LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Ron Townson, a founding member of Grammy-winning 1960s pop group the 5th Dimension and featured singer on such chart-topping tunes as "Up, Up and Away" and "Aquarius/Let the Sun
Shine In," has died at age 68 in Las Vegas, associates said on Friday.
Townson died at home of renal failure. His wife of 40 years, Bobette Townson, was at his side, publicist Steve Rosenblum said.
Known for his large size and even larger talent, including a sparkling stage personality and brilliant tenor voice, Townson founded the smooth-sounding 5th Dimension, which won Grammys and broke musical convention in the 1960s by combining a multitude of styles in its performances including gospel, R&B, jazz and pop.
Born in St. Louis, Townson started singing at age 6 and was a featured soloist in various choirs throughout his childhood. As a young adult he appeared in opera and musical theater productions and toured with the world-famous gospel choir Wings Over Jordan.
After serving in the U.S. Air Force, he moved to Los Angeles in 1957 to pursue a musical career and toured with Nat King Cole and Dorothy Dandridge.
In 1965 he formed the group Versatiles with childhood friend, LaMonte McLemore, but later renamed it 5th Dimension on the suggestion of Bobette, after a producer said the earlier name was outdated. Original group members also included Marilyn McCoo, Billy Davis and Florence LaRue.
The 5th Dimension popularized such Laura Nyro songs as "Wedding Bell Blues" and "Stoned Soul Picnic." In 1968 the group won four Grammys for their rendition of the Jimmy Webb tune "Up Up and Away" (in my beautiful balloon).
"We aimed to use all of the different backgrounds of the members and try to blend them together," former group member McCoo told Reuters on Friday. "Billy came from a gospel background. Ronald came from a classical background."
Nicknamed "Sweets" for his love of desserts and pleasingly plump form, Townson was nevertheless light on his feet, McCoo said. He was also taken to lighting up a room or a concert hall with a radiant smile, and breaking into impromptu operatic passages during concerts to the delight of audiences.
Townson was also intense and took criticism hard. He was reportedly pained by critics who claimed the group had a "white sound," because it was not strictly R&B or gospel, McCoo said. "It would make him unhappy that people were trying to pigeonhole us," McCoo said.
Added former band member Billy Davis: "He used to say, 'How can you color a note or a sound? Whether you are black or white doesn't make a difference."'
The 5th Dimension broke up in the 1970s when its various members embarked on solo careers and Townson formed a new group called Ron Townson and Wild Honey. Later he reunited with LaRue and McLemore, in a new incarnation of the 5th Dimension that included Greg Walker and Phyllis Battle.
Townson is survived by his wife and one son.
