A former winner of the Miss Bronze California beauty contest, Marilyn McCoo
started out her singing career in the early 1960s touring with the band The
Hi-Fis which included several appearances with Ray Charles. McCoo went on to
form the band The Versatiles with Lamonte Lamore, a photographer McCoo met
during her beauty pageant days. Also in the band were future husband Billy Davis
Jr., Ron Townson and fellow Miss Bronze California winner Florence LaRue.
Initially mentored by Barry White, The Versatiles signed to the Soul City label
and were reborn under the name 5th Dimension. A...