"Jingle Bell Joy!" with Marilyn McCoo & Billy Davis, Jr. and The original 5th Dimension

"Jingle Bell Joy" and Holiday Blessings from FOREVER 5th DIMENSION! Over the past 2 years, it has been a pleasure presenting our globally popular Blog-Magazine in tribute to the stars of The original 5th Dimension--yesterday, today, forever...plus you've made our YouTube channel a steady success...all in all a smooth n' swingin' ride just like Marilyn & Billy's deliciously jazzy interpretation of "Jingle Bells" complete with a little "bonus" of The original 5th emoting "Joy to the World"...yes, it's the Three Dog Night version, but it keeps in the joyful mood of the season as we look forward to another exciting year with lots of new surprises on the horizon.

Hi, I'm Robert-Allan Arno, biographer of The original 5th Dimension and Marilyn McCoo told me that as busy as the quintet was performing on the road and on the top TV shows of the day, "Our recordings were always first priority." The group's mega-producer Bones Howe added, "Making Christmas music was simply never considered. The 5th was just so busy, I was lucky to have them in the studio when I did and then the focus was on making chart-toppers." Of course Marilyn & Billy have recorded various Christmas music more recently (including Marilyn McCoo's "White Christmas" CD) and Florence & The current 5th enjoy adding holiday selections to their concert repertoire (with Florence having recorded a single of "Grown Up Christmas List" a few years back as well). For this presentation, we bring you some MarBill holiday fare (recorded as part of a Christmas CD compilation) that has that quintessential "5th vibe" especially at the end of the song--listen to that "layering effect" in homage to what Mr. Bones so regularly employed in the studio on 5th hits--"Oh What Fun!"...it's as if the group glided in on that "one horse open sleigh" for the tune's concluding measures! And then they arrive indeed, with a taste of "Joy to the World!" And while "Joy" is not from the vaults (releasing things from the vaults is def on our 2011 "5th To Do List,") it's rather obscure as it comes from The 5th's second TV special, "Travelling Sunshine Show." It was Florence's spotlight as she did a modern dance to this huge hit of the time and Marilyn, Billy, LaMonte and Ron joined her for the song's chorus heard here. As an interesting side-note, this entire "Joy to the World" segment is not contained on the DVD re-issue of the special.

I personally had a lot of festive fun producing this video with rare photos from my collection and their sweet memories of our "Fab 5"...a big thank you to the fans for your ever kind enthusiasm, this one's for you as well as for people I consider dear friends, heroes and mentors--Marilyn & Billy, Florence, LaMonte (and his lovely wife Mieko) and the Townson family. And please join us for the Holiday Newsletter Edition of FOREVER 5th DIMENSION at http://www.myspace.com/thesoulofvoice due Dec. 12th.

Merry "5th-Mas" to all,

Robert-Allan Arno
Biographer, The original 5th Dimension
(Copyright 2010, FOREVER 5th DIMENSION)

*Marilyn McCoo & Billy Davis, Jr. state: "Robert, please know how much we appreciate you and your involvement in our lives over the years. We still marvel at photos you collect that we've never seen before, they bring us joy and wonderful memories. Please tell our special fans that we're out there loving being back on stage and look forward to moving around the country to see them. We thank God for the blessing you all are to us. Love, Marilyn & Billy."

*LaMonte McLemore shares: "Robert, thank you for the great Christmas video, you're the greatest!"

*Florence LaRue writes: "Robert, sincere thanks for your friendship and encouraging support. Love and blessings, Florence"

Visit Marilyn McCoo and Billy Davis, Jr. at: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Marilyn-McCoo-B...#!/pages/Marilyn-McCoo-Billy-...
"Jingle Bells" is from the CD, CHRISTMAS CLASSICS available in the store at: http://www.mccoodavis.com

Visit Florence LaRue and The 5th Dimension at: http://www.thefifthdimension.org and http://www.florencelarue.com

Visit LaMonte McLemore at: http://www.lamontephotography.com

FOREVER 5th DIMENSION is a copyrighted production of The Soul of the Voice, Ltd., 2010. Photos contained in the Blog-Magazine and in YouTube videos are from the Arno-5th Dimension-McCoo-Davis Legacy Collection, and The Exclusive LaMonte McLemore Collection. Caricature of The 5th Dimension courtesy of the artist, Alan Cortes Dorantes, Mexico. All Rights Reserved, not to be re-printed.

Category:

Music

Tags:

• The 5th Dimension
• Marilyn McCoo
• Billy Davis Jr
• Jingle Bells
• Joy to the World
• Florence LaRue
• LaMonte McLemore
• Ron Townson
• Bones Howe
• Robert-Allan Arno
• Three Dog Night

[acoleman7475]

My holidays have been made. Most enjoyable. Thank you, Robert. Here's wishing you a safe and happy Holiday season.

[robbybobbyoh]

@acoleman7475 --"Merry 5th-Mas!"  God bless you & yours this Christmas season & in the new year.

[nhojjmusic]

Happy holidays Robert - Thank you for this wonderful holiday video of Marilyn McCoo & Billy Davis, Jr:)

[robbybobbyoh]

@nhojjmusic --Holiday Blessings to you too, Nhojj and here's to a new year of harmonic, innovative artistry from all your friends at FOREVER 5th!

[songwriters2]

That was so cute!