Lamonte McLemore, founding member of the 5th dimension, has died aged 90. McLemore dieD on Tuesday at his home in Las Vegas, surrounded by his family, his representative Jeremy Westby said in a statement. He died of natural causes having suffered a stroke several years ago. He was a member of the 5th Dimension alongside Florence LaRue, Ron Townson and married couple Billy Davis Jr. and Marilyn McCoo. His heartbroken bandmate issued an emotional message as she confessed his "love will stay in my heart forever".

“Proverbs 17:22 states that ‘A joyful heart is good medicine … ’ Well, LaMonte really knew my prescription!” LaRue said in a statement. “His cheerfulness and laughter often brought strength and refreshment to me in difficult times. We were more like brother and sister than singing partners.

"I didn’t realize the depth of my love for LaMonte until he was no longer here. His absence has shown me the magnitude of what he meant to me and that love will stay in my heart forever.”

McLemore was a founding member of the 5th Dimension, a vocal group whose smooth pop and soul sounds with a touch of psychedelia brought them big hits in the 1960s and 70s.

His warm bass vocals helped anchor the group's sophisticated harmonies.

The 5th Dimension enjoyed success and had broad crossover appeal, winning six Grammy awards including record of the year twice, for 1967’s Up, Up and Away and 1969’s Aquarius/Let the Sunshine In. Both songs were also top 10 pop hits, with Aquarius/Let the Sunshine In, a mashup of songs from the musical Hair, spending six weeks at No 1.

Away from his music career, McLemore also worked as a sports and celebrity photographer whose pictures appeared in magazines including Jet, Ebony and Harper's Bazaar.

“Lamonte loved music and was always so generous, making his photography studio available to us in our early years before the hits started,” McCoo said.

Born September 17, 1935, in St Louis, McLemore had served in the US navy, where he worked as an aerial photographer. He played baseball in the Los Angeles Dodgers’ farm system and settled in southern California, where he began making use of his warm bass voice and skill with a camera.

He sang in a jazz ensemble called the Hi-Fi's with fellow 5th dimension bandmate McCoo. The group opened for Ray Charles in 1963, but split the same year.

He would later go on to form the 5th Dimension breakthrough hit came in 1967 with the Mamas & the Papas’ song Go Where You Wanna Go.

That same year they released the Jimmy Webb-penned Up, Up and Away, which would go to No 7 on the Billboard Hot 100. The song would later win four Grammys: record of the year, best contemporary single, best performance by a vocal group and best contemporary group performance.

"All in all, we are only in this world to help one another,” McLemore said. “If I can make you smile, if I can see the greatness in others and help propel them to excellence, I wake up each day a happy man.”

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