Throwback Thursday: Marilyn McCoo (5th Dimension)

Marilyn McCoo

Children of the ’60s and ’70s remember Marilyn McCoo as the beautiful, sultry lead singer of Grammy-winning R&B/pop group 5th Dimension. McCoo was spotted feeding the homeless at The Los Angeles Mission Thanksgiving Event — as she does every year.

Today’s singers can’t hold a candle to eight time Grammy winner Marilyn McCoo.

McCoo, 75, was the main vocalist on the 5th Dimension’s memorable hit songs “Up, Up & Away”, “One Less Bell to Answer”, “Stoned Soul Picnic”, “Wedding Bell Blues”, “(Last Night) I Didn’t Get to Sleep at All”, “Aquarius/Let the Sunshine In”, and many more hits.

Born in Jersey City, NJ, Marilyn spent her first 7 years in Columbus, Georgia before moving with her family to Los Angeles. There she learned to sing and took piano and dance lessons.

At age 15, she joined Art Linkletter‘s Talent Show and began modeling. After graduating from high school, she earned a degree in business administration at UCLA.

On the way to superstardom, she won the Miss Bronze California beauty pageant in 1962.

In the mid-1960s, Marilyn met her future husband Billy Davis, Jr., and she became a member of his singing group The Versatiles, which later became the 5th Dimension. The group also included Florence LaRue, Ron Townson and photographer Lamonte McLemore.

The group’s first big smash hit was “Up, Up and Away”, released in 1967. The song won four Grammys in 1968 and was the title track of the 5th Dimension’s debut LP.