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Marilyn McCoo

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Marilyn McCoo
McCoo in 1995
McCoo in 1995
Background information
Born(1943-09-30)September 30, 1943(age 81)
Jersey City, New Jersey,U.S.
GenresR&B,pop
Occupation(s)Singer, actress,presenter
InstrumentVocals
Years active1966–present
Labels
Spouse
(m.1969)
Websitewww.mccoodavis.com

Marilyn McCoo(born September 30, 1943)[1]is an American singer, actress, and television presenter, who is best known for being the lead female vocalist in the groupthe 5th Dimensionas well as hosting the 1980s music television showSolid Gold.

Since 1969, McCoo has been married to singerBilly Davis Jr.,the founder and a co-member of the 5th Dimension. She has a three-octave vocal range.

Life and career

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Early years

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Marilyn McCoo was born inJersey City, New Jersey,United States,[1]to Waymon and Mary (née Holloway[2]) McCoo, who were both physicians. Her grandfather was doctorThomas Vivian McCooofEufaula, Alabama.[3]She isAfrican American.[4]She spent her first seven years inColumbus, Georgia.[5]At the age of seven, she moved with her parents, two sisters, and brother toLos Angeles,where she began voice, piano and dance lessons. At the age of 15, she made her television debut onArt Linkletter'sTalent Show[6]and began modelling. After graduating fromSusan Miller Dorsey High School,she enrolled inUCLA,where she earned a degree inbusiness administration.In 1962, McCoo entered theMiss Bronze Californiabeauty pageant where she won "Miss Grand Talent".[7]

Music career

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In the early and mid-1960s, McCoo was a member of the Hi-Fi's, who often opened forRay Charles.She had been invited to join the group by photographerLamonte McLemore,who would himself join McCoo in the 5th Dimension. Other Hi-Fi members included Harry Elston and Floyd Butler, who later formedthe Friends of Distinction.She metBilly Davis Jr.in 1966 when he established the 5th Dimension, then called the Versatiles, which also includedRon TownsonandFlorence LaRue.The group's first bighitwas with 1967's "Up, Up and Away",written byJimmy Webb.The song won four 1968Grammy Awards[8]and was the title track to 5th Dimension's first hitLP.A year later, the group recordedLaura Nyro's "Stoned Soul Picnic".Amedleyof "Aquarius/Let the Sunshine In"(from the musicalHair) reachedNo. 1on theBillboardHot 100chartin April to May 1969 and won the Grammy for 'Record of the Year'.[8]The group's recording of another Nyro composition, "Wedding Bell Blues",topped the Hot 100 in November 1969.

McCoo performing atEastern Michigan University

By the early 1970s, McCoo began to sing lead on the group's remaining hits, "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 aduo.Landing a contract withABC Records,they recorded their 1976 debut album,I Hope We Get to Love in Time.As a duo, McCoo and Davis were not as successful as the 5th Dimension; however, their first album did score two major hits and three overall singles: "I Hope We Get To Love In Time" (#91, March 1978), "You Don't Have to Be a Star (To Be in My Show)"(#1, September 1976), and" Your Love "(#15, March 1977). McCoo and Davis won theGrammy Award for Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocalsfor "You Don't Have to Be a Star".[8]The song peaked at number 21 in Australia.[9]They became the first African American married couple to host a networktelevision series,The Marilyn McCoo & Billy Davis Jr. Show,on CBS in summer 1977. The duo released their next album on ABC in 1977, titledThe Two Of Us.The album spawned the single "Look What You've Done To My Heart" (#51, August 1977). The pair signed with CBS Records and released their next album, 1978'sMarilyn + Billy,although it did not include any Hot 100 hits. This would be the duo's last album until thirty years later; in October 2008 the pair releasedThe Many Faces of Love,a collection of hit songs from the 1960s and 1970s.

After breaking from the 5th Dimension to perform as a duo and subsequently releasing three albums, McCoo and Davis Jr. next decided to go solo professionally in the early 1980s. McCoo began hosting the popular American music television showSolid Goldfrom 1981 to 1984 and returned again from 1986 to 1988. She also embarked on anightclubandconcertact and went on to play the role of Tamara Price on the soap operaDays of Our Livesin 1986, as a friend of the characterMarlena Evans.Price later became involved withJames Reynolds' characterAbe Carver.McCoo left the series in 1987.

McCoo's 1991 album,The Me Nobody Knows,was nominated for a Grammy.[8]She also released a Christmas album in 1996. McCoo won her eighth Grammy (which also included work with the 5th Dimension) for her contributions to Quincy Jones'Handel's Messiah.[citation needed]

In 2021, McCoo and Davis releasedBlackbird Lennon-McCartney Icons,their first studio album in over 30 years. EntrepreneurKathy Irelandreleased the album through her record label EE1.[10]The duo said it was a civil rights movement which became a human rights movement with a goal to encourage people to come together during trying times.[11]During an interview about the album on June 29, 2021,Questlovecalled McCoo and Davis "the first couple of Pop and Soul". They would later appear in Quest's directorial debut,Summer of Soul.[12]

Acting career

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McCoo with singer Stacey Robinson

McCoo has acted in a number ofmovies,includingGrizzly Adams and the Legend of Dark Mountain(1999),My Mom's a Werewolf(1989) and severaltelevisionmovies, often playing herself. She has appeared on stage in productions ofAnything Goes,A...My Name is Alice,Man of La Mancha,and the Broadway production ofShow Boatin 1995 through 1996. McCoo appeared together with Davis onThe Jamie Foxx Showas Fancy's parents, the Monroes. McCoo also guest-starred on a Canadian game show in the 1990s, calledActing Crazy.

Personal life

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McCoo is married to fellow5th DimensionbandmateBilly Davis Jr.On July 26, 2019, they celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary.[13]The couple shared their story of love and faith in the 2004 book,Up, Up and Away.[14]They continue to perform together in venues around the country. McCoo is a member ofSigma Gamma Rhosorority.[15]She is an emerita member of the board of directors of the Los Angeles Mission.[16]McCoo and Davis areborn-again Christians.[17]

Selected filmography

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Features

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Television

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References

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  1. ^abColin Larkin,ed. (1992).The Guinness Encyclopedia of Popular Music(First ed.).Guinness Publishing.pp. 1553/4.ISBN0-85112-939-0.
  2. ^[ "Alabama County Marriages, 1809-1950",, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:Q21C-P328:Tue Mar 05 05:18:19 UTC 2024), Entry for W G McCoo and T V Mccoo, 16 Sep 1937. "Alabama County Marriages, 1809-1950",, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:Q21C-P328:Tue Mar 05 05:18:19 UTC 2024), Entry for W G McCoo and T V Mccoo, 16 Sep 1937.]{{cite web}}:Check|url=value (help);Missing or empty|title=(help)
  3. ^Smith, Joel P. (September 27, 2011).Candid Comments: Selected Columns from the Eufaula Tribune, 1958-2006.NewSouth Books. p. 223.ISBN9781603060684.RetrievedSeptember 27,2021– via Google Books.
  4. ^"Marilyn McCoo & Billy Davis Jr., Launch Silly Love Songs on EE1 / BMG Celebrates Black History Month".AP NEWS.2021-02-13.Retrieved2021-06-18.
  5. ^"Marilyn McCoo and Billy Davis Jr. Interview on Soul Train 10 23 76"onYouTube
  6. ^Moses, Ann (February 14, 1970)."Love Keeps Us 5th Dimensions Together says Marilyn".New Musical Express.RetrievedApril 25,2019– viaRock's Backpages.
  7. ^Davis, Belva(2012).Never in My Wildest Dreams: A Black Woman's Life in Journalism.Berrett-Koehler Publishers. p. 80.ISBN978-1609944667.
  8. ^abcd"Marilyn McCoo's GRAMMY Awards history".grammy.com.November 23, 2020.RetrievedMarch 5,2021.
  9. ^Kent, David(1993).Australian Chart Book 1970–1992(illustrated ed.). St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. p. 184.ISBN0-646-11917-6.
  10. ^Baltin, Steve."Sunday Conversation: Marilyn McCoo And Billy Davis Jr Return To The Studio After 30 Years With Beatles Tribute Album".Forbes.RetrievedSeptember 27,2021.
  11. ^Baltin, Steve (May 2, 2021)."Sunday Conversation: Marilyn McCoo And Billy Davis Jr Return To The Studio After 30 Years With Beatles Tribute Album".Forbes.RetrievedMay 2,2021.
  12. ^"Marilyn McCoo & Billy Davis - Questlove Supreme".
  13. ^"Marilyn McCoo and Billy Davis, Jr., Celebrate Their 40th Wedding Anniversary July 26 –" Faith and Friendship Keep Us Together "".Newmusicreviews.net. Billboard Publicity Wire. July 27, 2009. Archived fromthe originalon February 24, 2012.RetrievedApril 15,2012.
  14. ^McCoo, Marilyn; Davis, Billy Jr.; Yorkey, Mike (2004).Up, Up and Away: How We Found Love, Faith, and a Lasting Marriage in the Entertainment World.Northfield Publishing.ISBN9781881273172.RetrievedMarch 5,2021.
  15. ^D.L. Chandler (November 14, 2019)."Little Known Black History Fact: Sigma Gamma Rho".blackamericaweb.com.RetrievedMarch 5,2021.
  16. ^"Los Angeles Mission: Board of Directors, Emeritus".losangelesmission.org.RetrievedMarch 5,2021.
  17. ^Blim, Julie; Ross, Scott."Billy Davis, Jr., and Marilyn McCoo: Still in Love".The 700 Club.RetrievedMay 24,2014.
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