Marilyn McCoo facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Marilyn McCoo |
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McCoo in 1995
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| Background information | |
| Born | September 30, 1943 Jersey City, New Jersey, U.S. |
| Genres | R&B, pop |
| Occupation(s) | Singer, actress, presenter |
| Instruments | Vocals |
| Years active | 1966–present |
| Labels | |
| Associated acts | The 5th Dimension |
Marilyn McCoo (born September 30, 1943) is an American singer, actress, and television host. She is famous for being the lead female singer of the group the 5th Dimension. She also hosted the popular music TV show Solid Gold in the 1980s.
McCoo is known for her powerful voice, which can cover three octaves.
Contents
Early Life and School
Marilyn McCoo was born in Jersey City, New Jersey. Her parents, Mary and Waymon McCoo, were both doctors. Her grandfather, Dr. Thomas Vivian McCoo, was also a doctor in Eufaula, Alabama.
She spent her first seven years in Columbus, Georgia. When she was seven, her family moved to Los Angeles. There, she took lessons in singing, piano, and dancing.
At age 15, she appeared on Art Linkletter's Talent Show and also started modeling. After high school, she went to the UCLA. She graduated with a degree in business. In 1962, McCoo won the "Miss Grand Talent" award in the Miss Bronze California beauty pageant.
Career in Music and Television
The 5th Dimension
In the early 1960s, McCoo joined a group called the Hi-Fi's. They often performed as the opening act for the famous musician Ray Charles. She was invited to the group by photographer Lamonte McLemore, who later joined the 5th Dimension with her.
In 1966, she met Billy Davis Jr., who was forming a new group called the Versatiles. This group soon changed its name to the 5th Dimension. The other members were Ron Townson and Florence LaRue.
The group's first big hit was "Up, Up and Away" in 1967. The song won four Grammy Awards in 1968. A year later, the group recorded a medley of "Aquarius/Let the Sunshine In" from the musical Hair. It became a number one hit on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in 1969 and won a Grammy for Record of the Year. Their song "Wedding Bell Blues" also reached number one that same year.
By the early 1970s, McCoo sang the lead vocals on more of the group's hits. These included "One Less Bell to Answer", "(Last Night) I Didn't Get to Sleep at All", and "If I Could Reach You".
Working as a Duo
In 1975, McCoo and her husband, Billy Davis Jr., left the 5th Dimension. They started performing as a duo. They signed a contract with ABC Records and released their first album, I Hope We Get to Love in Time, in 1976.
Their song "You Don't Have to Be a Star (To Be in My Show)" became a number one hit. For this song, they won a Grammy Award. They became the first married African American couple to host their own TV show, The Marilyn McCoo & Billy Davis Jr. Show, in 1977.
The duo released a few more albums together. In 2021, they released Blackbird Lennon-McCartney Icons, their first new album in over 30 years. They said the album was meant to encourage people to unite during difficult times.
Solo Career and Hosting
In the early 1980s, McCoo began a solo career. From 1981 to 1984, she hosted the popular music show Solid Gold. She returned to host again from 1986 to 1988.
She also performed in concerts and nightclubs. Her 1991 album, The Me Nobody Knows, was nominated for a Grammy. McCoo has won a total of eight Grammy Awards in her career, including those with the 5th Dimension.
Acting Career
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McCoo has acted in several movies and TV shows. She appeared in films like My Mom's a Werewolf (1989) and the documentary Summer of Soul (2021).
She also acted on stage in plays like Anything Goes and the Broadway production of Show Boat. On television, she had a role on the soap opera Days of Our Lives in the 1980s and returned for guest appearances in 2019 and 2020. She and Davis also played the parents of the character Fancy on The Jamie Foxx Show.
Personal Life
McCoo is married to her former 5th Dimension bandmate, Billy Davis Jr. They celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary on July 26, 2019.
The couple wrote a book about their life together called Up, Up and Away. They continue to perform together across the country. McCoo is a member of the Sigma Gamma Rho sorority and supports charitable organizations like the Los Angeles Mission.
Selected Film and TV Work
Movies
- My Mom's a Werewolf (1989)
- Grizzly Adams and the Legend of Dark Mountain (1999)
- Summer of Soul (2021)
Television
- It Takes a Thief (1 episode, 1970)
- The Love Boat (1 episode, 1978)
- Solid Gold (host, 1981–1984, 1986–1988)
- The Fall Guy (1 episode, 1986)
- Days of Our Lives (1986–1987, 2019–2020)
- Punky Brewster (1 episode, 1988)
- The Jamie Foxx Show (2 episodes, 1999–2001)
