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Article: Singer Ron Townson
- Article from:
- The Washington Post
- Article date:
- August 4, 2001
CopyrightThis material is published under license from the Washington Post. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Washington Post. (Hide copyright information)
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Ron Townson, 68, the portly centerpiece singer for the Grammy-
winning pop group The Fifth Dimension, died of renal failure Aug. 2
at his home here.
The Fifth Dimension combined the sounds of pop, jazz, gospel and
rhythm and blues for such 1960s hits as "Aquarius/Let the Sun Shine
In" and the Laura Nyro songs "Wedding Bell Blues" and "Stoned Soul
Picnic." The group won four Grammys in 1968 for the Jimmy Webb tune
"Up, Up and Away."
Declining health forced Mr. Townson to retire in 1997, ending a
career in which he had toured with such music legends as Nat King
Cole and Dorothy Dandridge.
Mr. Townson was born in St. Louis and began singing at 6 in school
and church choirs. He attended Lincoln ...