“Up, Up and Away,” “Aquarius/Let the Sunshine In,” “Wedding Bell Blues,” “Stoned Soul Picnic.”
These are some of the hits of the ’60s whose melodies reverberate in countless memories.
For those who managed to snag tickets to the 5th Dimension’s sold-out concert Saturday, Sept. 9, in Laguna Woods, those memories became a reality as the group transported the audience with hits that defy the passage of time.
Such a passage is embodied in the persona of lead singer Florence LaRue, who, at age 81, is the only original member of the iconic band.
Despite the new members, she said, the group performs the songs as originally written.
“Our audiences want to hear songs the way they remember them. People come to hear our hits,” she said. “We use the same arrangements.”
But the group also tailors the performances to the audiences.
“We perform a lot for baby boomers, who often bring their children, and they too know our music,” LaRue said. “But we also add material that plays well geographically, like a country number in Nashville, for example.”
LaRue has hardly stood still since she harbored Hollywood ambitions as a young girl, though she did better as a singer, musician, educator and, most recently, author.
She spent her early years in Pennsylvania but moved to California more than 60 years ago and got a degree in elementary education from UCLA.
Still, she hoped to be in show business, especially movies. And music was always part of her life.
“I love classical music,” she said. “I played violin and in the school orchestra and also took ballet classes.”
Another of LaRue’s great loves was teaching.
“I had two ambitions, actually, to teach and to be in show business,” she said. “I still love to teach. Teaching is one of the most important occupations.”
LaRue values the arts along with a spirituality that teaches one to live in harmony with others. With three grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren, her passion…
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