued by the Milton Police Department details the disappearance of 27-year-old Nathan Smith in Milton, Georgia, on Tuesday. Smith, also known as DJ Young Slade and the son of rapper Lil Jon, was last seen leaving his home on foot and may be disoriented. (Courtesy of Milton Police Department)

The music world is rallying around Lil Jon as police in Georgia intensify the search for his adult son, Nathan Smith.

Smith, a 27-year-old DJ and producer who performs under the name DJ Young Slade, was reported missing on Tuesday morning in Milton, Georgia. According to the Milton Police Department, Smith was last seen around 6 a.m. near the intersection of Baldwin Drive and Mayfield Road, an area about 30 miles north of downtown Atlanta.

The circumstances of the disappearance are concerning. Authorities state that Smith "ran out of his house" on foot and did not take his phone with him. The police advisory noted he "may be disoriented and in need of assistance," leading friends and family to fear for his safety.

In a statement released to the press on Wednesday, a representative for Lil Jon addressed the situation briefly but poignantly.

"The family is asking for privacy at this time," the statement read. "We are also asking for continued prayers for Nathan to come home safe. Thank you."

Search crews were spotted scouring the neighborhood and the nearby Mayfield Lake on Tuesday afternoon, though no significant leads have been publicly reported.

Smith is the only child of Lil Jon (born Jonathan Smith) and his ex-wife, Nicole Smith. He has spent much of his life following in his father’s footsteps, carving out his own lane in the industry as a DJ. The two have frequently appeared together at red carpet events and in the booth, sharing a close bond that the elder Smith has often spoken about with pride.

"It’s literally in your kid’s genes to do what you do," Lil Jon said in a 2023 interview. "He was destined to be in the music business."

Smith is described as 5 feet, 9 inches tall, weighing approximately 150 pounds, with brown eyes and black hair. Police have urged anyone who spots him or has information regarding his whereabouts to contact the Milton Police Department at 678-297-6300.

Watch: New ‘Michael’ Footage Dives Deep Into the Making of the King of Pop

The uncanny valley may have officially been conquered.

On Monday, Lionsgate released the extended trailer for Antoine Fuqua’s long-awaited biopic “Michael,” and if the footage is to be believed, Jaafar Jackson isn’t just playing his uncle — he is channeling him from the molecular level up.

Set for a global theatrical release on April 24, “Michael” promises to be the definitive cinematic account of the King of Pop. But as the new preview reveals, this isn’t just a “greatest hits” reel. It is a deep dive into the friction that forged the diamond.

For the uninitiated, casting a family member can often feel like a gimmick. But Jaafar Jackson — the son of Jermaine — silences that skepticism in seconds. The new footage, which expands significantly on last year’s teaser, showcases the 29-year-old inhabiting Michael’s physicality with terrifying precision. From the feather-light spoken voice to the explosive kinetics of the “Bad” era, the resemblance is less “acting” and more “resurrection.”

The trailer gives us our first real look at the film's central conflict, specifically the dynamic between Michael and the patriarch, Joe Jackson. In a chilling sequence, Colman Domingo (playing Joe) delivers a line that sets the temperature for the entire film. When a young adult Michael asserts that he needs “time to think” about his career direction, Joe’s retort is ice cold: “I told you what to think.” It’s a moment that suggests Fuqua isn’t shying away from the heavy toll of the Jackson family dynasty.

Fuqua has assembled a talented cast. Beyond Jaafar and Domingo, the film features Nia Long as the steadfast Katherine Jackson and Miles Teller as attorney John Branca. But the real casting coup might be Larenz Tate. The actor portrays Motown founder Berry Gordy, a role that requires a specific kind of gravitas that Tate has commanded since the 90s. We also get glimpses of Kat Graham as Diana Ross and Laura Harrier stepping into the role of Suzanne de Passe.

The synopsis promises a journey “beyond the music,” tracking Michael from the Gary, Indiana, grind to the global stratosphere. The trailer teases the creation of “Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough” and the groundbreaking visuals of “Thriller,” offering a “fly on the wall” perspective of the studio sessions that changed pop history.

While the film appears to focus heavily on the ascent and the peak of his powers, it remains to be seen how deeply it will wade into the turbulent waters of his later years. However, with the Estate involved, the focus is clearly on the artistry and the human cost of becoming the most famous person on Earth.

Come April 24, the world will see if the movie can hold the weight of the legacy. But based on this three-minute preview, one thing is certain: The spirit of Michael Jackson is back in the building.