"You Make Me Feel Brand New" by MARILYN McCOO & BILLY DAVIS, JR.

"People have asked when we plan to retire," Marilyn McCoo recently remarked about herself and hubby Billy Davis, Jr. touring on the concert, cabaret and even TV trail, "We don't see that happening anytime soon!" And so worldwide fans of the "dynamic duo," (who just celebrated their 42st wedding anniversary July 26th,) can breathe a collective sigh of relief that Miss McCoo's recent hip injury--from which she has made a complete recovery--has not hampered her indefatigable spirit nor sidelined the legendary couple's glowing presentation of romantic harmonies and shimmering Pop n' Soul with sizzling Blues n' Torch.

Hi, I'm Robert-Allan Arno, biographer of The 5th Dimension and I'm proud to honor Marilyn & Billy's return to the concert stage (in early June 2010, see 2011 schedule below*) with our latest production from The Soul of the Voice, Ltd. We feature what I think is the perfect tune for this auspicious event, the classic "You Make Me Feel Brand New"-- its title alone and theme of "counting one's blessings of the heart" is not only apropos but emotionally resonant. I personally was moved putting this together with many rare photos of Marilyn & Billy yesterday and today, knowing that their inspirational influence is...forever! The tune is arranged & produced by Scott V. Smith and is from McCoo & Davis's latest (interactive) CD of the greatest Pop-Soul Love Songs of a golden era, re-envisioned "the MarBill way," THE MANY FACES OF LOVE*.

*UPDATE 2012--You can now order THE MANY FACES OF LOVE, an autographed Collector's Edition at: http://www.mccoodavis.com
Just go to the band player on their homepage...and get a free song download too!!

And over at FOREVER 5th DIMENSION, the globally popular Blog-Magazine tribute to the stars of The original 5th Dimension at http://www.myspace.com/thesoulofvoice in our June Edition (available June 5th) we'll have the latest from not only Marilyn & Billy, but Florence & The current 5th and Lamonte, too--I recently spoke with all of them and each is "Workin' on their Groovy Thing!" with tasty projects certain to keep you smiling all summer (and more!) long.

And thank YOU, special fans & friends for your ever kind and savvy remarks about our FOREVER 5th/Soul of the Voice productions...we have much coming up..."Everything is Lookin' Up!"

Robert-Allan Arno
(copyright May, 2010)

*Christmas Season 2010--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 in 2011. We thank God for the blessing you all are to us. Love, Marilyn & Billy."

Many thanks from Robert with love & blessings to: Marilyn & Billy, Florence, Lamonte & Mieko. With appreciation to: Randall Jeffries, David Brokaw, John Caratelli, and Kenneth Green.

*Marilyn & Billy's concert schedule in 2010 included the following dates--

2010 Schedule:
June 7/8th 2010--Table Mountain Casino in Friant, Fresno County, CA
Sep 10 2010--John A. Walker Community College, Wilkesboro, North Carolina
Sep 11 2010--Progress Energy Center, Raleigh, North Carolina
Oct 8 2010--Schuster Performing Arts Center, Dayton, Ohio
Oct 16 2010--Cache Creek Casino & Resort, Brooks, CA
Nov 5 2010--Hard Rock Hotel & Casino, Biloxi, Mississippi

*And visit their exciting new Official Facebook page for the up-to-the-minute MarBill 2012 show schedule including select dates at Busch Gardens and The Colony in Fla. at http://www.facebook.com/?sk=welcome#!/McCooDavis

2011 Schedule included:
Feb. 9, 2011--Desert Symphony, Palm Springs, CA
April 8 -10, 2011--Disney World Epcot, American Garden Theatre, Lake Buena Vista, FL
April 12 - 23, 2011--The Colony, Palm Beach, FL
Oct. 1, 2011--Cerritos Performing Arts Center, Cerritos, CA
--plus July in Manila and the fall from England to California!

FOREVER 5th DIMENSION is a copyrighted production of The Soul of the Voice, Ltd., 2008-12. 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. Portrait of McCoo/Davis by Kenneth Green

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Marilyn McCoo
• Billy Davis Jr
• The 5th Dimension
• You Make Me Feel Brand New
• The Stylistics
• The Many Faces of Love
• Robert-Allan Arno
• FOREVER 5th DIMENSION
• MarBill
• BilMar Productions
• You Don't Have to be a Star

[JCHUSAF47]

I have always loved the voices of these two exceptional talents and stiil do and always will. I was not to Happy with Billy Davis Jr. When I did find out years ago that they were married I wanted to be the one to marry this woman. Anyway life has moved on and I must say 41 years is extremely nice to see that they are still together and sounding just as good. Here's to another 40 or more.

[robbybobbyoh]

@JCHUSAF47-- 42 years of a beautiful marriage for our "MarBill" come July 26th! We'll be featuring an all-new exclusive interview with Marilyn & Billy for our upcoming 3 year Anniversary Edition of the Blog-zine FOREVER 5th DIMENSION in August...thanks for writing, man and stay tuned everyone-- 5th friends & fam!

[ladymuziklover]

very very cute couple...im glad they r still 2gether after so long..i think i wud cry if they broke up

[robbybobbyoh]

@ladymuziklover--Cute indeed, Marilyn & Billy celebrated 41 years of marriage this past summer and are writing a follow-up to their memoir which will focus on relationships!

[acoleman7475]

I have to share I just attended the Biloxi, MS Hard Rock concert; Marilyn & Billy were AMAZING, looking & sounding wonderful! A major fan, I brought soon-to-be "new fans," my husband, his mother & my mother who afterward described the couple & their performance with terms like "powerful, professional, still got it, I didn't know they could do that!" Later, sleep didn't come easy for any of us because we were so jazzed by the experience! We're all still smiling, from the joy we receieved :)

[robbybobbyoh]

@acoleman7475--Thanks for your charming "review." Marilyn & Billy extend these sentiments: "We're out there loving being back on stage and thank God for the blessing our fans are in our lives."

[soulsupremeful]

I adore this song and i love this version too :)

[brotherskeeper7]

I was one of the Lucky Teenagers, in around 1976, I saw them in Concert at the Venetian Room at the Fairmont Hotel, very Classy act. That Performance has stuck with me for all of these years. Their songs and Music are all about commitment and life long love. They are true entertainers. My Mother had wanted me to go with her, i'm glad that I did.

[magcarril]

You'd have to be made of stone to not feel the chills & thrills up & down spine! PEACE VIA MUSIC..VIVA MARIA!

[tuttigresa]

Muy hermosa la interpretación de este tema. Felicitaciones!

[28n10a60kjs]

did anybody i da house can forget lady mccoo?never.shw was always sweet enough forhe ladies and blend enough for the men of r&b.

[Kings10Queen]

beautiful, i love it!