Ron Townson
Encyclopedia
Ronald "Ron" Townson was an American
vocalist. He was an original member of The 5th Dimension, a popular vocal group of the late '60s and early '70s.
Born in St. Louis
in 1933, he reportedly started singing at the age of 6 and was a featured soloist on various choirs throughout his years in school. He was inspired to sing by his grandmother and his parents arranged for him to have private singing and acting lessons. During high school, he won third place in the Missouri State
trials for the Metropolitan Opera. He also appeared for three seasons in productions of Bloomer Girl
, Annie Get Your Gun
and Show Boat
.
Ron toured with Wings Over Jordan for eight years while still in school. He was their choir director for two years. Later on, he entered Lincoln University
in Jefferson City, Missouri
. He worked his way through by conducting the University and Church Choirs and playing football and track.
Ron left St. Louis so that he could pursue a musical career in Los Angeles
, California
. He met Dorothy Dandridge
, toured with her for two years, took part in the Samuel Goldwyn
motion picture production of Porgy & Bess and then later toured with Nat King Cole
. Townson also organized and conducted his own 35 voice a cappella
choir in Los Angeles.
In 1966, Townson joined two other St. Louis natives (Billy Davis, Jr.
and Lamonte McLemore) along with female vocalists Marilyn McCoo
and Florence LaRue
to form The Versatiles. The name was a reference to their varied style in music, but producer Johnny Rivers
thought the name was outdated. He wanted a newer sounding name for the group. The group soon came up with The 5th Dimension. The group began cutting records for Rivers' Soul City Records
music label that year.
After ten successful years with The 5th Dimension, Ron left the group for a span beginning in 1976. During his time away, he made a guest appearance on the TV series Switch
, cut records, performed solo, and formed his own group, Ron Townson and Wild Honey. By 1980, he decided to reunite with The 5th Dimension.
In 1981, he and fellow group members Joyce Wright
, Michael Procter, Florence LaRue
and Lamonte McLemore starred in Fats Waller
's Ain't Misbehavin' to excellent reviews. In 1990, the original five members of the group reunited for a New Year's Eve performance at Donald Trump
's Atlantic City Casino. It was a huge success and they went on the road for some performances in 1991 as The Original 5th Dimension. That same year, the group received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame
. In 1992, Townson appeared in the Warner Brothers film The Mambo Kings
.
Townson left The 5th Dimension for good in 1997. He involved himself with other business ventures and served on the board of directors of the Cambridge-Kilpatrick Acting School. He was honored at Lincoln University with the school's Distinguished Alumni Award.
Ron moved to Las Vegas
in 1999 and died in his home there on August 2, 2001. He died of renal failure, after a four-year battle with kidney disease. A service for him was held on August 11, 2001 at the Jehovah's Witnesses Kingdom Hall.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
vocalist. He was an original member of The 5th Dimension, a popular vocal group of the late '60s and early '70s.
Born in St. Louis
St. Louis, Missouri
St. Louis is an independent city on the eastern border of Missouri, United States. With a population of 319,294, it was the 58th-largest U.S. city at the 2010 U.S. Census. The Greater St...
in 1933, he reportedly started singing at the age of 6 and was a featured soloist on various choirs throughout his years in school. He was inspired to sing by his grandmother and his parents arranged for him to have private singing and acting lessons. During high school, he won third place in the Missouri State
Missouri
Missouri is a US state located in the Midwestern United States, bordered by Iowa, Illinois, Kentucky, Tennessee, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Kansas and Nebraska. With a 2010 population of 5,988,927, Missouri is the 18th most populous state in the nation and the fifth most populous in the Midwest. It...
trials for the Metropolitan Opera. He also appeared for three seasons in productions of Bloomer Girl
Bloomer Girl
Bloomer Girl was a Broadway musical that premiered on October 4, 1944. Sig Herzig and Fred Saidy wrote the book, Harold Arlen the music, and E.Y. Harburg the lyrics. Agnes de Mille was the choreographer...
, Annie Get Your Gun
Annie Get Your Gun (musical)
Annie Get Your Gun is a musical with lyrics and music written by Irving Berlin and a book by Herbert Fields and his sister Dorothy Fields. The story is a fictionalized version of the life of Annie Oakley , who was a sharpshooter from Ohio, and her husband, Frank Butler.The 1946 Broadway production...
and Show Boat
Show Boat
Show Boat is a musical in two acts with music by Jerome Kern and book and lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II. It was originally produced in New York in 1927 and in London in 1928, and was based on the 1926 novel of the same name by Edna Ferber. The plot chronicles the lives of those living and working...
.
Ron toured with Wings Over Jordan for eight years while still in school. He was their choir director for two years. Later on, he entered Lincoln University
Lincoln University (Missouri)
Lincoln University, a historically black college, is located in Jefferson City, Missouri. In 2007, according to U.S. News and World Report, Lincoln University was ranked #3 for economic diversity, #5 for campus ethnic diversity, and #9 for most international students among master's level...
in Jefferson City, Missouri
Jefferson City, Missouri
Jefferson City is the capital of the U.S. state of Missouri and the county seat of Cole County. Located in Callaway and Cole counties, it is the principal city of the Jefferson City metropolitan area, which encompasses the entirety of both counties. As of the 2010 census, the population was 43,079...
. He worked his way through by conducting the University and Church Choirs and playing football and track.
Ron left St. Louis so that he could pursue a musical career in Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
, California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
. He met Dorothy Dandridge
Dorothy Dandridge
Dorothy Jean Dandridge was an American actress and popular singer, and was the first African-American to be nominated for an Academy Award for Best Actress...
, toured with her for two years, took part in the Samuel Goldwyn
Samuel Goldwyn
Samuel Goldwyn was an American film producer, and founding contributor executive of several motion picture studios.-Biography:...
motion picture production of Porgy & Bess and then later toured with Nat King Cole
Nat King Cole
Nathaniel Adams Coles , known professionally as Nat King Cole, was an American musician who first came to prominence as a leading jazz pianist. Although an accomplished pianist, he owes most of his popular musical fame to his soft baritone voice, which he used to perform in big band and jazz genres...
. Townson also organized and conducted his own 35 voice a cappella
A cappella
A cappella music is specifically solo or group singing without instrumental sound, or a piece intended to be performed in this way. It is the opposite of cantata, which is accompanied singing. A cappella was originally intended to differentiate between Renaissance polyphony and Baroque concertato...
choir in Los Angeles.
In 1966, Townson joined two other St. Louis natives (Billy Davis, Jr.
Billy Davis, Jr.
Billy Davis, Jr. is an American musician, best known as a member of The 5th Dimension. Along with his wife, Marilyn McCoo, he had hit records during 1976 and 1977 with "I Hope We Get to Love in Time", "Your Love", and "You Don't Have to Be a Star "...
and Lamonte McLemore) along with female vocalists Marilyn McCoo
Marilyn McCoo
Marilyn McCoo 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...
and Florence LaRue
Florence LaRue
Florence LaRue is an American actress, humanitarian, and Grammy award-winning singer. She is best known as the original female lead singer of The 5th Dimension.-Early life:...
to form The Versatiles. The name was a reference to their varied style in music, but producer Johnny Rivers
Johnny Rivers
Johnny Rivers is an American rock and roll singer, songwriter, guitarist, and record producer. His styles include folk songs, blues, and revivals of old-time rock 'n' roll songs and some original material...
thought the name was outdated. He wanted a newer sounding name for the group. The group soon came up with The 5th Dimension. The group began cutting records for Rivers' Soul City Records
Soul City Records (U.S. label)
Soul City Records is an American record label founded by singer Johnny Rivers in 1966. The most notable acts on Soul City were The 5th Dimension, Al Wilson, and Rivers himself. The label was distributed by Liberty Records. Rivers sold the label to Bell Records in 1970...
music label that year.
After ten successful years with The 5th Dimension, Ron left the group for a span beginning in 1976. During his time away, he made a guest appearance on the TV series Switch
Switch (TV series)
Switch is an American action-adventure, tongue-in-cheek detective series starring Eddie Albert and Robert Wagner, who worked as private eyes, for a deceptive sting operation...
, cut records, performed solo, and formed his own group, Ron Townson and Wild Honey. By 1980, he decided to reunite with The 5th Dimension.
In 1981, he and fellow group members Joyce Wright
Joyce Wright
Joyce Wright is an English singer and actress, best known for her performances in the mezzo-soprano roles of the Savoy Operas with the D'Oyly Carte Opera Company. She was married for a time to another D'Oyly Carte performer, Peter Pratt....
, Michael Procter, Florence LaRue
Florence LaRue
Florence LaRue is an American actress, humanitarian, and Grammy award-winning singer. She is best known as the original female lead singer of The 5th Dimension.-Early life:...
and Lamonte McLemore starred in Fats Waller
Fats Waller
Fats Waller , born Thomas Wright Waller, was a jazz pianist, organist, composer, singer, and comedic entertainer...
's Ain't Misbehavin' to excellent reviews. In 1990, the original five members of the group reunited for a New Year's Eve performance at Donald Trump
Donald Trump
Donald John Trump, Sr. is an American business magnate, television personality and author. He is the chairman and president of The Trump Organization and the founder of Trump Entertainment Resorts. Trump's extravagant lifestyle, outspoken manner and role on the NBC reality show The Apprentice have...
's Atlantic City Casino. It was a huge success and they went on the road for some performances in 1991 as The Original 5th Dimension. That same year, the group received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame
Hollywood Walk of Fame
The Hollywood Walk of Fame consists of more than 2,400 five-pointed terrazzo and brass stars embedded in the sidewalks along fifteen blocks of Hollywood Boulevard and three blocks of Vine Street in Hollywood, California...
. In 1992, Townson appeared in the Warner Brothers film The Mambo Kings
The Mambo Kings
The Mambo Kings is a 1992 drama film starring Armand Assante and Antonio Banderas. Directed by Arne Glimcher in his directorial debut, the film is based on the Pulitzer Prize-winning novel The Mambo Kings Play Songs of Love by Oscar Hijuelos...
.
Townson left The 5th Dimension for good in 1997. He involved himself with other business ventures and served on the board of directors of the Cambridge-Kilpatrick Acting School. He was honored at Lincoln University with the school's Distinguished Alumni Award.
Ron moved to Las Vegas
Las Vegas, Nevada
Las Vegas is the most populous city in the U.S. state of Nevada and is also the county seat of Clark County, Nevada. Las Vegas is an internationally renowned major resort city for gambling, shopping, and fine dining. The city bills itself as The Entertainment Capital of the World, and is famous...
in 1999 and died in his home there on August 2, 2001. He died of renal failure, after a four-year battle with kidney disease. A service for him was held on August 11, 2001 at the Jehovah's Witnesses Kingdom Hall.