The Fifth Dimension, also known as The 5th Dimension, is a multiple Grammy-winning American popular music vocal group, whose repertoire also includes pop, R&B, soul, and jazz.
The Fifth Dimension were best-known during the late 1960s and early 1970s for popularizing the hits "Up, Up and Away," Wedding Bell Blues," "Stoned Soul Picnic," "California My Way," and "Aquarius/Let the Sunshine In," as well as the eponymous "Fifth Dimension" and "The Magic Garden" LP recordings. The five original members were Billy Davis, Jr., Florence LaRue, Marilyn McCoo, Lamonte McLemore, and Ron Townson. They have recorded for several different labels over their long careers. Their first work appeared on the Soul City label, which was started by Imperial Records/United Artists Records recording artist Johnny Rivers. The group would later record for Bell/Arista Records ABC Records and Motown Records.
Some of the songwriters popularized by The Fifth Dimension later went on to careers of their own, especially Ashford & Simpson, who wrote "California Soul." The group is also notable for having more success with the songs of Laura Nyro than Nyro did herself, particularly in the cases of "Wedding Bell Blues," "Stoned Soul Picnic," and "Save the Country." The group also covered music by well known songwriters such as the song "One Less Bell to Answer," written by Burt Bacharach and Hal David. And perhaps best of all, they became great interpreters of the songs and music of Jimmy Webb, who penned their original mega-hit "Up, Up, and Away," including an entire recording of memorable Webb songs called "The Magic Garden" which produced the hit The Worst That Could Happen and "Paper Cup," which Johnny Maestro & The Brooklyn Bridge also covered successfully.
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