January 29th--FOREVER 5th DIMENSION proudly remembers the birthday of Ronald "Sweets" Townson...his aura of robust dignity, his unique operatically-based blend, "the visual image" of The 5th Dimension, as Florence LaRue so warmly called him. Ron on recording from the heart: the easy saunter of one of his personal favorites, "The Sailboat Song," the reflective mood of "What Do I Need to Be Me." In concert: the panoramic sweep of his "MacArthur Park," the mustache-twirling romp of "Eli's Coming," the virtuosity of Townson's tour-de-force Aria from "Pagliacci"--all showstoppers...and so was "The Sweet Man's" powerfully sensitive version of the popular Theme from "Love Story" ("Where Do I Begin?").
Hi, I'm Robert-Allan Arno, biographer of The 5th Dimension and I was never so happy to discover "Love Story" in the vaults, literally the summer that Mr. Townson left us in 2001. It was part of the Bones Howe-produced sessions that got scrapped from the original SOUL & INSPIRATION album...and I was also never so happy, thanks to Rob Santos and Gordon Anderson, to get "Love Story" released as part of the expanded SOUL & INSPIRATION CD re-issue a few years back. Here's what I wrote about this gem in my "special guest liners" to the project:
"The beloved Ron 'Sweets' Townson's take on Theme from 'Love Story' was ever a standing ovation-inducing winner at The 5th Dimension's stage shows circa '74. For its recording, (usually concert) vocal arranger Rene DeKnight impressively choreographs a live-in-studio ambience for the classically-trained Townson to soar just as freely. The 'Sweet Man's' interpretation accompanied by the group's intricate, emotional back-ups is one of cathartic magnitude and serves as true testimony to the gifts of this proud gentleman of song."
So I invite you to enjoy "Love Story" as we salute Ron's birthday with loving reflections. I personally found it quite a heartrending experience to produce this particular YouTube; I can't help but remember sitting with "Sweets" for a lengthy interview the day after The 5th's historic premiere reunion concert at Trump's in '91. His sheer joy in being part of music history was palpable--touchingly prideful yet humble. (We'll have highlights of that interview in our upcoming "Have You Tried Love" Valentine's Edition of FOREVER 5th DIMENSION debuting 2/14 at http://www.myspace.com/thesoulofvoice Marilyn and Billy (McCoo and Davis) say, "Robert, we look forward to your tribute to 'Sweets'...he left us way too soon." Bones Howe weighs in, "Ronald could musically go all over the place...what a consummate pro, just a pleasure in the studio!" 70's-80's 5th Dimension member, Gospel music's Joyce Wright Pierce added, "It seems like yesterday...he is still deeply missed on earth. When I recently unveiled 'Love Story' on my car's CD player, it was so beautiful, like I never heard him before, that I had to stop on the side of the road to compose myself!" Lamonte McLemore noted in our recent interview with regard to The 5th Dimension receiving their star on the prestigious St. Louis Walk of Fame this coming March 18th, "Without Ron there could never be a 5th Dimension musical reunion, it just wouldn't be right. The 5th Dimension were five individuals; there will never be a group like the original group." And my good pal, Kyle Townson, Ronald's son with a speaking voice as clear in timbre as his father's singing voice, sums it all up with his comment about the final frame of this video, "That's one of my favorite photos of my Dad; it really captures the spirit of love and happiness he truly was all about! Thank you, Robert and the fans for celebrating his birthday...the Townson family loves ya!"
Ronald "Sweets" Townson...Forever In Our Hearts.
Robert-Allan Arno
copyright 2010
With blessings, love and appreciation to The Townson Family, Marilyn & Billy, Florence and Lamonte & Mieko. And special thanks to my mentor, Bones Howe, Rob Santos & Jeremy Holiday at Sony, Gordon Anderson at Collectors' Choice, Mr. David Brokaw at The Brokaw Co. and Mr. Randall Jeffries.
You'll find all the classic 5th CD's including the re-issue of SOUL & INSPIRATION featuring "Love Story" plus Marilyn & Billy's latest, THE MANY FACES OF LOVE at the store: http://www.MccooDavis.com.
FOREVER 5th DIMENSION is a copyrighted production of The Soul of the Voice, Ltd. Photos contained in the Blog-Magazine and videos are from the Arno-5th Dimension-McCoo-Davis Legacy Collection, All Rights Reserved, not to be re-printed.
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