Marilyn McCoo

Marilyn McCoo
Marilyn McCoo performing at Eastern Michigan University in 1970.
Background information
Born	September 30, 1943 (1943-09-30) (age 68)
Origin	Jersey City, New Jersey, U.S.
Genres	R&B, adult contemporary, pop
Occupations	Singer, actress, presenter
Years active	1966–present
Labels	ABC Records CBS Records
Associated acts	The 5th Dimension
Website	http://www.mccoodavis.com/

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. She is the wife of singer Billy Davis, Jr., the founder and co-member of The 5th Dimension, whom she married in 1969.

Biography

Early years

McCoo was born in Jersey City, New Jersey to Waymon and Mary McCoo, who were both doctors.^[1] 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. At the age of 15, she joined Art Linkletter's Talent Show and began modelling.^[2] 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 came in first place.^[3] At this event, she met Lamonte McLemore, a part-time vocalist and photographer for Jet magazine. Her photos, taken by McLemore, were featured in the magazine's Jet Beauty of the Week section.

Music career

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 (who had won the title of "Miss Bronze California" in 1963). 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. Their follow-up was a cover of Laura Nyro's "Stoned Soul Picnic". "Wedding Bell Blues", featuring McCoo's most prominent vocal of that period, and a medley of "Aquarius/Let the Sunshine In" (from the musical Hair) both reached No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in 1969 with "Aquarius/Let The Sun Shine In" winning the Grammy for 'Record of the Year'. By the early 1970s, McCoo began to sing lead on the group's remaining chart-topping singles, "One Less Bell to Answer", "(Last Night) I Didn't Get to Sleep At All" and "If I Could Reach You."

In 1975, McCoo and Davis left The 5th Dimension and began performing as a duo. Landing a contract with ABC Records, they recorded their 1976 debut album, I Hope We Get to Love in Time. The first single was the title track, which was a mid-chart hit. Their follow up, "You Don't Have to Be a Star (To Be in My Show)" was an even bigger hit, reaching No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 in January 1977. McCoo and Davis were awarded a gold single and a gold album as well as a Grammy Award for Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals. They also hosted their own television program, The Marilyn McCoo & Billy Davis, Jr Show, on CBS in Summer 1977. After one more album on ABC in 1978, the pair signed with CBS Records the following year and released their last album as a duo until October 2008 when the pair released The Many Faces of Love, a collection of hit songs from the 1960s and 1970s.

She was the first to record "Saving All My Love for You" in 1978, later sung by Whitney Houston. The album "Marilyn and Billy", featured that track as well as a disco hit, "Shine On Silver Moon". The pair decided to go solo professionally in the early 1980s with McCoo hosting the popular American syndicated television series Solid Gold from 1981 through 1984 and again from 1986 through 1988. She also created a successful nightclub and concert act, and went on to appear as Tamara Price on Days of our Lives in 1986, as a friend of Marlena Evans who sang at her wedding. Tamara later became involved with James Reynolds' character Abe Carver. McCoo left the series in 1987.

Her 1991 album, The Me Nobody Knows, was nominated for a Grammy. She also released a Christmas album in 1994. McCoo won her eighth Grammy for her contributions to Quincy Jones' Handel's Messiah.

Acting career

McCoo has acted in a number of movies, including Grizzly Adams and the Legend of Dark Mountain (1999), My Mom's a Werewolf (1989) and a number of television movies, often playing herself. She has appeared on stage in productions of Anything Goes, A...My Name is Alice, Man of La Mancha, and the Broadway production of Show Boat in 1995 through 1996. McCoo appeared together with Davis on The Jamie Foxx Show as Fancy's parents, the Monroes. McCoo also guest-starred on a Canadian game show in the 90s, called "Acting Crazy".

Personal life

McCoo is married to fellow 5th Dimension bandmate Billy Davis, Jr. On July 26, 2009, they celebrated their 40th wedding anniversary.^[4] The couple shared their story of love and faith in the 2004 book, Up, Up and Away. They continue to perform together in venues around the country. She is a member of Sigma Gamma Rho sorority. As of January 2010^[update] she is Chairperson of the Board of Directors of the Los Angeles Mission.^[5]

McCoo and Davis are born again Christians who credit God with their lasting marriage.^[6]

Selected filmography

• My Mom's a Werewolf (1989)
• Grizzly Adams and the Legend of Dark Mountain (1999)

Television

• It Takes a Thief (1 episode, 1970)
• The Love Boat (1 episode, 1978)
• Solid Gold (host, 1981–1984, 1986–1988)
• The Fantastic World of D.C. Collins (1984)
• New Love, American Style (1 episode, 1986)
• The Fall Guy (1 episode, 1986)
• Days of our Lives (Unknown episodes, 1986–1987)
• Punky Brewster (1 episode, 1988)
• Night Court (1 episode, 1990)
• The Kingdom Chums Original Top Ten (voice) (1990)
• The Jamie Foxx Show (2 episodes, 1999–2001)

References

1. ^ www.Answers.com
2. ^ www.Answers.com.
3. ^ www.Answers.com
4. ^ http://newmusicreviews.net/marilyn-mccoo-and-billy-davis-jr-celebrate-their-40th-wedding-anniversary-july-26-faith-and-friendship-keep-us-together-2/
5. ^ "Los Angeles Mission Board of Directors". Los Angeles Mission. http://losangelesmission.org/AboutUs/BoardOfDirectors.aspx. Retrieved 30 January 2010. 
6. ^ http://www.cbn.com/700club/guests/interviews/BillyDavisJr_MarilynMcCoo122209.aspx The 700 Club - Billy Davis, Jr., and Marilyn McCoo: Still in Love

External links

• Official Website
• Marilyn McCoo at the Internet Movie Database
• Marilyn McCoo at the Internet Broadway Database

Persondata
Name	McCoo, Marilyn
Alternative names
Short description	Singer, actress
Date of birth	September 30, 1943
Place of birth	Jersey City, New Jersey
Date of death
Place of death