Ron Townson | |
|---|---|
 Townson (left) withthe 5th Dimension, 1971 | |
| Background information | |
| Birth name | Ronald Townson |
| Born | (1933-01-29)January 29, 1933 St. Louis, Missouri, U.S. |
| Died | August 2, 2001(2001-08-02) (aged 68) Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S. |
| Genres | Pop music |
| Occupation(s) | Singer,actor |
Ronald Townson (January 29, 1933 – August 2, 2001) was anAmericanvocalist. He was an original member ofthe 5th Dimension, a popular vocal group of the late 1960s and early 1970s; he is the only original member of the group who is no longer living.
Townson was married to Bobette and had two sons, Kim and Kyle. Raised Methodist, he began taking an interest in his wife'sJehovah's Witnesses faith in the early 1980s. Prior to that, it had caused friction within their marriage.[1]
Townson was born inSt. Louis, Missouri. He started singing at age six and was a featured soloist on various choirs throughout his school years.[2] His grandmother inspired him to sing and his parents arranged for him to have private singing and acting lessons. During high school, he appeared for three seasons in productions ofBloomer Girl,Annie Get Your Gun, andShow Boat. He also won third place in theMissouri State trials for the Metropolitan Opera.
Townson toured withWings Over Jordan for eight years while still in school and was their choir director for two years. He worked his way throughLincoln University inJefferson City, Missouri, by conducting the university and church choirs; he also played football and ran track in college.[3] At some stage he was in Canada playing professional football.[4]
Townson left St. Louis to pursue a musical career inLos Angeles. He metDorothy Dandridge and toured with her for two years, took part in theSamuel Goldwyn motion-picture production ofPorgy & Bess, and toured withNat King Cole.[5] He also organized and conducted his own 35-voicea cappella choir in Los Angeles.
In 1965, Townson and fellow St. Louis nativesBilly Davis Jr. andLamonte McLemore joined female vocalistsMarilyn McCoo andFlorence LaRue to formThe Versatiles.[6] The name was a reference to their varied style in music, but producerJohnny Rivers thought the name was outdated. He wanted a newer sounding name for the group, and they soon came up withThe 5th Dimension. They began cutting records for Rivers'Soul City Records music label that year.
In 1976, after ten successful years with the 5th Dimension, Townson left the group. In subsequent years he made a guest appearance on the TV seriesSwitch, cut records, performed solo, and formed his own group, Ron Townson and Wild Honey. He also managed five-piece soul/funk vocal groupCreative Source, who enjoyed moderate success between 1973 and 1977.[7] From 1977 to 1980 he pursued his interest in classical music. With the encouragement of group member Florence LaRue Townson rejoined the 5th Dimension in 1980.[8][9]
In 1981, he and fellow group membersJoyce Wright Pierce,Michael Procter,Florence LaRue, andLamonte McLemore starred inFats Waller'sAin't Misbehavin' to excellent reviews. In 1990, the original five members of the group reunited for a New Year's Eve performance inAtlantic City, New Jersey. It was a huge success. In 1991 they went on the road for some performances billed asThe Original 5th Dimension. That year, the group received a star on theHollywood Walk of Fame. In 1992 Townson appeared in theWarner Brothers filmThe 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 atLincoln University with the school's Distinguished Alumni Award.
In 1999, Townson moved toLas Vegas and died in his home on August 2, 2001 ofkidney failure after a four-year battle with kidney disease.[10] A service was held on August 11, 2001, at the Kingdom Hall of Jehovah's Witnesses.
