Joe billingslea contours walking ball

The Contours (at various times) comprised of:

Billy Gordon(lead vocalist) (d. )

Joe Billingslea (b. 14th November , Hamtramck, Michigan, U.S.A.)

Sylvester Potts (b. Sylvester Potts, , Detroit, Michigan, U.S.A. d. 6th January , Detroit Hospital, Detroit, Michigan, U.S.A.)

Leroy Fair(d.

December )

Hubert Johnson(b.

Joe billingslea contours walking stick

In , Billy Hoggs, Joe Billingslea, Hubert Johnson, and Sylvester Potts all departed Motown. Billy Hoggs later became a minister and is a Jehovah's Witness in Mt. Pleasant. Council Gay, Jerry Green and Alvin English were all recruited to support Billy Gordon, converting the Contours a quartet.

14th January d. 11th July suicide)

Billy Hoggs

Charles Davis(d. 23rd February , Detroit, Michigan, U.S.A.)

Huey Marvin Davis(guitar. b.

Joe billingslea contours walking shoes Joseph Billingslea, Jr. (born November 14, ) is an American singer and performer. He is most noted for being the lead singer and the founder of the R&B band the Contours in The Contours are best known for the hit single, " Do You Love Me ".

17th August , Columbus, Mississippi, U.S.A. d. 23rd February , Detroit, Michigan, U.S.A.)

dennis edwards

Dennis Edwards (b. Dennis Wayne Edwards Jnr, b. Fairfield, Alabama, U.S.A.

Joe billingslea contours walking The Blenders comprised of Joe Billingslea, Billy Gordon, Billy Hoggs, and Billy Rollin adding Leroy Fair (in the place of Billy Rollins) and bass singer Hubert Johnson in a later group arrangement. A year later, the group changed it's name to the Contours and in the autumn of , the group auditioned for Berry Gordy's Motown Records.

d. 1st February , Chicago, Illinois, U.S.A.)

Joe Stubbs(b. Joseph Stubbles , d. 5th February )

Benny Reeves(Martha Reeves brother)

Darell Nunlee

Al Chisholm

Gary Grier

Council Gay

Arthur Hinson

Martin Upshire

Jerry Green

Alvin English

and

C.

Autry Hatcher

The Contours were originally from Detroit in Michigan.

Their first incarnation saw the group under the name of The Blenders during

The Blenders comprised of Joe Billingslea, Billy Gordon, Billy Hoggs, and Billy Rollin adding Leroy Fair (in the place of Billy Rollins) and bass singer Hubert Johnson in a later group arrangement.

A year later, the group changed it's name to the Contours and in the autumn of , the group auditioned for Berry Gordy'sMotown Records, following a little assistance from Jackie Wilson.

Berry Gordy initialled wasn't that interested in the group, although Jackie Wilson's persistance realised a second audituion, which proved more fruitful.

do you love me - album / single

They were granted a contract in early and released a few sides (including 'Whole Lotta Woman' and 'The Stretch'), prior to the release of their biggest hit, 'Do You Love Me' in

The song was a huge R & B hit, topping those charts and reaching number 3 in the U.S.

pop listings.

Leroy Fair was then replaced by Benny Reeves, brother of Martha Reeves.

Benny was then drafted into the United States Navy and he was replaced by Sylvester Potts.

'Do You Love Me' was later covered by Brian Poole And The Tremeloes, Faron's Flamingo's and the Dave Clark Five.

shake sherry 45 - / first i look at the purse 45 -

The single was followed up, 'Shake Sherry', in , and 'Can You Do It' and 'Can You Jerk Like Me', in

In , Billy Hoggs, Joe Billingslea, Hubert Johnson, and Sylvester Potts all departed Motown.

Billy Hoggs later became a minister and is a Jehovah's Witness in Mt.

Pleasant.

Council Gay, Jerry Green and Alvin English were all recruited to support Billy Gordon, converting the Contours a quartet.

Sylvester Potts then returned to the group (replacing Alvin English), and Billy Gordon then left the group.

He was later to have drug issues and was imprisoned for a period.

Billy was also married to Georgeanna Tillman of the Marvelettes.

Joe Billingslea later spent 13 years as a corrections officer and once imprisoned Billy Gordon.

Joe Stubbs was Billy's replacement, who was the brother of the Four Tops lead singer, Levi Stubbs and an ex member of the group the Falcons.

When Joe left, Dennis Edwards filled his shoes leaving the line-up a completely changed arrangement from their original incarnation.

Further singles followed including Smokey Robinson's tune 'First I Look At The Purse', and the dance number 'Just A Little Misunderstanding'.

Although 'It's So Hard Being A Loser' (released in ) was the Contours' last official single, however, posthumous releases, kept their name alive.

The Contours then went their seperate ways, with Dennis Edwards being recruited to replace David Ruffin as lead singer of The Temptations in early

Versions of the Contours appeared on the revival circuit from onwards.

Joe Billingslea reformed the group with himself, along with Council Gay, Arthur Hinson, Martin Upshire and C.

Autry Hatcher in the line-up.

Hubert Johnson committed suicide in by swallowing rat poison.

baby hit and run - / a new direction -

In , Charles Davis replaced Arthur Hinson and a Sylvester Potts rejoined the group replacing Council Gay.

In , C. Autry Hatcher left the group and Arthur Hinson returned.

In , Darell Nunlee was added when Martin Upshire left.

That year , 'Do You Love Me' returned to the U.S.

Top 20 after its inclusion in the film 'Dirty Dancing'.

A version featuring Joe Billingslea, Sylvester Potts, Arthur Hinson, Charles Davis and Darrel Nunlee issued 'Running In Circles' on lan Levine's Motor City label in

Earlier, the former lead vocalist Joe Stubbs also recorded 'Round And Round' for the same label.

Joe Stubbs died on the 5th February from a heart condition whilst Huey Davis died at his home on 23rd February

From to , the group featured Joe Billingslea, Al Chisholm, Charles Davis, Gary Grier and Sylvester Potts.

In , Sylvester Potts left to form his own group called Upscale, which immediately began performing under the name of the Contours, which did cause some discussion amongst original group members.

The resulting discussions led to two versions of the Contours performing on the live circuit, namely, 'Joe Billingslea and The Contours', and 'The Contours featuring Sylvester Potts'.

Sylvester passed away in hospital in Detroit, January

For further information on the activities of Darrel Nunlee, please click here

Albums:

Do You Love Me (Gordy Records )

Baby Hit And Run (MFP Records )

Flashback (Motor City Records )

The Very Best Of (Hot Productions )

A New Direction (Orchard Records )

The Contours Live II ()

top of the page