Women's History Month Spotlight: Marilyn McCoo

Many of us may remember Marilyn McCoo as the lead singer of the 5th Dimension, a popular singing group in the 1960's and 1970's. But her career began many years before that. I met Miss McCoo at a concert when I lived in Atlanta. It was such an awesome "sing-a-long" as the audience joined in to her big hits like, "Up,Up and Away", "Stoned Soul Picnic" and the song based on finding the love of her life, her husband Billy Davis Jr, entitled "Wedding Bell Blues".  She was phenomenal!

Marilyn McCoo was born on September 30, 1943 in Columbus, Georgia. At the age of 7, her family moved to Los Angeles. That's where Marilyn began to take dance, piano and vocal lessons and also modeling. By the time she was a teenager, she was already starting a professional career, making her debut on the Art Linkletter Talent Show. She would graduate from UCLA with a degree in business administration. In 1962, she entered the Miss Bronze California Beauty Pageant where she won Miss Grand Talent.

With her amazing gifts on display, Marilyn was asked to join various singing groups, which would eventually lead her to The Fifth Dimension. That's where she met her future husband, Billy Davis Jr. They were married in 1969.   The Fifth Dimension had much success, winning the Grammy for "Record of the Year" in 1969 for a melody of "Aquarius/Let the Sunshine In". "One Less Bell to Answer was another memorable hit.

Although Marilyn and Billy parted from The Fifth Dimension in  1975, they continued to win awards including the Grammy for Best R&B Duo for "You Don't Have to Be a Star (To Be in My Show)". They were also the first African American married couple to host a network television series, The Marilyn McCoo & Billy Davis Jr. Show on CBS in summer of 1977. Through the years, they have performed around the world. Remember when they appeared on The Jamie Foxx Show as the parents of Jamie's love interest, Fancy? Marilyn even starred on Broadway in a production of Show Boat.

And despite now being in her 80's, Marilyn McCoo has not slowed down. She recently appeared in the remake of the Christmas special: The Waltons' Homecoming. 

For more information about Marilyn McCoo please find books at your local library.