Marilyn McCoo
| Marilyn McCoo | |
|---|---|
performing at Eastern Michigan University (1970)
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| Background information | |
| Born |
September 30, 1943 Jersey City, New Jersey, U.S. |
| Genres | R&B, pop |
| Occupation(s) | Singer, actress, presenter |
| Years active | 1966–present |
| Labels | |
| Associated acts | The 5th Dimension |
| Website | www |
Marilyn McCoo (born September 30, 1943) is an American singer, actress, and television presenter, who is best known for being the lead female vocalist in the group The 5th Dimension, as well as hosting the 1980s music countdown series Solid Gold. Since 1969, she has been married to singer Billy Davis, Jr., the founder and co-member of the 5th Dimension.
McCoo has a four-octave vocal range.
Marilyn McCoo was born in Jersey City, New Jersey, to Waymon and Mary McCoo, who were both doctors. At the age of seven, she moved with her parents, two sisters, and brother to Los Angeles, where she commenced singing, piano and dance lessons. (Note: on the October 23, 1976, episode of Soul Train, McCoo told host Don Cornelius that she spent her first seven years in Columbus, Georgia.) At the age of 15, she joined Art Linkletter's Talent Show and began modelling. After graduating from high school, she enrolled in UCLA, where she earned a degree in business administration. In 1962, McCoo entered the Miss Bronze California beauty pageant where she won "Miss Grand Talent".
In the early and mid-1960s, McCoo was a member of the Hi-Fi's, who often opened for Ray Charles. She had been invited to join the group by photographer Lamonte McLemore, who would himself join McCoo in the 5th Dimension. Other Hi-Fi members included Harry Elston and Floyd Butler, who would go on to form the Friends of Distinction. She met Billy Davis, Jr. in 1966 when he established the 5th Dimension, then called The Versatiles, which would also include Ron Townson and Florence LaRue. The group's first big hit was with 1967's "Up, Up and Away", written by Jimmy Webb. The song won four 1968 Grammy Awards and was the title track to 5th Dimension's first hit LP. A year later the group covered Laura Nyro's "Stoned Soul Picnic". A medley of "Aquarius/Let the Sunshine In" (from the musical Hair) reached No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in April to May 1969 and won the Grammy for 'Record of the Year'. The group's cover of Nyro's "Wedding Bell Blues", featuring McCoo's most prominent vocal of that period, topped the Hot 100 in November 1969.
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