Herman Lamonte McLemore (September 17, 1935 – February 3, 2026) was an American vocalist, actor, composer and photographer. He was a founding member of The 5th Dimension, a popular vocal group of the late 1960s and early 1970s.

Herman Lamonte McLemore was born in St. Louis, Missouri on September 17, 1935.^[1]

McLemore was the first African American athlete to try out for the St. Louis Cardinals. After he moved to Los Angeles, he was a minor league strong-arm pitcher with the Los Angeles Dodgers for a short time.^[1]

After he graduated from high school, McLemore enlisted in the United States Navy, and worked as an aerial photographer. He co-founded Halmont Graphics with Cliff Hall, and worked there as a photographer beginning in 1958.^[2] McLemore was the first African American photographer hired by Harper’s Bazaar magazine and was the photographer for Stevie Wonder’s first album cover. He was a photographer for Jet and Ebony magazines for over 40 years. It was because of his photo shoot at the Miss Black Beauty Pageant in the mid-1960s that he met Marilyn McCoo and Florence LaRue, which ultimately led to The 5th Dimension being created.^[1]

He also worked as a professional photographer for Playboy and People magazines.^[3]

McLemore co-wrote two songs recorded by The 5th Dimension, « A Love Like Ours » (with Bob Alcivar)^[4] and « The Singer » (with Elliot Willensky).^[5]

McLemore married Lisa Harvey, and had a daughter named Ciara. In 2014, he wrote and published his autobiography with Robert-Allan Arno, From the Hobo Flats to The 5th Dimension – A Life Fulfilled in Baseball, Photography, and Music.^[6][7]

McLemore died at his home in Las Vegas, on February 3, 2026, at the age of 90.^[8]

• Lamonte McLemore discography at Discogs
• Lamonte McLemore at IMDb